It's been awhile since both guns have been out, what is the opinion from those with experience ? Which one is better made, reliable, best warranty should problems arise ?

I have the sa-08, it has been rock solid. I have a friend with a couple tristar they to have been very reliable.

Don't know about the Tri Star but I did buy a SA 08 20ga youth for my grandboys and it would not eject all name brand factory ammo, even with the correct piston. Sent it to Weatherby and they said it was OK, just had to use some makes of ammo but not all makes.
Sold it forthwith.

CT

No experience with the Tri Star but we have 3 20ga SA-08s and 1 12ga in our extended family and they've all been great.

I have no experience with the Weatherby, but I have the Tristar in 20 gauge, and my son has the sporting model in 12 gauge. Both have been extremely reliable. Only issue with either was a broken recoil spring on my son's sporting 12 gauge. One phone call to Tristar and a new spring was in the mail the next day. That's awesome customer service in my book

Tristar has a five year warrantee, I too have never had the Weatherby but the Viper G2 I have never fails to make Me smile. every time I have called them someone always answered the phone.

TriStar Viper, but that’s just me.

I own and have shot approximately 2,000 rounds through a Tri Star Viper G2 in 20 gauge. It has been unfailingly reliable! However, I have also handled and shot the Weatherby SA-08 and it is a better finished and therefore more elegant gun.

If I was now choosing between the two I think I would choose the Weatherby for that extra finish and appearance. I also happen to like the two piston design of the Weatherby. A friend has a 12 gauge version and it will shoot incredibly light loads with the appropriate piston in place.

That is my 2 cents worth, but you can't go wrong with either one.

Not within the scope of the OP's question but the Mossberg SA-20 is also a very good option, and now we have the new Retay Masai Mara 20 gauge which is not gas operated but maybe something to check out.

I have both guns and like them both. I seem to shoot the SA-08 a little better, it's also 6oz lighter. Other than that I'd give the edge to the TriStar. You don't have to swap out pistons with the TriStar. The customer service of TriStar is awesome. I like the "duratouch like" coating on the stock and the gas system seems more robust. I also like the shell handling of the TriStar better (not having to push a button to get the next shell out the magazine when unloading). My SA-08 wouldn't reliably cycle 3" shells until after sending it back to Weatherby for warranty repair, it cycles them fine now.

All that said, I usually grab the SA-08 since I shoot it better but have no problem recommending both guns.

Thanks for everyone's help. Will get the Tri Star when the wood version is available.

Interestingly enough the dirty secret here is before Weatherby branded the SA-08 it was imported by TriStar as the CD-Diana. I have the CD Diana 12 ga model I won at a DU banquet in '05 and bought my daughter the SA-08 in 20. Love them both but did have to replace the extractor on the 12ga last season. $25 part and $20 gunsmiths charge.

L.

This is my 5th year with the Weatherby. Skeet, waterfowl and pheasant. Not my only shotgun, but I've shot it enough to find problems. It was a previous generation of the shotgun, sort of. Not officially but they are somewhat superficially different. The biggest problem is forgetting to switch the Heavy and Light load piston when needed. Mine is the Max-4 camo. Those don't look to be offered anymore, unfortunately. Shoulders and points as well as my higher dollar Benelli. Short screw chokes, but I haven't seen screwy or wildly off shot patterns, so the little 11/4 inch tubes work for LM, IC and Cyl. (not using much 'choke')
High power duck loads were handled well (no shoulder bruising)and average Winchester Universal Walmart 100-pack loads worked great with the light piston.

It works well, handles and points well and holds-up so far.

I have the Weatherby sa -08 and really like the gun, I also like the fact that my browning invector chokes have the same thread pattern because I have a lot of them for a 20 ga Citori