TriStar Raptor ATAC

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  • willtill

    The Dude Abides
    MDS Supporter
    May 15, 2007
    24,312
    I picked up a TriStar Raptor ATAC 12 gauge semi auto from Gym Ratz yesterday (special order). Took it out to the AGC today to break it in with 25 rounds of 00 buckshot (TriStar recommends heavy loads to break it in):

    mmr691.jpg


    She cycled the 25 rounds flawlessly; and I also ran 30 rounds of 7 shot through it with no FTFs. :party29:

    However there are some issues with it.

    1. It has an external choke, and true to what I read about these guns, it would start working loose after several rounds. Good thing I brought the choke wrench with me. I just got done cleaning it, and I wrapped one layer of Teflon tape around the threads of the choke. If that doesn’t work, I may just Lock it since I don’t plan to use different chokes on this particular gun

    2. The screws holding the picatanny rail loosened up as well. I will Lock Tite those later

    3. The magazines cap which holds the foreend on loosens too. I may wrap the threads for it with Teflon tape as well.

    All in all, a great bargain for a fun Turkish shotgun. Chromed barrel, chromed gas piston; the fit and finish are very good, and I see myself taking this out quite a bit to the range. :cool:

    I am yet undecided if I am going to extend the magazine for an additional three rounds though. Many other Raptor owners have done so, but it required trimming a couple of threads off of the current magazine tube in order to fully seat an aftermarket magazine extension.


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    Alea Jacta Est

    Extinguished member
    MDS Supporter
    I picked up a TriStar Raptor ATAC 12 gauge semi auto from Gym Ratz yesterday (special order). Took it out to the AGC today to break it in with 25 rounds of 00 buckshot (TriStar recommends heavy loads to break it in):

    mmr691.jpg


    She cycled the 25 rounds flawlessly; and I also ran 30 rounds of 7 shot through it with no FTFs. :party29:

    However there are some issues with it.

    1. It has an external choke, and true to what I read about these guns, it would start working loose after several rounds. Good thing I brought the choke wrench with me. I just got done cleaning it, and I wrapped one layer of Teflon tape around the threads of the choke. If that doesn’t work, I may just Lock it since I don’t plan to use different chokes on this particular gun

    2. The screws holding the picatanny rail loosened up as well. I will Lock Tite those later

    3. The magazines cap which holds the foreend on loosens too. I may wrap the threads for it with Teflon tape as well.

    All in all, a great bargain for a fun Turkish shotgun. Chromed barrel, chromed gas piston; the fit and finish are very good, and I see myself taking this out quite a bit to the range. :cool:

    I am yet undecided if I am going to extend the magazine for an additional three rounds though. Many other Raptor owners have done so, but it required trimming a couple of threads off of the current magazine tube in order to fully seat an aftermarket magazine extension.


    .
    Good looking gun.

    If you’re gonna get another one, please give me a heads up first. I’ll drop my broker a note to buy Loctite stock.
     

    willtill

    The Dude Abides
    MDS Supporter
    May 15, 2007
    24,312
    One thing that I wanted to add, is that this is the first shotgun I’ve fired with a pistol grip. I discovered after quite a few rounds that it aids in keeping the buttplate pressed into your shoulder I think it’s better than holding the wrist of the stock and trying to do the same...


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    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,721
    Socialist State of Maryland
    Having owned a couple of Tristars, I for one believe they are an excellent buy for what you get. Those with wood stocks have really nice wood and great checkering. They use Beretta mobile chokes so there is plenty of selection out there.
     

    willtill

    The Dude Abides
    MDS Supporter
    May 15, 2007
    24,312
    Man...

    ...I just got done using Loctite on the four picatinny rail screws. Though I discovered that the third screw to the rear of the receiver was previously stripped. :sad20:

    I'm going to see how it holds up during the next couple of outings with it; if the picatinny rail comes loose again, I'll retap all screw holes with a large size, and counterbore the rail itself for large screws.


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    Alea Jacta Est

    Extinguished member
    MDS Supporter
    ...I just got done using Loctite on the four picatinny rail screws. Though I discovered that the third screw to the rear of the receiver was previously stripped. :sad20:

    I'm going to see how it holds up during the next couple of outings with it; if the picatinny rail comes loose again, I'll retap all screw holes with a large size, and counterbore the rail itself for large screws.


    .
    If you don’t have a counterbore or a tool, just ask...I can recommend a couple members... Lord only knows, we’ve got some boring tools lingering hereabouts.
     
    Last edited:

    willtill

    The Dude Abides
    MDS Supporter
    May 15, 2007
    24,312
    Me shoulder is STILL sore after shooting this monster. :D ...need a friendlier butt stock pad


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    Sirex

    Powered by natural gas
    Oct 30, 2010
    10,380
    Westminster, MD
    I have 2 TriStars, a Viper G2 Silver I use when shooting clays, and a tactical Tec 12 shotgun. The Viper is a gas gun, the Tec 12 an inertia/pump gun copied from the M3 I believe. My picatinny rail on my Tec 12 popped off, and I ended up drilling teeny tiny divets into the to of the dovetail rail it attaches too, then loctited the screws as well. So far, so good. My only complaint is the stock seems to have a longer length of pull than my others. My M2 tactical is perfect, but this one seems a tad longer, and their is no aftermarket support for the Tec 12. The Viper so far has been perfect. I kinda wish I could blame my poor showing on the gun somehow, but can't. I bought the Viper mainly based on looks, but I did read the reviews, which were pretty good. I don't know how much the Raptor shares with the Tec 12, but I don't see anyone making aftermarket stocks for the Tec 12.
     
    Last edited:

    willtill

    The Dude Abides
    MDS Supporter
    May 15, 2007
    24,312
    I am curious if the teflon tape will keep the external choke fastened on it.

    I'm not in the habit of constantly checking firearm components for looseness while using them. This one proved to be the exception.

    I web messaged TriStar's customer service department about it and some other thing, but still "crickets"...

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    Sirex

    Powered by natural gas
    Oct 30, 2010
    10,380
    Westminster, MD
    I would call them. I called them and they were pretty responsive on the phone. I did email them about each of my TriStars, but it took awhile to get a response. If you need the number and don't have it, I can find it for you.
     

    willtill

    The Dude Abides
    MDS Supporter
    May 15, 2007
    24,312
    I would call them. I called them and they were pretty responsive on the phone. I did email them about each of my TriStars, but it took awhile to get a response. If you need the number and don't have it, I can find it for you.

    Thanks. I do have their number.

    I am planning to hit the range this weekend (either rainy Saturday or sunny Sunday) and run up to 75 rounds of buckshot through it. I think that's as much as I will be able to tolerate (even with a PAST pad). :D Will report on how it performs regarding the external choke tube/fore-end nut and picatinny rail loosening... or not. Hopefully not.

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    willtill

    The Dude Abides
    MDS Supporter
    May 15, 2007
    24,312
    “MAY” be sending the Raptor back for work - undecided for now

    I called TriStar customer service yesterday. They told me to send the shotgun back to them for the issues I still have with it:

    1. The trigger group take down pin is EXTREMELY hard to punch out; to the point where I am almost fearful of damaging the receiver itself. I've been able to punch it out a couple of times but it takes great force to do so.
    2. The forend magazine cap likes to work loose as well after firing several or more heavy loads through it.
    3. The Picatinny rail loosened up as well, after the first range session with it. To my dismay when I took the rail mounting screws out; one of the holes in the top of the receiver was stripped.

    The trigger group takedown pin bothers me the most. I can fix or address the rest of the issues myself. I really don’t want to continue punching the snot out of the take down pin. I don’t know why it’s so hard to punch out; I’ve seen others on YouTube punching it out with ease.

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    willtill

    The Dude Abides
    MDS Supporter
    May 15, 2007
    24,312
    Well I've been fooling around with this TriStar ATAC as of late; and have good news.

    1. The trigger group take down pin that was shipped with it was flawed Had a huge gash longitudinally in it that apparently was the cause of the extreme friction, when tapping/POUNDING it out. TriStar sent me a new one and now the disassembly of the trigger group from the receiver is a joy.

    2. The external choke still starts to unscrew a bit, even with the application of Teflon tape on the threads. I said 'eff it and cleaned the threads off and applied medium strength Threadlocker to it. Not coming off now until I want it to. I'm going to order a tighter choke for it later, the cylinder it currently came with is just too blunderbuss... even at close range.

    3. Fore end cap seems to have stopped loosening on me after firing repeat 00 buck.

    Good semi auto shotgun for the economical price. Certainly it needed a little work but not costly, and I am very happy with it. Will be installing a mag extension on it soon.

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    dreadpirate

    Ultimate Member
    Mar 7, 2010
    5,521
    Cuba on the Chesapeake
    There's just something about a tactical shotgun. :party29:

    The last time I went to a Sporting Clays shoot, there was a woman there with a 20 gauge Mossberg pump that was set up in a similar configuration. Just goes to show that these tactical shotguns can be pressed to serve multiple applications. :thumbsup:
     

    willtill

    The Dude Abides
    MDS Supporter
    May 15, 2007
    24,312
    Looks like a nice shotgun. Re AGC, did you shoot at the Trap range or at the "patterning" area? I have one I haven't fired in years. And I'm not a trapshooter.

    I have been shooting at the Barnes 100 yard range with it. Put target stands out with paper targets positioned uppermost on them at 25 and 50 yards and just blast away. I do need to build another new target frame since I blew apart one of them since :innocent0

    I want to get a tighter choke for it. Right now I'm just familiarizing with it and cycling a lot of buckshot through it, to break it in.

    You can see the buckshot impacting into the berm. It's all over it :D

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