TriStar Arms is family owned and operated by company president, Gus Bader, and his two sons. While the brand may be new on the scene, Bader’s experience in the industry dates back decades. He started buying firearms overseas and bringing them back for resale in the 1980s. He founded the importing company American Arms, which he ran for about 13 years before moving on for a stint as a consultant. In 2005, Bader was approached with an offer to purchase TriStar Arms. He did, and he has built the brand up in the twenty years since from a struggling start-up to one of the industry’s top importers of quality firearms. Today, we will assess and review one of those imported beauties in the Tristar Arms Bristol Side-by-Side (SxS) 28 Gauge. Let’s dive in!
Tristar Arms Coverage on AllOutdoor
- TriStar Arms’ First Inertia-Driven Shotgun Line – Matrix
- Level Up with TriStar’s New LR94 Lever Action 410 Shotgun
- TriStar Arms Updates and Releases NEW Viper G2 PRO Series
- AllOutdoor Review: TriStar Arms TT-15 Sporting Over/Under Shotgun
Tristar Arms History
The people behind TriStar have worked to position the brand on two pillars: quality and customer service. “It’s one thing to sell a gun; it’s another to provide good, honest customer service,” TriStar Vice President Ryan Bader told Gun Digest. “We excel in that department. We had to separate ourselves the best we could; customer service has always been high on our list. Are we perfect? Not by a long shot. But remembering that we serve a customer has always been a good code of business. Without those customers, you are nothing.”
The company is not slowing down its growth anytime soon. As a matter of fact, it just recently debuted several new firearms at this year’s SHOT Show in Las Vegas, including the Cypher, Cypher X, Trinity II, Trinity II LT (lightweight), Phoenix SxS, Hunter Mag II Blade, and the Hunter Mag II Strata. “Each shotgun is a testament to our dedication to meeting the evolving needs of shooters, whether they are enthusiasts, hunters, or professionals,” Ryan Bader said.
Not only that, but one of TriStar’s shotguns was recently recognized by the NRA’s American Hunter magazine as the 2024 “Shotgun of the Year.” The award went to the TriStar LR94 Lever-Action .410, which was recognized for exceptional design, performance, and features. The LR94 is just as flashy as the Tristar Arms Bristol, with eye-catching details, but in true TriStar fashion, not at the expense of performance. It is available in three finishes, including matte black/walnut, case color/walnut, and nickel/walnut.
Specifications – Tristar Arms Bristol 28 Gauge
- Case Colored Receiver
- Brass Front Sight
- Single Selective Trigger
- Chrome-lined Chamber and Barrel
- English Stock w/ Select Turkish Walnut
- Oil Finish
- 5 Beretta® Style Choke Tubes (SK, IC, M, IM, F)
- MSRP: $1,250
First Glance – Tristar Arms Bristol 28 Gauge
At first glance, the Tristar Arms Bristol SxS 28 Gauge is intricately beautiful. It’s the kind of firearm you can’t help, but bring out to show off when friends stop by. It is a work of art with its gorgeous walnut stock and precision laser engraved detail. From the leading importer of quality firearms in the hunting and shooting industry, TriStar Arms, the Bristol SxS 28 Gauge delivers fine craftsmanship and functionality. In short, it is a fine-tuned, small-game eliminator.
TriStar’s SxS models are made to offer the traditional elegance and functionality of a classic (and expensive) side-by-side shotgun, but at an achievable price that still delivers exceptional field use and functionality. This double barrel SxS is ideal for any small game, such as pheasant, quail, squirrel, rabbit, and also skeet and clay target shooting. Because of its overall lighter weight and a lighter recoil than a traditional 12 gauge or 20 gauge, it serves well as a beginner shotgun or simply for someone who does not like a heavy recoil. It is worth noting that the effective range is probably within 30 to 40 yards of its designated target.
Field Use – Tristar Arms Bristol 28 Gauge
One thing that took some getting used to is the safety positioning. The primary safety is located on the top tang – slides forward and backward (back is safe) – and when engaged, is designed to block the trigger, hammer lever, and hammer. This immobilizes the firing mechanism, but first, you must move the selector left or right to select which barrel will fire first. This mechanism is a little stiff and takes some getting used to, but loosened up the more the shotgun was used.
TriStar Arms specializes in offering firearms with multiple functions; thereby, saving the consumer money by eliminating the need to purchase multiple firearms overall. Made in Turkey and imported into the United States, Tristar Arms shotguns can be purchased from authorized dealers and retailers. The company is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.
Final Thoughts – Tristar Arms Bristol 28 Gauge
The Tristar Arms Bristol SxS 28 Gauge performed well this winter while rabbit hunting in the snowy Adirondacks. That particular day provided just one shooting opportunity and that’s all that was needed. Two quick and accurate shots from the 28-gauge Bristol and we were on our way to rabbit stew. A big thank you to Tristar Arms for sending out this shotgun for our review on AllOutdoor. As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
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