TriStar Raptor Youth bolt release too stiff to operate!

testdepth · October 15, 2015, 06:36 PM

I bought my 11yr old daughter a new TriStar Raptor Youth 20ga. The bolt release on this gun takes two grown men and a boy to jump up and down on it to operate it! I have never seen a bolt release this difficult to operate.

I have the gun completely field stripped with spring and bolt removed and the button is still difficult to press and impossible for a young girl or woman.

I have Googled the problem and came up with nothing. Does anyone else have this problem and how did you fix it?

T. O'Heir · October 16, 2015, 01:15 PM

Hi. That screams manufacturing defect.
It still under warrantee? Has a 5 year warrantee.
http://www.tristararms.com/customer-service/

**4V50 Gary** · October 16, 2015, 02:23 PM

Poor fitting of bolt to the receiver. Send it back.

ETA: OK, just found out it is a semi-automatic shotgun. I'll need a parts diagram to go further.

testdepth · October 16, 2015, 04:42 PM

Called TriStar and was informed that it is the industry standard for me to pay to ship them their faulty manufacture defect shotgun to get them to fix it. This gun is a few months old and purchased new. Doesn't anyone provide customer service any more. Done with them and I'll fix it myself. If manufacturers make youth model guns then they should ensure the gun can be 100% operated by the youth!

Thanks guys!

testdepth · October 20, 2015, 04:02 PM

Just a follow up about this gun. A friend has a 13yr old daughter with the exact same gun and she also has the exact same problem with the bolt release.

If you intend to buy this gun for your "YOUTH" have them try the release first.

mete · October 20, 2015, 09:53 PM

It's designed to be "safe" --If it can't be fired it's safe!!! That idea for kids goes way back. If your kid is a responsible type get it down to a reasonable real kid situation ! I had a similar situation as akid along time ago .But then we got a 22Mauser from the 30's -- pure heaven .Still have that one !

ValricoWill · September 8, 2018, 11:03 PM

tagging in after searching if anyone else had the same issue. AND- adding this to the thread to update the next person:
Yes, the bolt latch release is stiff as a dickens. I had to hit it with my smithy hammer to get the bolt to go forward.
I tried the trick of pulling back a little, then pushing in the release- and a 50/50 success rate.
I just got the gun, took it apart and slicked it up (like it was a rifle- just custom)- and after putting it back together for a function check, the bilt just wouldn't go forward- unless I

hit it (LOL). It's not a removable part that you can polish up. I took it to the range today to break it in further for the semi-action (high brass/00 buck)- so I can get it ready for the lower 7 1/2s I'm gonna load for clay/skeet/trap)- as recommended to ease the failure to feed/fire/eject issues ("stovepipes") on these Turk semis...after a few 5x5 shooting, the latch did start to get easy and easier for release (as needed because it locks open after last round)...just a stiff bugger. I found out these "issues" also:
1) Dry lubing is ok (after polishing up to 3K paper)- but this gun is like an M2-Ma Duece Machinegun, and will need oil-oil-oil after a few 5x5 shoots. As I kept shooting, stovepiping developed and it looks dry as a desert sand.
#2)- also like a Ma-Duece, it cycles a "ghost round" of sorts. You load, charge, pull trigger, the bolt goes forward further in the breech. Charge again, and NOW, now there is a round ready for firing. Be careful...Try it first at the range (safely) and you'll see- it'll cycle - set bolt after 1st trigger (no boom), then charge again- and then you are ready for live fire. Oh yeah, and you can't load up and sneak another (5+1)- that ramp stays down after that first cycling. Just posting this in case others Google search, and find this thread on the Bolt Latch release...thanks!

Mobuck · September 10, 2018, 07:36 AM

Twenty years ago, I fought with a group of foreign made pump shotguns for 6 months and finally sent 4 of 5 back for a refund from the distributor. Each and every shotgun had some quirk or defect that required additional fitting, lengthy break-in, or outright gunsmith repairs. Number 5 was nearly perfect(except for being stiff) and 200 shots with a spritz of lube every 5 shots turned it into "almost as good as a Mossberg".
No more foreign made shotguns for me.

October 15, 2015, 06:36 PM	#1
testdepth Junior Member Join Date: February 4, 2011 Posts: 13	TriStar Raptor Youth bolt release too stiff to operate! I bought my 11yr old daughter a new TriStar Raptor Youth 20ga. The bolt release on this gun takes two grown men and a boy to jump up and down on it to operate it! I have never seen a bolt release this difficult to operate. I have the gun completely field stripped with spring and bolt removed and the button is still difficult to press and impossible for a young girl or woman. I have Googled the problem and came up with nothing. Does anyone else have this problem and how did you fix it?

October 16, 2015, 02:23 PM	#3
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,829	Poor fitting of bolt to the receiver. Send it back. ETA: OK, just found out it is a semi-automatic shotgun. I'll need a parts diagram to go further. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

October 20, 2015, 09:53 PM	#6
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	It's designed to be "safe" --If it can't be fired it's safe!!! That idea for kids goes way back. If your kid is a responsible type get it down to a reasonable real kid situation ! I had a similar situation as akid along time ago .But then we got a 22Mauser from the 30's -- pure heaven .Still have that one ! __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

September 8, 2018, 11:03 PM	#7
ValricoWill Junior Member Join Date: September 7, 2018 Posts: 1	Tristar Raptor Bolt Latch Release is Stiff- no doubt tagging in after searching if anyone else had the same issue. AND- adding this to the thread to update the next person: Yes, the bolt latch release is stiff as a dickens. I had to hit it with my smithy hammer to get the bolt to go forward. I tried the trick of pulling back a little, then pushing in the release- and a 50/50 success rate. I just got the gun, took it apart and slicked it up (like it was a rifle- just custom)- and after putting it back together for a function check, the bilt just wouldn't go forward- unless I hit it (LOL). It's not a removable part that you can polish up. I took it to the range today to break it in further for the semi-action (high brass/00 buck)- so I can get it ready for the lower 7 1/2s I'm gonna load for clay/skeet/trap)- as recommended to ease the failure to feed/fire/eject issues ("stovepipes") on these Turk semis...after a few 5x5 shooting, the latch did start to get easy and easier for release (as needed because it locks open after last round)...just a stiff bugger. I found out these "issues" also: 1) Dry lubing is ok (after polishing up to 3K paper)- but this gun is like an M2-Ma Duece Machinegun, and will *need oil-oil-oil* after a few 5x5 shoots. As I kept shooting, stovepiping developed and it looks dry as a desert sand. #2)- also like a Ma-Duece, it *cycles a "ghost round"* of sorts. You load, charge, pull trigger, the bolt goes forward further in the breech. Charge again, and NOW, now there is a round ready for firing. Be careful...Try it first at the range (safely) and you'll see- it'll cycle - set bolt after 1st trigger (no boom), then charge again- and then you are ready for live fire. Oh yeah, and you can't load up and sneak another (5+1)- that ramp stays down after that first cycling. Just posting this in case others Google search, and find this thread on the Bolt Latch release...thanks!

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October 16, 2015, 01:15 PM	#2
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Hi. That screams manufacturing defect. It still under warrantee? Has a 5 year warrantee. http://www.tristararms.com/customer-service/ __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

October 16, 2015, 04:42 PM	#4
testdepth Junior Member Join Date: February 4, 2011 Posts: 13	Called TriStar and was informed that it is the industry standard for me to pay to ship them their faulty manufacture defect shotgun to get them to fix it. This gun is a few months old and purchased new. Doesn't anyone provide customer service any more. Done with them and I'll fix it myself. If manufacturers make youth model guns then they should ensure the gun can be 100% operated by the youth! Thanks guys!

October 20, 2015, 04:02 PM	#5
testdepth Junior Member Join Date: February 4, 2011 Posts: 13	Just a follow up about this gun. A friend has a 13yr old daughter with the exact same gun and she also has the exact same problem with the bolt release. If you intend to buy this gun for your "YOUTH" have them try the release first.

September 10, 2018, 07:36 AM	#8
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	Twenty years ago, I fought with a group of foreign made pump shotguns for 6 months and finally sent 4 of 5 back for a refund from the distributor. Each and every shotgun had some quirk or defect that required additional fitting, lengthy break-in, or outright gunsmith repairs. Number 5 was nearly perfect(except for being stiff) and 200 shots with a spritz of lube every 5 shots turned it into "almost as good as a Mossberg". No more foreign made shotguns for me.