Pietta Mirage 3

In the UK Pietta really means muzzle-loaders and classic firearms, but they also make shotguns, which is no big news to smoothbore enthusiasts. What is new is their gas- operated semi-automatic, the Mistral 3, which is new in concept but as traditional as they come in execution.

And it’s in the presentation, handling and all round feel that I’ll point one thing out. If you’re looking for the pinnacle of semi-auto design the Pietta ain’t for you. Instead what you do get for your all-in price of £545 is an honest to God, basic gas/piston shotgun.

Fundamentally, the Pietta is cheap and fits in nicely with the current wave of mainly Turkish-made guns that compete in the £500 price area. It won’t however prove to be the ideal economy semi for everyone. Whilst it exudes no nonsense fire power the Mistral 3 will find little favour with those used to more refined designs. In action, this 12-bore has a definite rawness of operation reminiscent of some of the earlier examples of this type of mechanism.

Slightly More

Now imported into the UK by David Nickerson, the Pietta comes complete with a simple plastic travelling case that, like the rest of the Mistral 3 takes every opportunity of enlightening the user and all those around them that this is a product of FAP or F.LLI PIETTA, the three initials appearing on as many surfaces as possible. Overall the appearance and finish of the Mistral 3 is slightly more than you’d expect when compared to the price, no one aspect seemingly to let the side down. Equally once assembled, its 7½ lb weight confirms that you do at least have a substantial piece of weaponry that feels exactly like it should do.

Barrel wise, the 28” tube shows a constant 7mm vented rib and small high visibility LPA bead sight. Three, chrome-lined chokes are supplied - Full, Modified and Cylinder. Typically the receiver is a high strength aluminium alloy and anodised black, on the right side are engraved a pair of incongruous looking woodcock, which do look a bit out of place.

The furniture consists of what is described as matte varnished walnut. Whilst the extended beaver tail forend is wood the butt has a definite air of the synthetics about it. Shaped in this instance for a right-handed shooter, the pistol grip’s curvature and palm swell both preclude usage by left hookers. Whilst the layout means that unless you’re blessed with large hands you’ll have to hold the Pietta higher than usual, or stretch your fingers to reach the smooth, stipple-free trigger blade.

Soft Honeycomb

Checkering is laser cut, uniform in appearance and soft on the hands, way to often the diamond cut of cheaper guns markedly uncomfortable. Similarly the butt is finished off with a soft, honeycombed recoil pad although the precision of fit and excess of adhesive does rather detract. Where modernity has made itself felt is in the fibreglass reinforced, techno polymer trigger guard. Matte black in appearance and housing the now familiar cross-bolt safety catch, this substantial component does a remarkable job of protecting the rather angular blade. Equally you do tend to be able to feel it against the side of your finger when shooting. Overall though, the appearance of the Mistral 3 is more than acceptable given that it’s a budget gun of traditional design and presentation, none of that camo transfer malarkey to be found here.

Selecting a quiet stand down at Coniston SG, I elected to try a few shots before I embarked on trying to break some clays. Apart from the bolt release situated on the left side of the receiver, you load and chamber the first of three rounds in the conventional manner. However, to get two and three into the magazine, you need to keep the bolt release catch depressed to allow the shell lifter hinge freely. Chromed and noticeably stiff, this angular piece of metal is complimented by a small sprung loaded armature, the purpose of which still eludes me whilst the lifter displayed an unrelenting urge to remove the end of my thumb.

A Slam Dunk Action

Loaded up with Eley VIP FITASC’s the first sensation is that as a self regulating, gas/piston mechanism, every last vapour is utilised in operating the action. There’s a definite slam as the empty is released from the single lug bolt, ejected and the new round lifted and rammed into battery. Similarly with the reach from grip to trigger as long as it is combined with the basic flat design of the blade and the weight required releasing the firing pin. You’ll definitely need to acquaint yourself with the Mistral 3 before you head out onto the layouts or thin out the local vermin, the heavy trigger pull not doing a lot either for shootability.

Two rounds of Skeet along with three stands of SportTrap convinced me that at heart this Pietta is a good and usable shotgun. Which should provide years of all-round service for those who need a working semi capable of a variety of chores. Leaving the Cylinder choke in place, the Mistral 3 broke all of the targets presented and only the combination of high winds and my own lack of ability to correctly read the dancing clays seeing scores reduced. That said those with shotguns costing five times as much and considered far better than myself were also missing them so a degree of consolation was at hand.

With the bulk of the gun’s weight centred just in front of the chamber, it was reasonably easy to start and swing although you do have to be careful not to accelerate the muzzle to quickly through the target. My personal technique is to come up onto the clay and pull through it. With the Pietta I found that I had to slow my swing otherwise I was missing in front. Equally this is one of the flattest shooting semis I’ve used for a long time so aiming just below resulted in the extremity of the pattern connecting. But with a slower swing and aiming dead on did improve matters, whilst the longer than normal forend did allow for grip modification without having to handle hot metal parts.

Like every gun, the shooter, you needs time to familiarise themselves with the weapon’s individual traits. But with no adjustments whatsoever you’ll have to adapt to the Mistral 3 by altering your style or by working your way through a selection of ammunition to find the choke and cartridge combination that suits the both of you.

For anyone who wants a new semi-automatic designed, built and functioning like they used to do, Pietta’s Mistral 3 is the gun for you. But if you’ve got used to the more up to date offerings, it’ll be a backward step. Nevertheless for £545 its well worth what a friend of mine terms ‘a thick coat of looking at’. And whilst it won’t suit everybody you’ll never be able to deny that the Mistral 3 represents good value for a shotgun that purports to be nothing more than a gasser of the old school.

With thanks:
Eley Hawk, 0121 – 3523277 - VIP Sporting cartridges
Coniston Shooting Grounds, www.conistonshootingground.co.uk

PRICE: £545