TriStar Raptor review

[Mark@Sea]

A few observations...

 

  Turkish manufactured Beretta semi-auto 12 gauge clone, 2 3/4 or 3 inch shells.  20 inch barrel with removable cylinder choke.  Alloy receiver, plastic/rubber furniture.  Picatinny rail screwed to receiver.  Ghost ring rear (removable), rifle front with a tru-glo style plastic lightpipe.  5+1 capacity.  $329 at Wally World.  Thanks to the alloy and plastic furniture, it is relatively lightweight.  Recoil is not unpleasant, which makes for a nice combination.  Push-button safety forward end of the trigger guard.  Ergonomics are good.

 

First things first - disassemble, clean well, and lubricate properly.  Really.  Comes with a thin film of anti-corrosive applied, which isn't going to provide the lubrication the action needs.  Particularly, lubricate the mag tube.

  While you've got it apart, loosen the 2 hex head screws holding the picatinny rail to the receiver, apply a little loc-tite, and re-tighten.  After approx. 30 rounds with a large aperture reflex sight, I discovered the rail would rock from side to side.  Tightening as described considerably simplified the zeroing process. 

 

I've so far put about 75 rounds of high brass buck through it.  One malfunction; the mag tube didn't release another shell to the carrier.  No idea why - it happened once and hasn't repeated.  Break-in will continue as ammo availability allows.

 

  A Magpul L2 MOE rail section will fit nicely at the front of the forearm.  Caveat -  the rail section must be mounted so that the retainer bars are within the ribbed area (inside the forearm) at the very front end of the forearm.  The rib must be removed to allow clearance for the retainer bars - not the entire rib, just enough for the bars to fit.  Do NOT attempt to mount aft of the ribbed area.  2 drilled holes and 10 minutes with a (gasp) dremel and I have a very serviceable flashlight mount.  Wile-E-Coyote school of gunsmithing strikes again!

 

An 870 mag extension will fit and function, minor 'smithing required.

 

Conclusion - 8+1 (with mag tube extension) pistol grip semi-auto suitable for HD, tacti-cool accessories easily mounted.  All-up price well under $500.  More expensive than a pump, true, and you lose the infamous 'racking a shell into the chamber' sound which reputedly strikes terror into the hearts of malefactors.  OTOH, it isn't that much more, and my personal preference for a home intruders audio experience is a click and the voice of St. Peter.  YMMV.

 

 

[R1100R]

I have had one about a year. Got it at Academy for $269. Make sure you remove the set screw from the front sight and lock tite it also. Great shotgun for the money and very fast. They have great customer service also.

[Guest woohhaa]

Hey Mark@Sea would you mind elaborating a little more on how you suggest mounting the rail section? I'm not sure I know what you mean by ribbed section or retainer bars.