TriStar Upland Hunter Shotgun: Thumbhole Stock Meets 20-Gauge

Thumbhole stocks have become increasingly common across hunting and sporting firearms, offering shooters improved ergonomics, consistent grip placement, and better control - particularly when precision (and sometimes comfort) matters. While this kind of stock is not very common on shotguns, TriStar Arms is now leaning into that trend with the introduction of the Upland Hunter Thumbhole Stock. This is a 20-gauge over/under shotgun aimed squarely at turkey hunters and upland shooters looking for stability and balance in a lightweight package.

Built on a 20-gauge platform that is said to gain popularity for its efficiency and manageable recoil, the Upland Hunter Thumbhole Stock weighs approximately six pounds. The combination of light weight and balanced handling is intended to reduce fatigue during long days in the field while maintaining steady swing characteristics and control.

The shotgun features chrome-lined barrels, a ventilated rib, and a fiber-optic front sight to aid quick sight alignment. A single selective trigger is paired with a top tang safety that also functions as the barrel selector. TriStar includes five Beretta/Benelli-style Mobil choke tubes (SK, IC, M, IM, and F), allowing shooters to tailor patterns to specific hunting conditions.

"The Upland Hunter Thumbhole Stock delivers practical versatility and dependable performance," said Ryan Bader, President of TriStar Arms. "Running two chokes in an over/under setup allows for quick decisions when distances change."

A bronze-finished receiver is matched with Mossy Oak Greenleaf furniture, offering a traditional hunting aesthetic with practical concealment. As an over/under break-action design, the Upland Hunter provides straightforward operation, easy maintenance, and proven reliability. The dual-barrel configuration also allows two different choke selections at once, giving hunters immediate options for close or longer-range shots without changing chokes in the field.

The TriStar Arms Upland Hunter Thumbhole Stock is available now with an MSRP of $879. For more details, click on this link: https://www.tristararms.com/series/upland-hunter/

What do you think about the modern grip with thumbhole stocks on shotguns? Are they a practical upgrade, or a solution looking for a problem?