TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review
Part 5 - Internal Features
July 9, 2011

TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

In this part of the review, I will show detailed photos of all the parts and assemblies of the TriStar Cobra Force Pump Shotgun and discuss some of the internal features.  I have provided many photos and they should give you a good idea on the details of the shotgun.

 


Chokes

The TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun comes with two choke tubes and are the Beretta / Benelli style interface.  Both chokes are cylinder bore chokes.

Figure 1
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

The flash hider choke will add about 2.05" in length to your shotgun and is installed by hand.  The flared flash hider portion of this choke measures 1.06" for the outside diameter.

Figure 2                                                  Figure 3                                                      Figure 4
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review   TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review   TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

The standard choke is flush with the end of the barrel when installed and requires a choke key (provided) for installation and removal.

Figure 5                                    Figure 6                                     Figure 7
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review   TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review   TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 8
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review


Barrel

The barrel is manufactured using a drilling method and is made of 4140 steel.  The front sight is removable but is shown on the barrel in these photos.  There was a drip in the blued finish on the right side of the barrel.

Figure 9
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 10
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 11
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 12
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

The magazine lug is attached to the lower surface of the barrel and includes the forward sling swivel stud.

    Figure 13                                        Figure 14
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review   TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

I was not able to find any proof marks on the barrel assembly.  The reason I say barrel assembly is that it appears that the barrel is mated inside the barrel extension that interfaces with the receiver.  The small pin sticking out at the back of the barrel extension is the ejector for the shotgun.  As you pull the action back, the edge of the shell will hit this pin and flip the shell out of the ejection port.

Figure 15
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 16
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 17
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 18
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review


Magazine Tube

The magazine tube is a thin walled steel tube that appears to be a single piece tube which is necked down in the area above the threads for the magazine cap.

Figure 19
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

At the front of the tube is a small lip that bears up against the magazine spring retainer.

Figure 20
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review


Magazine Cap

The magazine cap is manufactured from some type of aluminum alloy.

Figure 21                                   Figure 22                                  Figure 23
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review   TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review   TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review


Forend

The forend is manufactured from some type of synthetic material and includes a lower Picatinny rail for mounting accessories.

Figure 24
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 25
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 26
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 27
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 28                                                       Figure 29            
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review   TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review


Action Bar

The dual action bars and bolt carrier are all machined form a single piece of steel alloy.

Figure 30
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 31
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 32
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review


Bolt Assembly

The breech bolt assembly is manufactured from some type of steel alloy.

Figure 33                                                                 Figure 34
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review   TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 35
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 36
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 37
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 38
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 39                                                            Figure 40
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review   TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review


Receiver

The receiver is manufactured from some type of aluminum alloy and is machined to a nice smooth finish.  It comes drilled and tapped and is ready for the upper rail installation.

Figure 41
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 42
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 43
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 44
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 45                                                 Figure 46    
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review   TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

The stock interface at the rear of the receiver does not match the Remington 870 or Mossberg 500, so the chances of finding an aftermarket stock would be slim for this shotgun.

Figure 47                                                    Figure 48       
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review   TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review


Receiver Mounted Rail

The receiver rail is manufactured from some type of aluminum alloy and measures 5.9" in length.

Figure 49
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 50
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

The top of the rail contains a trough to use for aiming if needed when not using the rear sight and the bottom is contoured to match up with the top of the receiver.

Figure 51
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

The rail is attached with four screws shown below.  Notice the right (front) two screws are shorter than the left (rear) screws.  If they are swapped during assembly, you will have problems with the barrel extension fitting into the receiver.

Figure 52
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review


Rear Sight

The rear sight attaches to the rail by tightening a thumb nut on the left side of the sight.  The rear sight is adjustable for both elevation and windage.  I was not impressed with the overall finish of the rear sight.  The black shinny surface kept flaking off to reveal the dull black surface.  In the photos below, much of that black shiny material has flaked off and the sight actually looks better.

Figure 53
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 54                                        Figure 55                                     Figure 56
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review   TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review   TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 57                                  Figure 58                                Figure 59
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review   TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review   TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review


Spacer

The synthetic spacer that is between the return spring and the receiver appears to have been hand worked on the top.  If you were to remove the return spring, I believe you should not remove this spacer because the the outside edge of the spacer serves as a guide to prevent the forend from touching the receiver when cycling the action.

Figure 60                                                                Figure 61
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review   TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review


Return Spring

The return spring measures ~6" in length.

Figure 62
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review


Trigger Plate Assembly

Like most trigger plate assemblies, I would not recommend further disassembly unless you are experienced with these types of mechanisms.  The trigger guard is some type of synthetic material (my bet would be glass filled nylon).  The trigger guard housing is held in place by the single retainer pin and by a rounded tab that nests in the back of the receiver.

Figure 63
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 64
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 65
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 66
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 67
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 68
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review


Trigger Plate Pin

Figure 69
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review


Stock

The stock is some type of synthetic material with a rubber molded pistol grip.

Figure 70
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 71
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 72
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 73 - Stock Bolt Washers
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 74 - Stock Bolt
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review


Recoil Pad

The recoil pad is sculpted to add some comfort and measures about .84" thick.  The high density/stiffness of this pad makes it's recoil absorbing capability relatively low.

Figure 75
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 76
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

Figure 77
TriStar Cobra Force Shotgun Review

 

Thoughts

With the exception of the rear sight and the drip on the barrel, the overall finish of the shotgun was good.

You can view the other parts of this review by using the links below or feel free to add a comment on the "Reader's Comments" page.


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