For years, TriStar Arms’ Viper gas-operated semi-automatic has been high on the list of shotguns people recommend when someone wants a dependable autoloader without a price tag that requires a conversation at home. The Kansas City importer’s Viper G2 Bronze in .410 bore took American Rifleman’s 2019 Golden Bullseye Award as Shotgun of the Year, and the G2 built a loyal following among clay shooters and hunters.
TriStar’s newest version, the Viper G3, comes from the same engineers who designed the G2, and it now sits at the top of the Viper family. It’s offered in 12-, 20- and 28-gauge plus .410 bore, every model has a 3-inch chamber and MSRP runs from $739 to $1,129. NRA Media spent an afternoon with several of them on a sporting clays course earlier this year, and we liked what we saw.
Where the Upgrades Live
Pick up a Viper G3 and the oversized controls are the first thing you notice. Both the charging handle and bolt release are bigger than before, which helps on a clays course where you’re loading, unloading and walking between stations all afternoon. Wear gloves in a cold blind and you’ll appreciate them even more.
Inside, TriStar beefed up the internals so the gas system handles a wider range of shells right out of the box. The company says you can shoot light target loads one weekend and heavy waterfowl loads the next without changing anything. TriStar runs the Viper G3 through a 5,000-round endurance test and backs it with a five-year warranty.
Beyond that, it’s a familiar spec sheet for a working shotgun. You get a chrome-lined chamber and barrel, a vent rib with a matted sight plane and a fiber-optic front sight. Chokes are Beretta/Benelli Mobil-threaded, so if you already own Mobil tubes, they’ll screw right in. Most models come with improved cylinder, modified and full chokes, five-round tubular magazine with the plug installed, manual magazine cutoff and a stock shim kit. After the last shot, the bolt locks open.
As for weight, 12-gauge models run about 6.7 to 7 pounds depending on finish and barrel length. Figure around 6 pounds for a 20-gauge, and a bit less for the 28-gauge and .410 guns, which come in between 5.7 and 6 pounds.
At the Range
There was nothing scientific about our first look. Eight of us took a selection of Viper G3 models around a sporting clays course, and nobody counted shells. In about two hours we went through several boxes of Browning Golden Clays without a single malfunction.
Two hours of steady shooting is usually enough for a semi-automatic shotgun to show you its quirks. We couldn’t find any on these.
By the end of the afternoon, everyone was grinning. Our group agreed the Viper G3 is a real step up from the G2.
Keep in mind that Browning Golden Clays are 2¾-inch target loads, so we only tested the light end of what the Viper G3 can handle. Heavy 3-inch hunting loads will have to wait for the full reviews coming across NRA Media.
Viper G3 Configurations
My favorite was the Viper G3 Bronze, which pairs high-grade Turkish Walnut with a bronze Cerakote receiver and laser-ablated detailing, a fine striped pattern that stays subtle until you look closely. Price is $1,069 in 12- and 20-gauge and $1,129 in 28-gauge and .410 bore.
TriStar offers plenty of other options. A synthetic-stocked model opens the lineup at $739, and the Walnut version starts at $799. Hunters can pick Shadow Grass Habitat ($849), a camo designed for waterfowl country, or TrueTimber Atera ($849 to $909). There’s also a dedicated Viper G3 Turkey in Mossy Oak Bottomland ($889 to $949) with a 24-inch barrel and an extended turkey choke.
The Viper G3 Silver ($939 to $989) has a bright receiver and walnut furniture, and clay-target shooters can look at a separate sporting series that includes a Synthetic/Red version. Gauges, barrel lengths and stock options vary by model, so check TriStar’s website for specifics.
“The Viper has been a flagship platform for TriStar, and the G3 represents an exciting next chapter for the series,” TriStar Arms President Ryan Bader said. “We wanted to build on what made the G2 successful while bringing a new generation of the platform to hunters and shooting enthusiasts. The Viper G3 reflects our commitment to delivering functional, feature-rich firearms that offer outstanding value.”
Full specifications are available at tristararms.com.
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