Tristar Viper- anyone have real world experience?

edgy

edgy

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Looking for a gas operated semi for the wife to shoot Trap this year. Not my first choice, but she has come across a couple of Tristar models she likes, a Viper G2 Sport 12 gauge and a Raptor 20 gauge. I would rather get her a 940 Pro Field but she tends to shoot more if she “ loves” her gun so it’s her choice. I’ve watched a ton of reviews and they actually get some good reviews.
If anyone has any real world experience with either of these Tristar models and would like to share it would be appreciated. This shotgun will be used strictly for Trap, and as she is a fair weather shooter, probably only 10-15 shoots a year so not looking to pound thousands of rounds thru it every year.
As much as I appreciate other suggestions usually, I’m only looking for info on these specific models at this time 😁
Thanks
Edgy
 
Daughter shoots a Raptor 20g .The gun has been good the choke not so much shout out to BB who told me to get a beretta choke and no more issues, for a $ 600 dollar gun. that shoots 4-5 boxes of duck loads a year has been ok.
 
Tristar Viper and the Mossberg SA20 are essentially the same gun , made by Armsan, with minor cosmetic differences.
They have a very good reputation in the US, partly because of support from the importer.
I don't know what you could expect for warranty support in Canada.
 
edgy said:
Looking for a gas operated semi for the wife to shoot Trap this year. Not my first choice, but she has come across a couple of Tristar models she likes, a Viper G2 Sport 12 gauge and a Raptor 20 gauge. I would rather get her a 940 Pro Field but she tends to shoot more if she “ loves” her gun so it’s her choice. I’ve watched a ton of reviews and they actually get some good reviews.
If anyone has any real world experience with either of these Tristar models and would like to share it would be appreciated. This shotgun will be used strictly for Trap, and as she is a fair weather shooter, probably only 10-15 shoots a year so not looking to pound thousands of rounds thru it every year.
As much as I appreciate other suggestions usually, I’m only looking for info on these specific models at this time 😁
Thanks
Edgy
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We have owned and shot both the Viper and the Raptor in 28 gauge and 20 gauge. No issues, reliable, and gorgeous looking shotguns.

Happy wife, happy life!.......:)
 
Thanks for the replies, looks like they are a dependable shotgun. The wife saw the Viper G2 Sport with the 30” barrel and the red receiver and that’s what she wants. I have to admit it is a great looking shotgun so that’s probably what she is getting lol
 
edgy said:
Thanks for the replies, looks like they are a dependable shotgun. The wife saw the Viper G2 Sport with the 30” barrel and the red receiver and that’s what she wants. I have to admit it is a great looking shotgun so that’s probably what she is getting lol
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Do lots of research, in my experience, semis are prone to cycling issues with target ammo unless you buy one particularly designed for it. There is a reason why O/Us dominate trap.
 
Meroh said:
Do lots of research, in my experience, semis are prone to cycling issues with target ammo unless you buy one particularly designed for it. There is a reason why O/Us dominate trap.
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I tried to convince her to look at an O/U but they just don’t appeal to her at all. After explaining that semi’s can be prone to cycling issues her response was “ well for Trap it’s only one shell at a time anyway so I’ll just deal with it if I have to” 🤷‍♂️
She shoots a bunch of different disciplines, and her favourite competition shotgun is a mag fed FD12 so she definitely has experience clearing fte issues lol. She is absolutely in the camp of “ if I like my firearm I will compete more with it”. Having just had a bunch of her firearms on the ban list I’m trying to get her interested in Trap as a bit safer bet to survive these Liberal clowns running the show. I’m surprised at the amount of good reviews on the Tristar Viper and if a red anodized receiver will get her out there I guess that’s ok 👍
 
edgy said:
Looking for a gas operated semi for the wife to shoot Trap this year. Not my first choice, but she has come across a couple of Tristar models she likes, a Viper G2 Sport 12 gauge and a Raptor 20 gauge. I would rather get her a 940 Pro Field but she tends to shoot more if she “ loves” her gun so it’s her choice. I’ve watched a ton of reviews and they actually get some good reviews.
If anyone has any real world experience with either of these Tristar models and would like to share it would be appreciated. This shotgun will be used strictly for Trap, and as she is a fair weather shooter, probably only 10-15 shoots a year so not looking to pound thousands of rounds thru it every year.
As much as I appreciate other suggestions usually, I’m only looking for info on these specific models at this time 😁
Thanks
Edgy
Click to expand...
Ive owned a few Vipers, they are very good guns, I recently bought one of the new Canuck "gobbler" 20 gauge camo inertia semi and its very nice and cycles everything, doesnt get dirty either!!
 
Meroh said:
Do lots of research, in my experience, semis are prone to cycling issues with target ammo unless you buy one particularly designed for it. There is a reason why O/Us dominate trap.
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The current gas operated semi autos like the A400, Silver, SX-4, and Maxus, are very reliable with target loads. I shoot O/U guns for my primary clays guns, but I have fired thousands of rounds through my SX-3 and Maxus , when the weather was poor, and I didn't want my O/U guns to get soaked in rain.
 
Funny I am the opposite I shoot my Cynergy in bad weather :) but it is a plastic gun as well.
 
I compared my a400 xplor to a buddies Tristar that was made to look like the xplor cosmetically. The Beretta patterned better and thru our comparison I only ever loaded 1 shell in the a400 to keep it fair as his Tristar would not cycle. Not even hunting steel loads
 
My daughters Tristar actually works pretty well.3" 20 g kent in # 2 have not had an issue, except as you told me the POS choke bulged and had a heck of a time getting it out. The Beretta choke replacement has worked perfect ,now would I buy one for myself, no probably not but I shoot quite a bit more than she does and my browning gold 20g has never missed a beat in 10 years
 
reddog said:
My daughters Tristar actually works pretty well.3" 20 g kent in # 2 have not had an issue, except as you told me the POS choke bulged and had a heck of a time getting it out. The Beretta choke replacement has worked perfect ,now would I buy one for myself, no probably not but I shoot quite a bit more than she does and my browning gold 20g has never missed a beat in 10 years
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Choke tubes are a weak link in lower grade Turkish guns. My Tristars were junk. My huglus seem good in my 20ga guns. The 12ga huglu I swapped to Beretta chokes. My Dickinson arms hunter uses Teague thin wall chokes and patterns amazingly
 
Well I pulled the trigger on a Viper 2 Sport 20 gauge in the black with red anodized reciever for her last night so I guess I’ll give my own Tristar review soon lol. I will pick up a set of Carlson extended choke tubes for it as a few of you have recommended replacing the factory tubes. This particular model comes with extended tubes from the factory but I’ll grab the Carlsons anyway I think.
Thanks to all of you for the input, much appreciated
 
edgy said:
Well I pulled the trigger on a Viper 2 Sport 20 gauge in the black with red anodized reciever for her last night so I guess I’ll give my own Tristar review soon lol. I will pick up a set of Carlson extended choke tubes for it as a few of you have recommended replacing the factory tubes. This particular model comes with extended tubes from the factory but I’ll grab the Carlsons anyway I think.
Thanks to all of you for the input, much appreciated
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Wow awesome, Im sure it will be amazing for you, post some pics they are great looking guns

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hunterhenderson said:
Wow awesome, Im sure it will be amazing for you, post some pics they are great looking guns

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Thanks hunter, I certainly will when it arrives. It actually is a fantastic looking shotgun and after much discussion she decided that was what she wanted lol. Should arrive next week so I’m looking forward to trying it out. As a bizarre little fact, I have actually NEVER shot a 20 gauge 🤷‍♂️
I grew up in the duck hunting lakes of the Kawarthas in Ontario as a kid, and back in the 70’s they just stuck a 12 gauge in your hand and you ran with it lol. So as far as 20 gauge goes I'm still a virgin hahaha
 
edgy said:
Thanks hunter, I certainly will when it arrives. It actually is a fantastic looking shotgun and after much discussion she decided that was what she wanted lol. Should arrive next week so I’m looking forward to trying it out. As a bizarre little fact, I have actually NEVER shot a 20 gauge 🤷‍♂️
I grew up in the duck hunting lakes of the Kawarthas in Ontario as a kid, and back in the 70’s they just stuck a 12 gauge in your hand and you ran with it lol. So as far as 20 gauge goes I'm still a virgin hahaha
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You will want your own pretty quick, I have owned a few Vipers in 20 gauge, they really are much better than most think, they are simple to tear down and clean and polish, all of mine never had any FTF's and were 100 % reliable. 20 gauge semis are light and fun to shoot, have fun Edgy!!
 
I did just pick up another 20 gauge(cant help myself) and had it out in the back yard, its also very nice, canuck original gobbler, was $669 all in shipped

canuck 20 gauge gobbler.jpg
 
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