Tag Archives: shotgun

First Shots with the Charles Daly 301 12-gauge Shotgun

March 16, 2026Product review, Shooting hardware12-gauge, charles daly, model 301, shotguncoldboremiracle

Prologue

Charles Daly has been manufacturing firearms for over a century, importing a variety of firearms to the United States market. And recently they have even moved to begin manufacturing some of their products domestically here in the US. Today’s topic is one of the company’s meat and potatoes products, we will be reviewing the Charles Daly 301 shotgun, chambered in 12-gauge. One of many different firearms including various shotgun types and handguns patterned after the 1911 and other 9mm firearms like their PAK-9.

charles daly, model 301, pump-action, 12-gauge, shotgun

Charles Daly 301

I purchased the Charles Daly Model 301 pump as a gift for my son; every kid needs a pump-action shotgun. As I was looking at the gun,, it looked like it was very closely patterned to the Remington 870 I bought as a kid myself. With hopes of a similar good experience in mind, I figured it was worth a try.

charles daly, model 301, pump-action, 12-gauge, shotgun, disassembly, field strip, cleaning, — the Stripped down model 301, note choke selection

The Model 301 uses a pump-action design to feed cartridges from the tubular magazine into its 3-inch chamber. It’s vented-rib barrel is 28-inches long, and compatible with the WinChoke system. At the tip of the rib there is a brass bead for aiming. Included with the gun is a set of three chokes (IC, M, F).

The shotgun is stocked with synthetic polymer furniture and features a rubber recoil pad at the back. The controls are all located in the trigger/sear assembly pinned into the receiver. There is an action-unlock button on the front of the trigger guard, and the safety is behind the trigger.

Locking the bolt closed is much like the 870 design. The bolt rides on top of a wedged carrier, and when the bolt meets the breech of the barrel, the wedge pushes a locking lug up through the 12 o’clock position. The locking lug engages a reciprocating cut in the barrel extension.

Specifications

Caliber:	12GA-3”
Action:	Pump-Action
Barrel Length:	28” (711 mm)
Capacity:	4+1 Rounds
Feed In:	Magazine Tube
Trigger System:	Single
Stock:	Chk. Synthetic – Black
Forend:	Chk. Synthetic – Black
Safety:	Manual
Chokes:	Beretta/Benelli Mobil Choke Threads, MC-3 (IC, M, F)
Total Length:	48.25” (1226 mm)
Material:	Aluminum Receiver, Steel Barrel
Net Weight:	7.40 lb
Finishing:	Matte Black
Extraction:	Auto Ejection
Ships Loose:	Manual
Ean/Upc:	8053800941037
Note:	Receiver Grooved For Scope Mount

Shooting the Charles Daly Model 301

Our initial test of the shotgun would be shooting clay targets thrown by hand in the nearby mountains. Anticipating a great deal of shooting, we brought a case of shells and clays both. Initial impressions of the Model 301 were like this; it seemed a touch bulkier in the grip areas than other shotguns. Not a big deal unless you have tiny hands. There was a ever so slight zipping sound when you run the pump back and forth. I attribute this to tiny tooling marks on the sliding surfaces of the magazine tube and action. A very small issue, and as far as I can tell it has no effects on function.

charles daly, model 301, pump-action, 12-gauge, shotgun, clay target, clay pigeon, — Junior had a great time shooting the 301

Swinging the Charles Daly 301 felt very familiar to my old Remington 870. The textured rib stands out against the dull sky, and the brass bead gives a clear aimpoint. The controls too are very familiar and worked flawlessly. I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that a gun at this price point has many plastic parts, but I was surprised to see the trigger/sear pack was made of plastic.

As I disassembled the gun for cleaning after a range trip I did notice how strikingly simple the design is. It was easy to take it down to component pieces for easy cleaning and lubricating.

charles daly, model 301, pump-action, 12-gauge, shotgun, shooting, ejection, — positive extraction and ejection were the norm

Our Experience

Both my son and I went round after round shooting clays in the clear mountain breeze. For me it was like a familiar memory shooting my 30-year-old Remington, and for my son it was his own beginning to a similar memory.

charles daly, model 301, pump-action, 12-gauge, shotgun, ammunition, shells, — we shot a variety of ammunition from **Federal**, Remington and **Fiocchi**

Both of us are around average height, and we found the length of pull to be forgiving. And the reach required to operate the gun’s action was also average. As usual, it took us a little bit to figure out the lead and feel for this gun, it was a little easier when we swapped out the Modified choke for an Improved Cylinder.

Operation was flawless as you might expect, I’ve found that pumps either work or they are visibly broken. With little room in between. The model 301 had no problem shucking shells through the action, with excellent extraction and ejection throughout our shooting. We shot a variety of ammunition from Federal and Fiocchi, both 1-1/8 ounce as well as some 1-ounce loads. We even shot a box of Remington steel loads to see how this gun would do for waterfowl hunting next fall.

charles daly, model 301, pump-action, 12-gauge, shotgun, loading, magazine, — feeding the magazine was a little touchy, but once you figured it out everything went smooth

Pros and Cons

Charles Daly’s Model 301 does a fine job of fulfilling our purposes. As I mentioned I think it’s a crime for a young man not to have an inexpensive pump-shotgun to follow him through life. This gun for sure will spend some time in this alpine wilderness pursuing grouse and other game. The operating action of the gun seems reliable and solid; I am unsure if it is a direct copy of the 870 or just similar. But it does have many of the same functions and features, and even has a couple things I wish my 870 had. The barrel-nut has a nice ball-detent, with a broad surface for turning by hand. The inclusion of a set of three chokes was a nice addition that not every shotgun at this price point offers.

Finish Reading Here

Shootability

As an entry level shotgun, this gun must have some good shootability atributes. And we found it to be very comparable to the other entry level shotguns we brought that day. The long textured rib made a nice non-reflective contrast in the sky, and the bead popped enough to be useful.

I’m not sure why but it felt like the grip areas were a touch thicker than they needed to be, but otherwise perfectly fine. Both me and the boys all had no issues getting comfortable with the gun, and getting it on targets. One of them is left-handed, which made figuring out the safety a little different. But he otherwise had no issues shooting the 301.

The weight of this gun makes it easy to get up and swing on targets fast. Its controls are simple and easy to operate, pumping through box after box of ammunition.

Reliability

We experienced exactly zero malfunctions while shooting the Charles Daly Model 301. Over the course of several days and rangetrips we put nearly a case of ammunition through the gun. Of various types but mostly 2-¾ rounds shooting 1Oz and 1-1/8Oz loads. The claw extractor worked great at pulling spent shells from the chamber, and they were thrown clear of the action flawlessly and consistently. Like any gun, the Daly 301 seems to have broken in a bit since we first pulled it from the box. And I expect it will continue to smooth up even more.

charles daly, model 301, pump-action, 12-gauge, shotgun, bolt, bolt disassembly, firing pin, — the disassembled bolt of the Model 301

Ergonomics

Gripping this shotgun gave a natural sight picture. The comb-height and rib lined up great for me. Again, as an entry level shotgun I wasn’t expecting anything extraordinary. The controls were all easily reached from the low ready and shooting positions. The rubber buttpad gave both ample softness as well as sticking in the right spot in your shoulder pocket.

charles daly, model 301, pump-action, 12-gauge, shotgun, bolt, bolt disassembly, firing pin, barrel extension, breech, — here you can see how the bolt engages the barrel extension

Accuracy

Hitting targets with shotguns is about knowing patterns and leads. We found the Charles Daly 301 to be consistent in its patterns, which in turn allowed us the ability to learn and institute proper lead on flying targets. We did change out the choke once to see if it better fit our shooting style, and were pleasantly surprised by increased hits. Not all guns in this price point come with a selection of chokes, which greatly increases your ability to customize the pattern.

Value

There is a lot of good competition for great shotguns in this price range, so the 301 has some adversaries. Among them there are some great values on pump shotguns under $300, and so far as I’m aware they are mostly manufactured overseas. All that said, I found the Charles Daly 301 to be worth what I paid for it. I think there might be a competitor with a slight dollar value edge, but we’re not talking about much. A few boxes of shells might cost you more than the difference between this gun and its competitors, so it basically comes down to which one comes with the features you prefer.

In the Field with the EAA Balikli Blue Label Over Under 12-gauge Shotgun

February 10, 2026Product review, Shooting hardware12 gauge, balikli, blue label, eaa, european american armory, over under, shotguncoldboremiracle

Preface

Admittedly I am more of a rifle junkie than a shotgun enthusiast, but I can appreciate a good shotgun when I need it. I grew up hunting waterfowl and upland game in the western US, and for the most part I could do everything I needed with any of the classic pump-shotguns. But with time, and more mature tastes, I’ve broadened my inventory of shotguns. Over under shotguns carry a little more attitude, they bring a little more class to the game. Almost like K-cans, sports cars, and expensive glasses, they tend to be more of a luxury item. You can do anything with an autoloader or pump-gun, but it takes a touch of shooter’s vanity to give up capacity and reloadability with an over under. In today’s review, we are taking a look at a new over under option from European American Arms, the EAA Balikli Blue Label over under shotgun.

European American Arms

EAA Corp is a firearm supplier that specializes in getting quality firearms at affordable prices. The company prides itself on importing firearms that are more about quality function than looks. This obviously has an appeal to many Americans who only care about putting holes through the X and meat on their table.

we tested the shotgun with a variety of ammo from **Remington** and **Winchester**

Browsing the lineup of EAA firearms you will find some very familiar looking firearms. This appears to be in part because EAA sources firearms very similar if not cloned from popular guns made by the best manufacturers. You’ll find models with great similarities to popular firearms made by companies like Beretta, Browning, and others.

By importing products like these from EAA’s european and other partners, American gun owners can get a great price on a firearm comparable to much more expensive names.

The Balikli Blue Label Shotgun

Turkey is famous for making shotguns, so it came as no surprise that EAA’s Balikli shotguns come from Turkish factories. The Balikli Blue Label over under is built in the very typical design, with a break-action and single trigger. The set of barrels are cut 28-inches long in the 12 gauge model, and bored for chokes at the muzzle. Its vented rib also features a fiber optic orange bead at the front to aid in aiming.

The stock is fashioned from walnut, another famous Turkish export. The Balikli Blue Label shotgun is more of an affordable option than typical over under guns, so the walnut is a little more mainstream. The checkered walnut is matched to a handsomely engraved aluminum receiver. The mechanical single trigger fires both barrels, and the safety functions like most over under guns, allowing you to preselect which barrel fires first.

Specifications

EAA Balikli Blue Level Over Under Shotgun
Finish	Walnut / Black
Caliber	12-Gauge
Capacity	2 Rounds
Barrel Length	28-inch (12g) 26-inch (28g, 20g, .410)
Length of pull	14.5-inches
Overall Length	45-inches
Weight	6.35-pounds
Included Chokes	Skeet, Imp Cyl, Mod, Imp Mod, Full

the assortment of **Mobile chokes** were easy to change with the included tool

Shooting the Blue Label

Our first outing with the Blue Label was into the ice cold Rocky Mountains. The kids and I ventured into the snow with a box of clays and some Fiocchi 1oz target loads. Perhaps a little different than a typical trap trip, but we enjoy the hand-thrown clays. Shooting the light loads in these open mountains barely even justified ear protection. We all had fun figuring out the lead to break the clays, and the seemingly antiquated process of opening the action to reload.

Quality

Break-action shotguns are almost as simple as you can get, which should make it pretty easy to manufacture. I guess what I mean is this simple design lends itself to be made right. During all of our testing, I never found any kind of malfunction or problem.

While this shotgun isn’t meant to be some high-grade beauty like many other over under shotguns, it is well made. The wood is finished handsomely and everything fits nicely without gaps or edges. The checkering while simple, is clean and grippy. And the rubber recoil pad softens the felt recoil while shooting.

The receiver finish looks like a bead-blasted finish, with a pheasant motif engraved as is typical. Smooth controls with robust lock-up came as no surprise due to the simple design. I guess if you are the guy who shoots Perazzi or Guerini you’d probably notice more difference than I. But for the average American shotgunner, this gun’s fit and function were as good as you could expect for this price. You can tell its a sub $500 gun from Turkey, and that’s fine by me.

Shootability

I do like the shorter feel of under over style shotguns. Since they don’t have an action designed to cycle shells from a magazine, and are basically a chamber and breach, you get a shorter length than a similar barreled pump or auto. Swinging the 28-inch barrels was very natural, and the textured rib and fiber optic bead looked excellent when chasing clays through the sky.

The light weight of the Balikli Blue Label make it easy to carry around. I’d love to take it on a pheasant or chukar hunt, but at this point in the year It’ll have to be ducks or geese. Even our youngest boy had no problem handling the feel and recoil from this gun.

EAA, european american arms, balikli, blue label, shotgun, 12 gauge, over under, youth, kids, trap, — the kids had a great time throwing clays for each other

Reliability

It’s hard to come up with something much more reliable than a break action. There are so few parts to malfunction, and the simple operation is nearly impossible to screw up. I know other over under shotguns have spring ejectors to pop spent shells from the chamber. The Balikli Blue Label pushes the spent shells out of the chamber, making them easy to grab, but it doesn’t eject them clear.

EAA, european american arms, balikli, blue label, shotgun, 12 gauge, over under, o/u, ejector, — smoke rises from the chamber

EAA, european american arms, balikli, blue label, shotgun, 12 gauge, over under, o/u, — the compact package in its box

Continue Reading Here

TriStar Matrix 12 gauge Shotgun

June 9, 2025Product review, Shooting hardware12 gauge, matrix, semi-auto, shotgun, tristarcoldboremiracle

Introduction

Tristar is a firearms company with a specific stated purpose of specializing in value and firearms. With a variety of products manufactured in Turkey, they bring a great variety of firearm products at a very affordable price. Today we are taking a look at one of Tristar’s newer releases, the inertia driven Tristar Matrix 12 gauge Shotgun .

Yes, you read that right, the Matrix clones the clean and reliable operating system used big names like Benelli and Franchi. And while the Matrix is no slouch when it comes to looks, you might feel better about trouncing through the field or marsh with it instead of a more expensive shotgun.

The Tristar Matrix

The Matrix is their first venture into inertia driven shotguns, but hardly their first semi-auto. I’ve had the good fortune to shoot other Tristar shotguns, and I was impressed. With the Matrix using inertia to operate the action, the gun operates clean and requires less maintenance. And with a five-year warranty you can trust it will stay that way.

tristar, Matrix, 12 gauge, shotgun, semi-auto, inertia driven, — the controls of the Matrix are big and easy to find

The Matrix is offered in three different color patterns; a finished Walnut (tested here), a synthetic model with black polymer furniture, and a camo model featuring RT-MAX-7 wetland camouflage. All three finishes are also available in a 26-inch 20-gauge option for those looking for a lighter option.

Both options feature a 14.25-inch length of pull, and weigh in just over seven pounds with the 20-gauge models being about a 1/4 pound lighter. There appears to be a dovetail cut into the top of the receiver, though I couldn’t find an option for mounting anything to it.

Apart from the chokes included, there is also a different stock wedge you can use to adjust the angle of the buttstock. At the very rear you’ll find a soft rubber recoil pad for comfort.

the Matrix came with a set of chokes and wrench, as well as stock wedges

Matrix Features

Inertia Action
Oversized Operating Handle
Slam Button Bolt Release
Fiber Optic Sight
3 Chokes and Wrench (IC, M, F)
3-inch Chamber
28-inch Barrel
Ventilated Sight-Rib

Shooting the Tristar Matrix

To give the Matrix a good test, I figured we would put it to work on a case of clay targets. An afternoon and a case of shells ought to be enough to see what makes this Tristar shine. On a cool spring morning, my kids and I went up into the snow-covered Rocky Mountains. The cold breeze carried clay targets high into the blue sky and created that bobbing up and down while they flew.

We threw clays by hand, taking turns between throwing and shooting. Burning through a case of clay targets and box after box of ammunition. The handsome and curious walnut color shined beautifully in the afternoon sun.

Continue Reading Here

Check out more of our shotgun reviews Here

Franchi Affinity 3

February 23, 2024Product review, Shooting hardware20 gauge, affintiy, franchi, shotguncoldboremiracle

Introduction

Hunting shotguns have a great variety of choices in our American market today. With so many selections available, modern sportsmen are spoiled with options. Today we are going to take a look at one of those options, the Franchi Affinity 3.

The model we are testing today is chambered in 20 gauge, and has one of the many different camouflage coatings. The Affinity 3 is a semi-automatic shotgun, it uses Franchi’s inertia driven operating system.

As a lifelong bird-hunter, I am no stranger to the Franchi brand. And with waterfowl season in full swing, this little Italian repeater couldn’t have shown up at a better time.

The Franchi Affinity 3

Both the Affinity 3 and its big brother the Affinity 3.5 use Franchi’s inertia driven system. The 3.5 as you might imagine has a 3.5 inch chamber for shooting the heavier loads. One of the advantaged of the inertia driven action is reduced fouling. Since there is no gas venting from inside the shotgun, there is no carbon buildup other than in the barrel itself. And since there is no gas piston underneath the foregrip, the overall weight of the gun is reduced. Additionally this allows Franchi to make the foregrip more slender.

Various models are available of the Affinity, either twelve or twenty gauge. There are twenty-six inch barrels and twenty-eight inch options as well. The various camo coatings give hunters the option to mix into their environment. There is even an option for our left-handed friends. The TSA buttstock of the Affinity reportedly reduces felt recoil by 50%.

Other features of the shotgun are designed to enhance your shooting experience. Oversized controls on both the charging handle and bolt release make the Affinity easy to operate under pressure and while wearing cold-weather gear.

On top of the receiver you will find the Affinity is drilled and tapped for optics mounting. And up front there is a high visibility fiber-optic bead that gathers light even when there is little.

Hitting the Field with the Franchi Affinity 3

I had every intention of getting some serious trigger time behind the Affinity 3. For that I figured it would be good to break myself in on a few rounds of clay targets, before chasing after something feathered.

To that end, my brother and I took a short trip into the field to throw a few clays and see how the Franchi swings. We threw stack after stack of hand-thrown clay targets, over and under, from one side to the other. Challenging each other as best we could, because we both knew how the local waterfowl fly. And it was going to take some proper shooting to bring any of them down.

After burning through a case of clay targets, I felt pretty confident in my abilities behind the Affinity 3. I grew up shooting 12 gauge, so switching to 20 gauge is pretty easy. But having smaller patterns is far more concerning to me than recoil. If anything perhaps it made me a little less sloppy with my lead.

The lightweight Affinity bumped pretty good, its inertia system taking the edge off of the recoil impulse. I really liked the lightweight as I swung with the targets, and it would take a much longer than normal day of shooting to get fatigued by such a slender gun. I wish the gun had come with a selection of chokes, the one it came with was quite tight.

Post Shooting Impressions

Having shot the Affinity 3 extensively, I can say I felt quite proficient with it. I really liked the way the controls of the shotgun functioned, it made loading and shooting extremely smooth. As you might expect, the little Franchi plowed through box after box of ammunition without a single hiccup. The majority of our shooting was done with Federal Top Gun and Winchester Super Target ammunition. Both loaded with light loads of #8 shot.

It did take me a moment get used to the small 7/8 ounce loads, it required some additional diligence when targeting clays.

franchi affinity 3 20 gauge — we used **Federal Top Gun** and **Winchester Super Target** loads

The lightweight of the Franchi was very nice, it almost felt like a child’s toy. Maneuvering around with the gun was easy and could be done all day. And despite its light weight, the gun didn’t recoil as hard as I had anticipated. This likely due to the recoil operated action soaking up some inertia.

The only issues at all that I could find with the Affinity were the choke coming loose a couple times during our shooting. I’m not sure if I need to tighten it harder or if there was another issue, but it was something I checked and cranked it back down between shots. If you aren’t as familiar with shotguns like me, it might take a little tinkering to figure out the perfect barrel and bolt position for assembly.

Beyond the performance, the Franchi Affinity 3 is just handsome. A very nice finish and camo pattern make the shotgun very good looking. The fit and finish were of high quality, and I couldn’t find anything to complain about cosmetically.

With a drilled and tapped receiver, there are many things a shooter could do with this gun. Maybe you want to mount a red dot for another optical accessory. And the Franchi Affinity 3 is sling ready as well, with sling attachments at the rear buttstock and magazine cap as well. Our shooting was further aided by the bright fiber optic bead at the muzzle end of the barrel. These are small add-ons, but they are things that matter.

Continue reading here

Not a 20 gauge guy? Click here for some 12 gauge

-CBM

Tristar LR94 Lever Action Shotgun

June 8, 2023Product review, Shooting hardware.410, lr94, shotgun, tristarcoldboremiracle

INTRODUCTION

Like many of you, I grew up watching cowboy movies and loved the appeal of the old lever-gun-wielding hero. I always wanted to have a few lever-guns of my own, and have recently been adding them here and there to my collection. I was surprised to see the latest member of the group though, and despite my initial concerns it has turned out to be every bit as appealing. The Tristar LR94 lever action shotgun has every feature a lever-gun connoisseur would looks for, and maybe a few they wouldn’t have. My first thoughts about a lever-action .410 wandered into why a person would want or use such a firearm.

But after thinking about it for a bit, I figured it would be better to revisit that internal debate after I’d already proven the gun worthy.

Tristar is advertised as something of a more affordable brand, and I was worried that meant they would be cheap and come with comparable performance. The LR94 appears to offer a classy-looking shotgun with all the familiar function of a lever gun.

This brings a modest .410 shotgun performance, with mild recoil and a light load of shot for whatever you might point it at.

tristar lr94 lever action shotgun review test in mountains

TRISTAR LR94 SHOTGUN REVIEW

I was surprised when I opened the box containing the gun, as I was expecting a more traditional blued shotgun with a walnut stock.

As it turns out, mine was a Nickel plated model. They are also available in a matte black finish and a case-hardened color. As I lifted the handsome little shotgun from the box, I was impressed with the finish and quality look of the gun. Beautiful wood with a fine finish all around, and the nickel-plated metal had a bead-blasted look to it.

While it is sorta shiny, it also doesn’t have a hard flashy reflection like a blued shotgun would. Like anyone who ever watched a Western, I jacked open the action to see inside. The lever of the rifle was covered with a handsome little leather-stitched wrap. This was a welcome discovery as it added comfort to the back of your loading hand.

The LR94 features a two-and-a-half-inch only chamber, which makes ammo selection a little easier. The gun comes with a tubular magazine plug installed. This limits the capacity to three rounds only.

Check out the whole Tristar line of firearms here

This is typically done to accommodate many hunting regulations that require no more than three-round capacity. The plug can be removed to increase capacity to five rounds.

Like most lever-guns the Tristar LR94 uses a “squeeze-type” grip safety to allow the trigger to be pulled, which drops the hammer and ignites the chambered round.

In addition to that, the gun has a safety built into the top of the bolt. The safety is twisted clockwise or counter to engage or disengage the safety. The magazine is loaded through a side-gate like most other lever guns.

The muzzle of the rifle uses a Benelli Mobil style choke system and only came with one installed in the rifle. Also, at the muzzle is a clean front sight with a brass bead, easily indexed with the rear adjustable sight. It can be adjusted for both elevation and windage.

After my initial inspection, I was beginning to wonder if this shotgun was indeed going to be as inexpensive as Tristar’s “value experts” motto would suggest. It certainly didn’t appear to be a cheaply built or finished firearm.

tristar lr94 lever action shotgun review test young kid

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber	.410 2.5 inch shells only
Capacity	5 (without plug)
Barrel Length	22 inches
Barrel twist	Ha! (Gotcha its a shotgun)
Weight	6.3 pounds
Length of pull	14.25 inches
Choke style	Beretta®/Benelli® Mobil Style Choke (M)
Choke included	CT-1

PROS & CONS

PROS

Very Handsome
Quality finish and fit
Interchangeable choke system
Adjustable sights
Top safety

CONS

Only 2.5 inch chamber (because I had a bunch of 3”)
Top safety (call me old fashion, I’d prefer half-cock)

ON THE RANGE TESTING

After toying with the shotgun for a while at home, I decided to get it up into the mountains where it would get used. With a few boxes of ammo, I headed up to see what kind of shotgun quarry I could muster up in these barren spring mountains. I was hoping a squirrel or something might cross my path, but it wasn’t meant to be.

But I was prepared to give the gun a workout either way, as I’d brought a case of clays with me.

And without wasting any time, we went straight to it. Throwing clays and smashing them immediately with the little Tristar LR94 .410. Despite its much smaller load of shot, I managed to hit most of the targets I shot at.

This was a bit of a surprise, not because I typically miss, but because I was completely new to using a shotgun with both a rear and front sight. It actually came to me pretty easily, and in no time we were dropping dust from the sky.

I may be a bit of a trigger snob, but when it comes to shotguns I am nowhere near as sensitive. I actually had to change to stationary targets to even be able to focus on the trigger pull enough to evaluate it seriously. This also allowed me the opportunity to see how the gun would serve shooting at stationary targets.

tristar lr94 lever action shotgun close up with federal shells

RELIABILITY

During the entire duration of my testing, the gun functioned flawlessly.

This may be one of the strong points of manually operated firearms. They typically work unless something is broken. Making it more of it an “it works or it doesn’t” evaluation. Unlike semi-autos and others that may, at some point, need tuning or other effort to ensure reliability.

The loading of the magazine is simple and doesn’t bite your finger like some others. The positive handling of the shells as they move from the magazine into the chamber is evident, and after firing, they are cleanly thrown aside.

This shotgun will be absolutely familiar and easy to operate for someone familiar with lever-guns and their operation.

ACCURACY

Accuracy with shotguns is obviously a varying thing, depending on ammunition, chokes, and other things.

I will say this; I was surprised at how easy I found it to hit what I was aiming at. This may just be my misunderstanding of the smaller shot load of the .410, but I felt just as confident shooting it as my old 870.

OVERALL FEEL

The quality feel of the LR94 was very tangible; it was just plain handsome. The nickel finish and laser work were immaculate, as were the checkering and finish of the walnut. The leather-wrapped lever was a nice little touch as well, and the adjustable sights seemed a feature fitting a fine firearm.

MANEUVERABILITY

The Tristar LR94 isn’t very heavy in my opinion, and its twenty-two inch barrel makes it easy to point quickly. And with its traditional “rifle” iron sights, it seems easier to aim accurately at stationary targets.

It was an easy gun to pack around and quickly point at things. I imagined myself chasing Chukars through these same canyons but in the fall. The LR94 would be perfect for such an adventure.

FEATURES

LEVER ACTION

The lever action of the LR94 was flawless and familiar, like an old Winchester or Marlin you grew up with. No doubt, it will loosen up a bit with use, making it even easier to shoot.

TOP-MOUNTED SAFETY

I don’t use safeties that often, and if I do, I much prefer the traditional half-cock. I know it’s an unfortunate byproduct of our litigious society, but I don’t care for the look of the safety on top.

Obviously this is just my take; you may love it.

CHOKE

I wish I had a few different choke options for the LR94, but I didn’t have any trouble hitting what I aimed at, so maybe that wish was superfluous. The fact that it has a choke system, and you can adjust it to fit your purpose, is a fantastic trait. And being a very common and popular system used by both Benelli and Beretta makes it even better.

ADJUSTABLE SIGHTS

The sights of the Tristar LR94 are adjustable for windage and elevation. This is very handy if you’d like to adjust them for your use. Most shotguns don’t have or really need adjustable sights, but having them certainly has its upside.

This would be valuable if you plan on using the gun for turkey hunting or something similar.

tristar lr94 lever action shotgun hands on test woman shooter

HOW WE TESTED

The LR94, in my estimation, is a hunting shotgun. There are much better options for shooting clays and such, so I approached this from that perspective.

My father learned how to wing-shoot with a single-shot .410, which is probably why he got so good at it. With a smaller cup of shot, you have fewer chances to hit your target. Or you could look at it as you may hit it just as likely as with a 12 gauge, but fewer times, causing less damage.

.410 shotguns are ideal for shooting small game birds or other small animals for that very reason. Shooting a Quail or dove with bigger gauge shotguns runs the risk of significantly damaging your dinner. A .410 or 28 gauge is ideal for taking these smaller game animals without destroying them.

That is where I think this shotgun shines, in the pursuit of small game animals. With this in mind, I took the gun into the hills where Chukars call, and the squirrels watch closely for the movement of predators. The lightweight LR94 was easily carried around in the hills, and quite pleasant with its smaller size than shotguns that I would typically carry.

While it would work great as a squirrel or rabbit gun, shotguns are made for wing-shooting. With that at the forefront, I decided to shoot a few airborne clays to see how the Tristar performed pointed skyward.

I was quite surprised at how easily it came to me. I had perceived previously that the smaller .410 would prove more challenging to make hits. And yet I found myself dusting one target after another.

My wife and I would spend the better part of an afternoon hand-throwing clays for each other and enjoying every minute of it. We both found great success downing targets lining up the sights of the little Tristar.

AMMO USED

The majority of our shooting was done using Federal Game Shock 2.5-inch shells loaded with 7.5 shot. These loads seemed like a perfect fit for the little LR94. Find more .410 ammunition here.

tristar lr94 lever action shotgun with federal shotgun shells

SCORE CARD

RELIABILITY (10/10)

We experienced no malfunctions during the testing of the LR94. It cycled ammunition flawlessly and never failed to produce its pleasant little shove.

ERGONOMICS (9/10)

If lever-guns are your thing, then you will find this one to be very comfortable. The checkered grip areas feel great in the hand, and the leather-wrapped lever makes it a touch softer on the hands.

CUSTOMIZATION (7/10)

Other than changing out the chokes and adjusting the sights to your liking, I am unaware of any other customization for this shotgun. It does come with a front sling stud, so adding a sling is perhaps another option you may enjoy.

APPEARANCE (9/10)

I think the nickel/walnut look of this shotgun is quite handsome and a breath of fresh air compared to the constant blued/walnut look of 95% of lever guns.

VALUE (8/10)

With an MSRP of $1070.00, the LR94 doesn’t exactly come cheap. Though street prices typically hover around $700.00.

As you’ll see from the alternatives listed below, you can have a lever-action .410 for a little less or significantly more. Levered shotguns aren’t my thing, so I’d have to need one really bad to pay that price. That said, I believe the gun’s quality justifies that price.

CONCLUSION

tristar lr94 lever action shotgun test with shooting clays

After my time with the Tristar LR94, I wouldn’t exactly say I have been converted to the church of the lever-action shotgun. But I am certainly more open to their teachings.

Being my first run-in with Tristar I am also very open to seeing what they come up with next. If the LR94 is a great representative of what they sell, they deserve my attention.

If you find yourself looking for something perhaps a little unique then this shotgun might be right up your alley. I think it would serve as an excellent shotgun for a small game hunting gun, or as simply a conversation piece around a campfire.

The Tristar LR94 brings value and flawless function with nickel plated class in my opinion, and I’d be happy to take it into the woods this fall.

-CBM

Click here for more information on comparison, purchase, and alternatives.

Tristar Arms Viper G2 PRO 12 gauge shotgun

May 30, 2023Product review, Shooting hardware12 gauge, 12g, shotgun, tristar, viper g2coldboremiracle

INTRODUCTION

Tristar is a manufacturer and importer of firearms. Their moniker of being the value experts suggests that their products offer a significant value over the competition. I am more of a rifle junkie than a shotgun devotee, but like any true gun enthusiast, I do enjoy shooting them. Today I will be taking on the Tristar Arms Viper G2 PRO, a 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun designed for sporting and hunting purposes.

It seems over the last few decades, there has been a large influx of Turkish-made shotguns brought to the market. Being a rifle addict, as I mentioned, I have been mostly unaffected by this trend.

But I am happy to take on almost any firearm, and those brought in from the Turkish market definitely seem to bring value.

After just a few minutes handling the Viper, I expected I was going to like it.

THE TRISTAR ARMS VIPER G2 PRO

The Viper G2 PRO features a twenty-eight inch barrel and is operated by a gas piston to cycle the action. Like most every other semi-auto shotgun, it uses a tubular magazine to carry up to four rounds plus one in the chamber.

The Viper utilizes a handsome blend of beautiful wood for the stock and a bronze color finished receiver mated to a blued barrel.

A push/push safety in the trigger guard will be very familiar to shotgunners, as are the rest of the controls. The bolt release is on the right side of the receiver, just under the bolt charging handle.

I was impressed with the presentation of the Viper, it is a handsome-looking shotgun, and it was time to see what it could do.

TRISTAR ARMS VIPER G2 PRO REVIEW

Tristar presents itself as a value option in shotguns. I wanted to see if that meant it was worth the money or if that just meant it was cheaply made. There are plenty of cheaply made options out there, and I have no interest in them.

After handling the Viper I think it was safe to assume it wasn’t slapped together by unskilled hands, the fit and finish of the shotgun looked very comparable to the competitive price.

The MSRP for the model tested is $990.00, but in a cursive search of the market, various configurations of the Viper can be had for as little as $460 to near the MSRP price. The majority of the ones I found were around the $600 mark, which isn’t bad for a good shotgun in my estimation.

To be fair, a guy like me would probably do well with the Viper. If you aren’t one of those haughty shotgunners looking down their nose through a strange shade of amber shooting glasses at non-Italian shotguns, you could also benefit from the Viper G2.

With a price like this, it could definitely be a winner for those looking to scatter shot on a budget.

tristar viper g2 pro bronze review and disassembly

The Tristar Viper G2 is available in a bunch of different setups, colors, and even a left-handed version. This is great for those looking, as it gives you more options at a decent price. Make sure you look at all of the models, as there may be one better suited for you than this model. Whether you are dusting clays on a range or seriously seeking turkeys, you have got some great options.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber	12 gauge three-inch chamber
Capacity	5 rounds max
Barrel length	28 inch
Caliber options	12g, 16g, 20g, 28g, .410
Color options	Bronze, Silver, Black, and three different camo patterns.
Models available	Right and left-handed
Weight	6.8 pounds
Length of pull	14.25 inches
Choke system	Beretta®/Benell® Mobil
Chokes included	Improved cylinder, Modified, Full

PROS & CONS

PROS

Very handsome shotgun
Reasonably priced
Functions excellent
Compatible choke system
Includes choke set
Feels very light
Cycled every kind of ammunition I tried

CONS

Not made in America (if that matters to you)
It bit my finger (obviously my fault)

tristar viper g2 pro bronze review and test in rocky mountains

FIELD TESTING

Enough chit chat about numbers and prices, it was time to get the Viper into action and heat it up.

For this, my brother and I ventured into the springtime Rocky Mountains, which are currently still stuck in February mode. But with a gorgeous day before us and several boxes of shells and clays, I knew we were going to have a good time.

Hand-thrown clays add an extra layer of fun to shooting shotguns, unless you bring my nephew, in which case it becomes a very hazardous two-way range. We took turns throwing targets for each other, running an assortment of shells from Remington and Fiocchi.

Shop all of the Tristar guns, you need a Star…

RELIABILITY

I had accidentally glanced at the manual that came with the Viper, and in doing so, I noticed that they recommend a break-in process using magnum loads. I was a bit concerned thinking there may be a reliability issue since my inventory was currently barren of any three-inch shells.

tristar viper g2 pro bronze review and test in rocky mountains with clay shooting

With that in mind, I approached the first few shots paying close attention to the cycling of the action. Whether it be good luck or simply the sunshine, the Viper ran like a typewriter despite my complete disregard for the break-in.

We cranked through several different boxes of ammunition to see how the Viper handled them. There were some light-weight 1oz. Sporting loads as well as some 1⅛ oz. loads, everything we shot was either 7.5 or 8 shot size.

During all of our shooting, we had zero malfunctions. The gun functioned perfectly and locked back every time.

ACCURACY

I usually don’t have much trouble hitting what I’m aiming at with shotguns. But it did take me a minute to get the flow right with the Viper, and once we did, we really hammered everything.

The fiber-optic front bead made it easy to see, and every time we lined it upright with the flight of the targets, we would be rewarded with a dark cloud of dust.

tristar viper g2 pro bronze review and test in rocky mountains with clay shooting 2

OVERALL FEEL

The Viper G2 felt excellent in my hands. Its lightweight made it quick to point and easy to keep on target. I say lightweight mainly because I am used to rifles; compared to those, the Viper is very light.

But it is lighter than some of its competitors, like the Beretta A300 or the Stoeger M3500.

I mentioned before that the fit and finish of the gun was great. It looks better than I expected it to, knowing that it was a “value” branded shotgun.

The trigger and other controls were perfectly familiar and easy to operate. Almost too easy as I managed to get my finger bit by the bolt when I got too close to the bolt release.

The gun goes together easy enough, though I did have a bit of an issue getting the barrel seated properly. This was likely more my struggling than anything.

FEATURES

MOBIL CHOKE SYSTEM

The Mobil choke system used by both Benelli and Beretta is extremely popular, which makes it an easy choice for most folks to use. This will allow you to upgrade to aftermarket choke tubes if you’re into that kind of thing.

FIBER OPTIC SIGHT

The orange fiber-optic bead at the end of the vented rib gives an excellent point of aim while wing-shooting.

RECOIL PAD

The soft rubber recoil pad made the Viper feel great on the shoulder. We didn’t shoot any particularly heavy loads, but I am sure the recoil would have been soaked up by the Viper’s action and recoil pad

WALNUT STOCK

The beautiful Turkish walnut shows through the glossy finish on the Viper. The checkering gives great purchase for both hands to keep a good grip on the Viper.

HOW WE TESTED THE TRISTAR ARMS VIPER

For several hours, we ran the Viper through rounds of clays.

To make it fun, we changed position frequently, as well as the direction of targets. Switching back and forth between throwing and shooting made for great practice. Swapping chokes did seem to help somewhat for the different target presentations and distances. But it’s also likely that it was simply my perception that made it seem that way.

We shot three different types of ammunition during all this shooting, and for the most part, we didn’t notice any difference in operation or the ability to hit targets.

AMMO USED

In addition to the Remington Gun Club target loads and the Fiocchi dove loads, we also shot some Fiocchi Shooting Dynamics target loads.

SCORE CARD

RELIABILITY (10/10)

I experienced no malfunctions during testing of the Viper G2

ERGONOMICS (9/10)

As far as shotguns can be comfortable, this one certainly was. The only way I would improve it is perhaps with an adjustable cheek-riser.

CUSTOMIZATION (8/10)

Other than the included shims for the stock, and the Mobil choke system, I’m not sure what you would customize on this gun. Perhaps additional beads or something, but it’s fine as is.

APPEARANCE (8/10)

I found the Tristar Viper G2 to be quite handsome. The contrast of the Cerkoted receiver and the blued-barrel matching the glossy finished walnut made a very handsome gun.

VALUE (8.5/10)

I think the Viper is a good buy for many of the prices I saw during my internet search. The less expensive models appear to be an outstanding value.

READ THE CONCLUSION

The Tristar Viper G2 PRO actually surprised me. I was expecting something a little more economical. Something cheaper I guess, is a good way to describe it.

But it turns out I quite liked the shotgun, and at no time did I ever really feel like it was a cheap alternative to something nice. Keep in mind I am no shotgun aficionado; that would be my father.

And as such, I have been exposed to plenty of ostentatious and extravagant shotguns, I’m not suggesting that the Viper can stand alongside them but I think it is still a perfectly suitable alternative.

Fine shotguns seem to last a very long time. That is the only thing missing from this review.

A year or two of hard use or a couple of seasons in a duck blind would certainly give a better indication as to the Viper’s long-term durability. I wish I had a time machine to do exactly that, but for now, you’ll have to just gauge the Viper off what we know and have shared here today.

That said, I would happily take the Viper G2 into the field again; it’s grown on me.

-CBM

Like 12 gauge autoloaders? Read this one next…

Winchester Model 12 Shotgun

August 15, 2022Product review, Shooting hardware12gauge, model 12, shotgun, winchestercoldboremiracle

Introduction

I don’t find every old firearm to be interesting, but there are the occasional ones that grab my attention for any number of reasons. The Winchester model 12 just happens to be one of the few that did pique my interest, and today I’m here to tell you a little bit about my experience with it.

History

The Model 12 is a pump action twelve-gauge shotgun, iconic in that it has the classic features that make a pump-gun so appealing. And it may not be the first, but it certainly trained generations how to shoot airborne game among many other things. The Model 12 was also used by the US Military, making it an actual war weapon unlike your AR 15.
My father grew up shooting an old model 12, barely a teenager when it was given to him by my grandfather he used it for hunting pheasants and ducks in the marshy wetlands beyond grandpas pasture. As a child I remember seeing Dad tinker with it amongst his other guns.

The model 12 uses traditional wooden furniture, with an easily identifying ribbed front grip. A shallow rib runs the length of the barrel, with a targeting bead on the muzzle end. The barrel itself is a thirty-inches long and has a three-inch magnum chamber. It features a familiar safety at the front of the trigger guard, and an action release just behind it. The tubular magazine holds six 2-3/4 shot-shells, and it is clamped to the barrel at the front of the tube.
I looked up the serial number and if the internet is to be believed, this gun was manufactured in 1917, making it a hundred and five years old.

In the Field

After some inspection and thorough familiarizing myself with the gun I decided it was time to see how it shoots. I loaded up some clay targets and a few boxes of shells and headed to the hills. The family and I spent a good part of the afternoon shooting the model 12, smashing clays and pumping fresh shells through the gun.
This model 12 in particular appears to be in pretty good shape, and yet we did have just a few hiccups with it. The trigger on the gun doesn’t reset when pumped, you can literally hold the trigger down and pump shot after shot like the old western revolvers. A couple times it felt as though the trigger followed the bolt home and didn’t go off, leaving a dead trigger. This is likely as much a result of my children’s inexperience with shotguns as anything. On a couple occasions the bolt felt stuck in battery, requiring an extra shove from me to extract the spent shell.
Despite these hiccups, we still had a great afternoon on the mountain. The barrel was made way before interchangeable chokes, so you get what it came with as far as that goes. I imagine it is set fairly tight, as the shot pattern seemed much smaller than I expected. This made shooting the hand-thrown clays a whole lot more challenging. We were shooting one-ounce loads from Winchester and Fiocchi, both using 7.5 shot.
I am certainly not the best wing-shooter, but I did feel like I was cheated out of a few hits by the model 12. Shots I am very confident I’d of made if I were shooting one of my guns. Continue Reading Here…

PROS AND CONS

Winchester Model 12 12-Gauge Pump-Action Shotgun — The older design also features a fixed choke, likely a fairly aggressive one from my shooting so far

The Model 12 has plenty of history. If you are a collector, that may weigh heavy on your selection. Personally, I have no use for guns that I’m not going to shoot. So, it has got to be useful to fit in my safe.

The Model 12 could be perfectly useful for the right kind of shooter. The same pheasants that my father hunted as a youth could still be hunted with this gun, as could the doves and chukars that live on the dry desert hills above my home. The 3-inch chamber would probably work great for shooting turkeys if you so choose, depending on how it patterns.

Shop 12 Gauge ammunition here

The gun is simple, and the no-frills construction also lends itself to a fairly lightweight. The older design of the gun could also use some modern touches. The recoil pad isn’t particularly forgiving, something the kids noticed a lot more than myself. I imagine it would become more noticeable if I’d been shooting 3-inch shells. The few malfunctions we experienced could be from the 100+ years of use, resulting in some wear. It also could have just needed a little TLC. Regardless, I’m confident that some simple maintenance from a qualified gun plumber could fix it right up.

IN CONCLUSION

Time hasn’t passed in vain with this old shotgun. But it still has much to offer anyone with a taste for classic American firearms. The feel of the century-old craftsmanship definitely has its allure, and slamming the action shut on a live shell speaks volumes to the old refrain, “They don’t build them like they used to.”

-CBM

Beretta A300 12 gauge shotgun

July 11, 2022Product review, Shooting hardware12 gauge, a300, Beretta, outlander, shotguncoldboremiracle

Introduction

It’s hard to imagine a good lineup of autoloading shotguns that doesn’t include something from Beretta, the European manufacturer is one of the oldest pillars in the firearms business. The firm is well known for many notable firearms, but they are known in these parts for their shotguns, and the Beretta A300 Outlander is the one we are playing with today.

Autoloading Beretta’s

My Father is a bit of a shotgun junkie. Being things as they were when I was younger, I was exposed to some very nice shotguns. I also got to shoot many of them, Dad wouldn’t let me bring my two-hundred dollar Remington 870 when he had a couple fancy Italian’s on standby. And whether it was a fancy double barreled gun or a handsome auto-loader, I was happy to give it a go.
Beretta makes a broad assortment of semi-automatic shotguns, whether it is an M9 for tactical scenarios, or today’s A300 field gun, there is a Beretta to fit your needs.

The Beretta A300 Outlander

The A300 Outlander like many of Beretta’s semi-auto guns is a gas operated system. The action is operated by gas pressure vented from the barrel to a piston, which pushes an operating rod disengaging the bolt and cycling the action. It sounds pretty simple, because it is. Perhaps the reason why it is such an effective system used by so many. The gun is fed from a tubular magazine that can hold up to three two and three-quarter inch shells with the plug removed.
This model came with dark wooden furniture, but the gun is also available with synthetic options and camouflaged coatings. The twenty-eight inch barrel features a three-inch chamber which allows you to shoot any two and three-quarters or three-inch loads. And the muzzle utilizes an assortment of replaceable chokes to adjust your shot pattern to the ammunition and expected shots.

The controls of the Outlander mirror most semi-auto shotgun patterns, so whether you are learning on the A300 or coming from a different model you will find the controls familiar and easy to operate.
I grabbed a few boxes of Winchester and Fiocchi ammunition, both of them with one-ounce loads of 7.5 and 8 shot. And with a couple cases of clay targets my Dad and I headed out for an afternoon of bustin’ clays.

In the field

Of course Dad was going to bring a couple of his own guns, something we could compare the A300 to. A Benelli SBE and A Winchester SX3 would make great company to the Outlander, as well as something we were both familiar with to compare it to.
We started throwing targets to get a little warm up going, and before long we switched over to throwing doubles and report pairs.

The Beretta felt great in my hands, I felt a little bit of a squish on the cheek to get a good view down the rib. As I continually swung the gun after targets I found that old familiar feel of pacing the flying target with the bead. To my surprise I did quite well shooting the A300, better than I had done with the other guns present anyhow. A good bit of time passed before I managed to miss a target, and as it invariably happens the gun wasn’t at fault.
Following the faster targets that came from the side I was able to maintain a good sight picture down the rib, and it felt great to watch those clays turn to dust. The modest recoil from the one-ounce loads was easily manageable, and follow-up shots were quick to get on target.

Proper shooting with any shotgun requires a proper setup, we did change out the full-choke for something a little more open. Hand thrown clays can often be more challenging to hit than mechanically thrown targets, and many of the shots we made were fairly close. So before we started, I swapped the choke out for a modified for a little broader pattern.
I managed to talk my Dad into putting his gun down for a minute, to see how what he thought of the Beretta. He too was able to make good hits with the Outlander, and his old guy hmm haw of approval was well deserved. Continue Reading Here…

Aftermath

After cleaning up a pile of shells and heading back to the house, it was time to clean up this beauty. Disassembly of the A300 was quite easy, resulting in an easy cleanup. Removing the barrel is done by removing the magazine cap and sliding it out. The piston assembly and spring are easily serviced if needed, and the bolt and operating rod can also be removed to get all the gunk out. I’m a bit of a clean freak with shotguns, but I do come by it honestly.

Growing up, I spent countless hours in the marshy wetlands around the Great Salt Lake. Bad weather always made for the best hunting days back then. So, it was common to bring home my old shotgun with both water and other marsh crud attached. It usually required a near full disassembly to get everything clean. If I were to do it all again with the A300 Outlander, I think it would have been easy for a 16-year-old me to get it torn down, lubed, and put back into shooting order.

Beretta A300 Pros & Cons

The Beretta A300 seems to be an entry-level autoloading shotgun. There are surely less expensive semi-auto 12 gauges. But while it’s not a cheap gun, the reputation that comes with a Beretta makes it fairly priced. The controls of the Outlander also made it very easy to shoot. The safety is a bit larger than many, which I found to be a pleasant departure from the norm.

The gun is also a bit no-frills, which is okay if you’re just trying to bust clays. I would have liked a brighter bead on the rib, perhaps a fiber-optic type. But I also would have probably gotten one of the various camouflage-coated models as well to better fit the kind of hunting I would likely do. Of course, these aren’t marks against the Outlander, but it is nice to know you have the option.

Conclusion

There are so many great options for shotgunners in today’s market. You can spend as little or as much as you’d like. That said, I think the Beretta A300 Outlander is an easy bet to win. No doubt it will serve your needs in the marsh or the wooded hills in search of feathered game.

-CBM