The Tristar Bristol Sets a New Standard for Affordable SxS Shotguns
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- To many even savvy hunters and clay shooters, putting the term “side-by-side” next to “affordable” is oxymoronic, and they’re generally not wrong. Thus, we were all ears when we heard the self-proclaimed value expert, TriStar Arms, known for their lines of surprisingly budget-friendly and accessible over-unders, semi-autos, and pump-action shotguns, had taken a foray into the double world. Meet the TriStar Bristol.
At first glance, the TriStar Bristol side-by-side shotguns can be described as simultaneously classy, sleek, and practical. The company introduced not just the most common 12-gauge chamberings, but 20, 28, and .410 bores as well. Each can be found in the two main models - the Bristol and Bristol Silver.
The “standard” Bristol is anything but mundane, wearing a classy case-color finish on the metalwork with a gold inlay logo. A straight, English-style stock ensures this beauty is dressed to the nines, which is not what we expected on a so-called value-priced double. The Bristol Silver changes things up with a different finish and stock design. Its receiver uses a nickel-silver finish with 24-karat gold inlay and laser engraving. The furniture design is more of an American-style pistol grip.
Both guns use a single selective trigger paired with a tang safety/selector. There are chrome-lined chambers and barrels as well as a simple brass bead front sight. All models and gauges use 28-inch barrels. The same lovely select Turkish walnut with an oil finish graces both doubles. Each Bristol includes five flush-mounted Beretta Mobil-style choke tubes in skeet, improved cylinder, modified, improved modified, and full.
Perfect ! No shotgun like a side- by-side .
Thanks for the great review. I have a Bristol 20 ga. in case color finish. My early impressions are extremely positive. The slim wristed gun is light and lively, well-balanced, and easy to point. Most importantly, it shoots where I'm looking. It has great color on the metal and exceptional wood for a less expensive side by side. I also own a CZ Bobwhite G2. I like that gun, but it feels a little clunky next to the Bristol. I hunt grouse and woodcock with a 100 year old Ithaca Flues SxS 20 ga. which I am very fond of. This gun has a similar feel, but with adjustable chokes, ejectors, and a single selective trigger (I like double triggers, but that's just personal preference). If I'm being picky regarding the Bristol, the fit and finish on the safety itself is a little subpar, and I prefer a safety that resets automatically for extra safety in the bird fields. Otherwise, so far, it's damn near perfect.
Side by side shotguns are artwork that can hang on a wall as well hold in your hand. I don’t know of any Monet’s or Van Gogh’s that can compete with that.
I own a CZ 12 g side by side with outside hammers, I just love it, super accurate, thanks for sharing your experience !
@@jeannieheard1465 CZ didn't discontinue the Hammer Classic SxS did it?
Bought a ww2 german heavily engraved side by side for 600$ had a broken stock but i fixed it. Took it the range.. very accurate... two triggers.. and best part is it was cheap and has history and looks very nice with the engraving.
Knowing what I do of mid-1940's German history, I suspect very strongly that your shotgun was liberated from its German owner by foul means.
@@Quentin217 possibly. Its a 28 inch 16ga 2 3/4 shell size. Made in gustloff werke suhl germany... in 1942. Its heavily engraved... much more thsn any double ive seen in person or from other gustloff werke doubles.
I wish i knew how it came here or who originally owned it. Check my channle i have it on there
Her and Mae from C&r Arsenal would do a great cross over
For hunting buddies
I wholly agree
THIS SHOTGUN IS: SIMPLES, COM QUALIDADE & EFICIÊNCIA.
IGUAL AO AMERICANO RAIZ.
PARABÉNS À TREESTAR E À VOCÊ CHRISTINE PELO PROFISSONALISMO
E A HABILIDADE NA APRESENTAÇÃO
DOS SEUS PRODUTOS. 👌🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I bought one of those a fortnight ago and picked it up from the dealer the day before yesterday. I decided to buy it partly on the strength of this video. Mine is in 12 gauge with the proper English straight stock and case hardened receiver. Putting it together out of the box, I found it to be incredibly stiff and so much so that it was difficult for me to fit it together. I am sure that will resolve itself with a bit of use. After reading the rest of the manual, I was able to identify which choke tube was which. It was not apparent to me until after reading the manual. The choke tubes have no writing on them at all but have a series of very tiny serrations along one end of the cylinder. One tiny notch designates full choke. Two designate improved modified and in sequence to five to designate straight cylinder. Using full or improved modified with steel shot will damage the barrels. For steel shot in the smaller sizes, improved cylinder and modified are recommended. For larger sizes of steel shot, straight cylinder and improved cylinder will pattern like improved modified and full.
I switched out the installed chokes for the two tightest and repaired with the new gun unto the local trap range. A pattern test with the two chokes imparted perfect results. The controls worked perfectly save for the action being very stiff to open and to close. Shooting one round of trap, I found the gun to be much lighter than the Remington 10-87 Special Purpose 3 1/2 -inch chambered semi-auto that I am accustomed to. I am sure that I will grow into the new gun, and i am very satisfied with the purchase. By the way, there have been price increases since this video was made.
I have not hunted since 2013 on account of my mine aged and debilitated wife's needs for mine assistance combined with where we live in propinquity to where the hunting is worthwhile. I still shoot a round of trap every week. Peradventure that I still be fit for to hunt the moors and the riparian habitats after I have lived out my usefullness in this dastardly megalopolis, I plan to hunt waterfowl with the Remington 11-87 and upland birds with the Tri Star Bristol.
I own Savage 311 doubles in .410, 20 gauge, 16 gauge, and 12 gauge and I love them. I am restoring my dad's 1924 Enders Special Service 12 gauge double for my son. I used to hunt with it in the early 70s. I have a firing pin on order and then I will be finished. Everybody should own at least one double.
I've got a JC Higgins 101.7 /311 in 12 gauge.
The best I can narrow down the manufacturing time is between 1947 & 1953.
I'm going to retire it to the wall to buy a newer double shotgun for hunting.
@@doughesson I know. I refinish my guns and make them pretty and I don't want to take them outside. LOL.
I have a Savage Fox Model B choked in Mod/Full. Hunted with it from my teens through early thirties but retired it to the safe when steel shot came out. I refinished the stock a few years back and it looks new again. I still shoot trap with it and regularly break 20+ out of 25 with it. It is my go to gun for turkey shoots as well. Nothing points like a side by side. I have been looking for Stevens 311 at my local pawn shop choked in IC/Mod but no one let’s go of them. I have a place to hunt small water ducks and it would be perfect there. Still looking.
@@joetruth5924 Good luck! I would kill for a Fox.... Well, not kill, I guess.
Mike, The Savage Fox Model B is just a slightly fancier Model 311. A beaver tail fore grip, a vent rib, and some engraving but the same working mechanism. They are both working man side by sides of their day but built to last.
What you're not talking about is how the barrel selector locks up the second shot. I have a brand new 410 and the barrel selector will move to the center of the safety thereby blocking the second shot. I'm not the only one having this problem. It's a design problem. I don't know if removing the selector will solve the problem, but it is a problem.
I’m having the same problem
I just picked up a bristol case colored with a tiny light scratch on the buttstock of it for 649.99 at cabelas . Some 600grit sandpaper, 5 mins, and some tru-oil and you can never tell it was there. winner winner!
I just found one for $650 with some bumps. How
Any coats of truoil
@@jacobzirkle9153 I stripped the Finish in the area, damped a cloth, then used a Woodburner with a ducks foot to raise the dentn then scuffed with a scotchbrite red pad. 4 coats of tru oil and it looks just as good as new . The old dent is just barely visible as a touch darker but to the touch can not be felt.
I love your content!! Thank you
* The problem I have with any double gun meant for bird hunting, especially birds as tough as wild bred pheasants, is if that gun only has a single trigger. Single trigger guns are fine for shooting clay targets, and for those shots on game birds that are taken at basically the same distances, like quail or grouse shot over a good dog. But if you're going to use a gun as an all purpose bird gun, don't handicap yourself with a gun that only has one trigger. Double triggers gives you the instant option in the choice of chokes that can best be utilized for the each situation. Double triggers are the fastest barrel selector ever developed. Plus, if your single trigger breaks you're done.
I'd like to see how the barrels lock up with the receiver. I'm a little suspect of the durability of that gun. It may be fine, I just want to be able to check it out.
Beautiful little shotgun, hopefully someone will import them into Australia 👍
@@jeannieheard1465 I wouldn't have thought so.
I dont often say this but I like what you. Do good job
Thanks for the very informative video.
Great review video, Thank you for showing it. The Bristol in case color is classic and with ejectors.
I use the cz bobwhite G2 12 gauge and this looks like an exact copy of that
A brand new Stoeger still costs less than $500 bucks
I got the 20" barrels model for $299.99 a long time ago & no prob.
@@jeannieheard1465
Back in 05 but you were close.
She’s the best shotgun reviewer on RUclips
he or she?
She is paid to do that.
Great review, and very attractive gun! I really like the styling of side by sides, and yours with the English stock is a classic looking gun.
Nice review. thank you Kristin.
Thank you for the review, great video.
TRISTAR & KRISTIN 🙏🏻
I’d like to buy one for my wife Thankyou for the video! Looks like a great gun for a women.
I bought a 28ga Charles Daly s x s for $850, couldnt hit a thing, patterned it and the right barrel hit a foot to the right and hi, the left barrel hit 2 feet left and low. My Parker bros, s x s , Browning BSS, Browning Grand Lightning o/u are point of aim point of impact! I'm all for budgt s x s guns but they need to regulate the barrels.
A nice littkle gun well reviewed. By rthe way Bristol (UK) was the home of George Gibbs & Co Gunsmiths.
Good video
I really liked your video explaining the Tristar Side by side. Thank you. Just ordered a 12 guage Tristar. Did you ever post a new video indicating if you are still enjoying shooting this gun and if its holding up to your standard. kind regards.
You have good aim
If I was in the Market for a SxS I would buy a traditional used English model.
Would be interested in a version with double triggers and English straight stock . 18.5 inch 12GA
I’m seeing several dealers listing a 16 gauge with a 3 in. chamber. I was told this was a misprint but how is it that so many dealers are getting it wrong. Does anyone have any knowledge of this?
Affordable? Yeah, close to a grand isn't what I call affordable. Beautiful yes, affordable for most of us? No.
Right, I was thinking like 6 or 7 bills for the auto ejector feature.
I could pick up a CZ bobwhite g2 for less money
Thanks for sharing just wish they would make it in a 16 gauge 30”
Mass production of the parts of a pump or semi auto shotgun is easier & cheaper than making a double barrel shotgun which needs more hand work for assembly.
That's the difference.
@@jeannieheard1465 Stoeger & CZ are nice side by side shotguns in the $500-600 range
Nice shotgun
No double triggers, no coach variant at that PP. You can keep the expensive Turkish thing.
Side-by-sides are so cool.
What American made ones are there to choose from that you would recommend ?
Home made, but that’s off the top of head
Stoeger, maybe because I don’t know if they’re imports or not
winchester if you got money
@@kanesmith8271 Stoeger Industries is located in Maryland and is owned by Benelli, which is in turn owned by Beretta. Stoeger imports their shotguns from Turkey and Brazil. I believe the side by sides are imported from Brazil.
Mossberg used to make a side by side double Silver Reserve shotgun but now I think that the only option is the over/under configuration.
Captive import(made overseas with the American brand on it)
Very light shotguns with interchangeable choke tubes about$600-700.
Beautiful rifle
I understand that TriStar make great guns at a good price but I will keep my stoeger uplander they are 400 and haven't fail me yet
What i really like about some of the foreign guns is that they come with chokes, and not just fixed choke. I'd really like to hear if the point of aim is the same for both, and especially if it has problems later on.......did I see only one shell eject at he end?
So far I pattern tested only the full and improved modified chokes on my new Bristol. Both of those patterned perfectly. The design is for only empty hulls to go flying backwards when the action is opened.
@@Quentin217 Are you talking about a good shot pattern from each barrel, or where the two barrels converge? I wouldn’t be too worried about the patter, because that’s mostly a function of the choke, and I’m sure American chokes would fit. What I would worry about is both barrels pointing the same direction.
@@jimf1964 What I meant by perfect patterns is that both of them centred at the point at which I aimed the gun. They were even all the way around.
@@Quentin217 that’s interesting. Ive only seen people aim slugs, and only with the top barrel.
Thanks for commenting
@@jimf1964 * One aims a shotgun when one is evaluating the barrels for pattern efficiency. Most shotguns made today come standard with screw in chokes.
Putting single (selective) trigger on a side-by-side is a crime! Keep it traditional that's the way it should be. I maybe can forgive the interchangeable chokes but not the single trigger. Price point is fine, in Hungary only Baikal shotguns cost less (we don't have the cheap US or Brazilian guns here).
* You are so correct about the double triggers. Glad to know there are still real hunters out there.
@@charlessmith4242 Thank you! Tradition is tradition, must keep it alive. :) My dream gun is a Darne or a Charlin, or maybe a Verney-Carron Stopvis. They are extremely rare shotguns here in Hungary, but maybe in their own country - France - too.
what are the trigger pull weights ?
Mine doesn't shoot straight. Left barrel is good, while the right shoots off to the left. Pattern is not even overlapping my point location. We'll see how it gets dealt with. Also, one of the chokes will not go past one turn. Binds up.
Follow-up: As I was continuing to verify that the problem was consistent - not just me flinching, the left barrel began to misfire, with very tiny dimples on the primers. Those shells subsequently fired just fine in the other barrel. I sent the gun back to Tristar, reluctantly paid for by them, and now I was just told to expect 2 to 4 weeks before they get to mine. I'm not terribly impressed.
Another follow-up: They returned the gun after two months, saying that all issues had been corrected. The choke tubes do all seem to go in this time. But the left side again misfired on the very first round - a tiny dimple on the primer. And then on the second load the gun double-fired. That's a new issue. Meanwhile, the right barrel still shoots off to the left. They may have actually given it a new set of barrels because now it is off to the left - high, whereas the original placement was left - low. The misplacement is not some picky subtle thing. The entire pattern with a Mod choke misses the aim-point. This is with a left barrel that centers perfectly - whenever it actually fires. It's back to their shop, for probably another two months. As I have other shotguns to use I will keep returning it until they relent and send something that works right - or return my money so I can get something else.
@@BatesLen any update?
I’ll stick with CZ-USA & Huglu: Bobwhite G2 under $600, Sharptail right at $1000.
I live n the state of ms.that gun is know where n my state where can I buy the tristar Bristol shotgun n america.
So do you love this shotgun after shooting it for a bit ?
These guns new are at least $1200. I wouldn’t call that affordable. Now if companies made a simple shotgun for like $2-300 that’s affordable. It’s why shotguns were so common. Cheap, affordable, simple and able to take down most anything.
I bought a Savage Fox Model B back in '82. I think that the price was about $200 or so. It turned out that one barrel placed the pattern on target but the other put the left edge where the centre should have been. That was fixed at some expense with some judicious choke grinding. Then a few years later, the jolt from a three inch magnum busted the looped-over ribbon spring that kept the forend tight against the underside of the barrels. The only replacement that I could get was too short and allowed the forend to slop way down toward the front like the lower lip of a pouting child. The duct tape that I used to keep it up was profoundly ugly. No, I would prefer now to pay more for quality.
does it shoot 45.LC. ??
I was against Turkish shotguns, but it's hard to argue with this side by side.
I'd still rather have a Stevens 311
Even better, a Stevens 335! Great old American SxS shotgun!
I watch this for her
$1,200.00, WOW!!!!!! That way more then I can afford..........
Bought a m3500, for 600 like maybe 2 or 3 years ago
tell me that the "tristar bristol" is a waste of money without telling me it's a waste of money
bet she was paid to say all that garbage
$1,000 is NOT affordable for a SXS shotgun. You can buy a Stoeger for under $500, or a CZ for a couple hundred more.
And you can buy a Beretta for over $5000.
Or a Holland & Holland for over $120,000
If Stoeger is your benchmark then I'd say you are not familiar with the SxS market.
@@Sidartha000 Reading isn't your strong suit is it? "The Tristar Bristol sets a new standard for affordable SxS shotguns". Key word? That's right, AFFORDABLE. Stoeger isn't my benchmark for SxS shotguns, it's my benchmark for AFFORDABLE SxS shotguns. Thanks for stopping by and flexing your brand name knowledge anyway. Maybe later you can remind someone that a Ferarri is better than a Corolla.
@@Sidartha000 What exactly does affordable mean if not "affordable for the common man" ?
Is $849 affordable? I’m ordering one today.
@randomgamer9780 I think you misread. It is setting a new standard, not price. You interpreted it as new low price which is incorrect. Don't be an asshole.
👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸🍺
They are called stock and for grip not furniture. Furniture is what you flop your big butt in after dinner.
I hate single trigger SxS or O/U....
Stoeger is cheaper.
Affordable over 800 for a simple side by side. They have been around since the 1800's that is not cheap. I would say at most a 200 dollar gun. That's for waisting my time.
Guns from Turkey are below par and now they want top dollars next the Hatfield will cost a thousand dollars also made in Turkey, along with Winchester,
I will never buy a Bristol for that price smh.
Okay, I'm gonna say it.
Double barrel shotguns are extremely overpriced. The only reason they cost so much is because fudds will pay assloads of money for "muh huntin' gun".
Tristar makes an extremely reliable semi-auto shotgun, the Raptor ATAC. It's priced at what, $300, $350?
You can get new single shot break action 12 gauge shotguns for $250, and used for less than $150.
But you're telling me that a double barrel, at a budget price, is $1100? Even the Stoeger and CZ double barrels are cheaper than the Bristol, but they still cost more than a good semi-auto or pump shotgun.
Why are we pretending like double barrel shotguns are hard to make? The mechanism is more simple than a pump or semi-auto and they've been around for decades.
Doubles ARE hard to make, by modern standards. Back when many shotguns were handmade doubles were very cheap compared to semis or pumps, but semis and pumps are almost completely made by machines now and you can’t really reliably do that with doubles.
They were cheap when materials were expensive and skilled labor was cheap. But nowadays materials are cheaper than ever, and skilled labor is VERY expensive. Also pumps and semis sell better because of “more is better”.
And before you go to calling me names, I own 5 shotguns. 4 pumps and a single shot. I do not and to this point have never owned a double of any kind
What a terrible review!
What is the balance like? Is it lively or predictable? How's the comb height? What's the cast like? How well does it come up? What's it like on crossers? High birds? How does it swing? What type of action is it? This is all basic stuff that should be covered in a shotgun review. And hitting 3 clays that are going away from you and calling it good is a joke!
You call a 800 dollar side by side a budget shotgun. You are out of your mind.