With the Thanksgiving holiday just past and the general big game season ending today, we are headlong into the holiday season. I hope that all have a wonderful time. It is also the time of year when firearms and accessories manufacturers leak news of products that will come in the New Year. Here are a few items that I found interesting, maybe you will too.
First up, a new semi-auto shotgun from Tri-Star, the Viper G2 Bronze in .410. While I have yet had the opportunity to test a Viper, most of what I have read is positive. The guns have been chambered in 12, 20, and 28 gauge for quite a while. Tri-Star is completing these offerings with a .410 and this should be a good seller. The smoothbore will be available with either a blued or the very sexy bronze receiver and stocked with very nice Turkish walnut. Chambered for both 2 ½ and 3 inch shells, the gun will include 3 interchangeable chokes. A check of Tri-Star Arms’ website didn’t list any specs for the new .410 gun; however, the 28 gauge offering lists a 28 inch barrel and a weight of 5.2 pounds, MSRP of the Bronze 28 is $ 795. I’ve been looking for a light .410 semi-auto for years, most weigh as much a larger gauge gun; the Viper G2 Bronze just might fill the bill.
Keystone Sporting Arms, makers of the very popular Chipmunk, Crickett, and the very nice Model 722 rimfire rifles is soon to offer a precision rimfire bolt action rifle. A Model 722 action will be mated to an American Built Arms (A*B Arms) MOD*X PTTM aluminum chassis and an A*B Arms Urban Sniper stock. Rifles will be available with either 16.5 or 20 inch threaded bull barrels and come with seven round magazines. MSRP is about $ 700.
Many entry level bolt rifles have come into the market in the last couple of years. These guns are inexpensive and in most cases very accurate. But in all honesty, few if any can be described as pretty with their plain polymer stocks and matte finishes on the metal. Winchester Repeating Arms® will soon offer its entry level XPR™ with a walnut stock and called the Sporter. With both long and short-action models and barrel lengths from 22 to 26 inches, the rifle will be available in 12 different calibers including the highly popular 6.5 Creedmoor. MSRP $ 599. Good price for us wood loving traditionalists.
The SHOT™ show is coming in a couple of months and lots of goodies will be available for firearm aficionados. Until then, I guess we’ll have to settle for “visions of sugar plums.”
Be safe and good shooting.
Colonel Smoothbore
