Most AR-pattern shotguns only superficially resemble the modern sporting rifle and use a typical shotgun gas system to operate, but the Omni Hybrid AR-15 .410 shotgun, introduced by American Tactical Inc. (ATI) in 2017, is a true .410 AR upper and magazine combo that can be fitted to any standard AR-15 lower.
The gun is laid out just like a typical AR, but there are some key differences, according to this story from firearmsnews.com](http://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/review-ati-omni-hybrid-ar-15-410/316579#), which says there are some screws in the lower receiver where ARs normally have pins, and the upper has a roll pin where there typically is none. The Omni Hybrid runs on a gas operated, short stroke balanced piston system.
The aluminum upper receiver has a forward assist, brass deflector and dust cover, a single-point sling attachment, topped off with a full-length Picatinny rail. The bolt carrier group is different than one configured for 5.56: conspicuously absent is the gas key.
Disassembly follows the same procedure as any other AR, but the story notes one exception: an “ejector arm” at the back of the upper receiver that must be lifted on its hinged assembly to allow the bolt carrier group to slide out.
A 13-inch KeyMod hand guard provides purchase over the 18.5 inch barrel, complete with a bird cage-style flash suppressor that can accommodate screw-in choke tubes, sold separately.
As impressive as a .410 upper is, no shortage of engineering effort was put into the magazine.
Rimmed cartridges and shells have a tendency to hang up in box mags, due to the lip of the next round preventing it from entering the chamber. This is the reason most .22 rifles have rotary or tube magazines, and why reliable box mag fed shotguns have been difficult to produce until recently.
The cutaway on the polymer ATI magazine lets you ensure that all is well before you stuff it in the gun. American Tactical also saw fit to place holes along the leading edge of the box to allow the shooter to easily verify round count.
The chamber is sized for 2.5-inch shells, so you’ll have to forget about shooting the magnum stuff. The resurgence of interest in the Taurus Judge has lead to an influx of personal defense loads in this size, as well as the more traditional offerings, so there’s plenty of ammo options out there to choose from.
The FirearmsNews review calls the shotgun “a joy to shoot.” The model they used for their testing functioned flawlessly, apparently much improved over the earliest versions that came out last year.
The gun’s short length of pull and light weight make it a good candidate for home-defense or a hunting gun for smaller-statured shooters—and it would make a great varmint gun for a hunter of any size.
ATI suggests a price of $599 for the Omni Hybrid AR-15 .410 shotgun. For more information, visit americantactical.us.
ATI Omni Hybrid AR-15 .410 Shotgun Specifications
- Type: Short-stroke, balanced gas system, semi-auto
- Caliber/gauge: .410
- Capacity: 5 and 15
- Barrel Length: 18.5 inches
- Overall Length: 34.9 inches (fully collapsed)
- Weight (unloaded): 6.5 pounds
- Sights: None included
- Trigger: 5.7 pounds
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime
- MSRP: $599