Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns 28 ga Tristar Viper G2-v-Beretta A400 Xplor

Comparing the two the Tristar is lighter, holds 2 more shells and is half the price of the Beretta. Does anyone have an educated opinion on the two? Is the Beretta twice as good as the Tristar or is it just labor costs in the countries they are made in? Does one function better than the other?

I've got a Viper Bronze G2 but in 20 guage. Overall, I really like it (have a Beretta 391 and Beretta A300 in the autoloader rotation as well).

1. Trigger sucks. Mine broke at 7 1/2 lbs. Many say to put the mcarbo spring in for the Mossberg equivalent gun, I did, it might have knocked off 1/2 lb. I need to send it off for polishing. $75 will get it fixed, can't remember who everybody sends it to, but have seen several that have had it done.

2. My main recoil spring broke after about 500 rounds. Gun still functioned fine. Niece was actually borrowing it at the time. Tri-Star had a replacement spring (plus a magazine spring) in her hands the next day (only 3 hours from their KC office so that likely helped in the arrival). I don't know if that was a fluke issue, or foreshadowing future problems.

I bought mine purely as an experiment. To see how 'bad' a Turkish autoloader would be. At the time (maybe they still do), Buds offered a lifetime warranty for $25. If they can't fix it, they'll allow the full purchase price against anything they sell. The only problem with buying from Bud's, you don't get to pick the wood. Mine is very plain compared to many I've seen on the shelf.

I'm tempted to buy a 28 guage to go with it.

Never shot a Tristar, however have two Beretta A400's.. Shoot them each a couple thousand rounds with nothing more than a wipe down, before an inside cleaning. One had 5 malfunctions in perhaps 30,000 rounds. And they were all with cheap RIO shells. The other is pushing 10,000 with one malfunction. Friends have the same experience with theirs.

Perhaps the Tristar would do the same....but have yet to hear of anyone that has.

Friend has an A400 20 Gauge that hiccuped for the first 20-25. Has been flawless since.

Smart heavy use money is on the Beretta....

Thanks guys. Good info.

I have the Beretta in a 28 ga, and love it. It has done nothing but run like it should with any ammo I have tried to feed it.
I have seen several TriStars and thought that might be worth looking at. I do think they are one of the better Turkish made shotguns out there.

I was not a fan of my 28ga Beretta a400, mainly due to the way it fit me. However never had any issues with function.

I've got to tristar viper G2 in 28 gauge.. not shot it an extreme amount yet. But I have shot AA 1200 fps and 1300 ft per second loads as well as STS 1300 fps . And a box of Federal top gun I think they were like 1330 fps .. has not ever had an issue yet.. I've shot probably 500 rounds total though..

👍

Thanks again

Yes, the Beretta is worth the price. I think the A300 now comes in 20ga. Much less expensive and still Beretta quality. Probably the best value in the shotgun world.

Have an A300 in 12 ga. I got for waterfowl hunting. Just got it in May so haven't hunted with it yet.

Save the dough for shells and targets. Just use the 12 on grouse and quail. We won't tell and they won't care ;-)

True, but I am looking for a 28 ga for Chukar hunting. The lighter the better as long as I can shoot it. The new Browning Sweet 16 is also interesting.

I shoot my 28 ga A400 Xplor with 28" barrel better than any other light shotgun I own. It only weighs in at 5.5#s empty but still shoots well for me, whether hunting chukars, sharptails, ruffs or blues. It also shoot well on the skeet range but throws the empty AA cases a long ways. Great shotgun that has pretty well replaced my 16 ga AYA #2 RB and 20 ga Beretta 686 for upland hunting.