Is anybody familiar with this one? I've had my eye on this one for a little while now and the price seems reasonable. I currently have an S.P.A. Luigi Franchi Brescia 48/AL semi-auto 12ga. New, they are about $800.00 (not that I paid that much for it) and it's nice and all but, it kicks a little too hard for my taste due to the long recoil system and because of that system, cannot be customized.



The Tristar on the other hand, comes from the factory with a pistol grip and a muzzle brake and unlike mine, can be choked. The reviews I've read make it look even more appealing.

You don't say, but it sounds like you're comparing the two shotguns, trying to decide to buy the Tristar?

The Tristar looks like a less expensive Mossberg to me, except without the magazine capacity. The rear ghost ring sight, rail, and front sight look almost identical to those on my Mossberg 930SPX. Even the receiver and bolt handle look like Mossberg stuff. It's priced well, but in the end, it's just another sort of tricked out black semi-auto 12-gauge. Gun stores are lined with the things. Not sure why you'd feel the need for a choke on it, either, and the muzzle brake is sort of a moot point, in my opinion. It it's going to be strictly a home defense weapon, you probably won't shoot it much, anyway. You'll shoot it enough to familiarize yourself with it, then chances are it'll go in a corner or somewhere else within easy reach. I ran 25 rounds through my Mossberg just to make sure it's functional, put a light on it, and that's it. It now spends its life next to the bed. It's a great gun, but I look at it sometimes and wonder why I bought it. I have other shotguns that would do well as home defense guns. Maybe I just wanted a black gun...it's my only one.

Bottom line is just about any 12-gauge semi-auto or pump with a 20-inch (or less) barrel is a good home defense shotgun. There's just not that much overall difference from one to another except for price and accessories.

Attached Images

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Where's the safety on that Tristar?

__________________
I always take precautions

Crossbolt safety on the triggerguard.

Actually, they both look very similar to a Benelli that sells for $1,899 and may be some form of a clone. The Mossberg does look nice and it's a name I know and trust but, it sells for more than double what I'd be paying for the Tristar.
The magazine extension is easy enough to add on too. The one I put on my Franchi, was designed for a Remington but it fit, so I used it.

As for the reason I want to get a different one...............the Franchi has a "Long Recoil" system, very similar to some of older Benelli shotguns. With this system, there is no gas piston and it's the recoil that cycles the action. It's crazy to watch too. When fired, the barrel backs up into the receiver which in turn pushes the bold back and draws out a new round from the magazine. When the barrel moves forward again, it ejects the spent shell and as the bolt moves forward again, it picks up the new shell and shoves it into the breech. The whole process takes less than half a second. Here's a vid of a Remington that has a similar recoil system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5Ivg6qdSmc
With lighter loads such as birdshot and skeet loads, the recoil isn't too bad but with buckshot, slugs and magnums, it feels like it's going to rip my shoulder out of it's socket. The Tristar has a muzzle brake, which should help some and the gas piston system should provide a lighter felt recoil.

Gotta love all the brush in the background getting shaken up by muzzle blast.

I have the Tristar ATAC. Absolutely worth the price I paid for it at the end 2012. It has ran everything I've put through it. Mine never had the "break in period" people talked about. The only issue I had was while at the range it went full auto (3 shot bursts). Might of been fun, if I was expecting it
Trip back to Tristar (literally week turnaround) and back in my hands. No issues since. I have used it for clay pigeons in my friends backyard, deer hunting, & shooting slugs at 100 plus yards on steel at the range.
I just wish I picked up another one before they went up almost $120 more retail around here. I have more than 900 rounds through mine, in almost 3 years.

I have a semi-auto Tristar 12 ga. & like it alot! The PG makes pointing easier & the most important feature is the fibre optic front sight. I don't have a lot of experience with SGs, but the $378 (inclu. tax) was very appealing (bought 10/13). I like the screw-in choke. I can hit clays much better than any other SG I own (SxS & slide-action). Tried some 00 Buck & also some slugs. Recoil seemed milder thru the semi-auto action.

Hank M.

Yeah, I ended up buying one not too long after creating this thread. Even with 3" magnums, it seems to have a milder recoil than other shotguns I've used.

Probably one of the best shotgun purchases I have made in the last 3 years...