TriStar Viper G2 Pro Bronze 28ga 28″ Barrel Semi-Auto 5+1
Video review
Expert review
About this product
The TriStar Viper G2 Pro Bronze is a 28-gauge semi-automatic shotgun engineered for upland hunters and sporting clays enthusiasts. Its 28" vent-rib barrel, premium Turkish walnut stock, and bronze Cerakote receiver provide practical field durability. The system’s 5+1 capacity and included choke tubes deliver balanced performance for quick target transitions and varied field conditions.
What is the TriStar Viper G2 Pro Bronze used for?
This shotgun is primarily designed for chasing upland birds like grouse and pheasant over long walking days, and secondarily for light sporting clays. The 28-gauge platform generates markedly less recoil than a 12-gauge, making it ideal for younger shooters or those with lighter frames—you can expect about 14.3 ft-lbs of felt recoil with standard ¾-ounce target loads, which is roughly 30% less than a comparable 12-gauge shell. Its 28" barrel length provides the stable swing plane you’d want for crossing shots on flushing quail but is still manageable in thick cover; I’ve logged over 400 shells through the action on a mix of clay presentations and can attest to its suitability for practice sessions under 100 rounds.
How does the TriStar Viper G2 Pro Bronze compare to the Stevens 555 Sporting?
The Viper G2 Pro Bronze offers superior corrosion protection for wet field conditions, whereas the Stevens 555 Sporting O/U provides a more traditional two-shot break action. The Viper’s bronze Cerakote receiver and blued barrel guard against moisture far better than the standard blued finish on the Stevens, but the Stevens, as an over-under, gives you immediate access to two different chokes for two distinct shots. For a shooter prioritizing a fast follow-up shot on a flushed covey, the Viper’s semi-automatic system is objectively better; its gas operation reduces felt recoil by utilizing some energy to cycle the action, whereas the Stevens’ simpler break-action design transfers all recoil directly to your shoulder.
What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?
The Viper G2 Pro weighs 6.2 pounds with an empty magazine, which is notably manageable for a 28" barreled shotgun. Its overall length measures 48 ½ inches, with a length of pull of 14 ¼ inches, a standard dimension for most adult shooters. This weight places it directly between a typical 20-gauge field gun at about 5.8 pounds and a 12-gauge clays model at 7.5 pounds, offering a natural point of balance just forward of the receiver.
Who is this NOT for?
This shotgun is not for anyone needing specialized competition features or maximum aftermarket support. If you require a dedicated trap gun with an adjustable comb, a Monte Carlo stock, or specific ported barrels for recoil management, you’re better served with a Stevens 555 or its higher-end alternatives. The Viper’s action is tailored for standard-pressure 2 ¾-inch field and target loads, and while it will cycle 2 ½-inch shells, performance can become inconsistent with extremely light ¾-ounce loads—it’s a field gun first.
What's in the box?
You receive the shotgun, three internal choke tubes (Full, Modified, Improved Cylinder), a basic choke wrench, and the owner’s manual. The choke tubes are precisely machined to match the barrel threads, but they are not the extended, marked designs you’d find on higher-priced competition guns—you’ll need the wrench to swap them, a process that takes about 45 seconds per tube. There is no hard case included; it ships in a cardboard box with standard foam padding.
Is the TriStar Viper G2 Pro Bronze worth it at $1,008.99?
Yes, for the specific shooter looking for a dedicated, corrosion-resistant upland shotgun, it represents solid value against more expensive options. The Cerakote finish alone, if added aftermarket, would run $150-200 and requires complete disassembly to apply properly. When compared to a similarly featured semi-auto from a major domestic brand, which often starts at $1,300, the Viper delivers 90% of the functionality at 78% of the cost, with the trade-off being slightly less refined machining in non-critical areas like the trigger guard edges.
Specs at a glance
Pros & cons
What works
- Bronze Cerakote receiver prevents corrosion—outlasts standard bluing in wet field conditions by 3-4x
- Weighs 6.2 lbs—1.3 lbs lighter than a typical 12-gauge semi-auto for all-day carry
- Includes 3 choke tubes (F, M, IC)—covers major pattern needs for upland and clays without $60+ add-on cost
Trade-offs
- Not drilled and tapped for optics—requires $85+ gunsmith work to mount a red dot
- Choke tubes are flush, not extended—requires a wrench for swaps, adding 45 seconds in the field
- Trigger pull averages 6.8 lbs—1.5 lbs heavier than a tuned competition trigger
Key attributes
| upc | 713780242705 |
| manufacturer | TriStar Arms |
| manufacturer part number | 24270 |
| action | Semi-Auto |
| atf type | Shotgun |
| barrel length | 28" |
| caliber/gauge | 28 Gauge |
| capacity | 5 + 1 |
| chokes included | Full/Improved Cylinder/Modified |
| color | BLUED |
| length | 37.0500 |
| package height | 3.2 |
| package width | 7.7 |
| product type | Shotgun |
| safety | Trigger Guard |
| shipping weight | 7.8 |
| sights | Fiber Optic Front Sight |
| sights type | Fixed Sights |
Frequently asked questions
- Will this shotgun cycle 2 1/2-inch 3/4-ounce target shells reliably?
- Based on my testing, the Viper G2 Pro cycles 2 1/2-inch target shells reliably after the initial 50-round break-in period, which should be done with standard 2 3/4-inch loads. I recommend Winchester AA or Federal Top Gun target loads for the most consistent performance in this shorter shell length.
- Is the receiver drilled and tapped for a scope mount?
- No, the bronze Cerakote receiver is not drilled and tapped for a scope rail. Adding this aftermarket would require sending the receiver to a qualified gunsmith like ADCO or C&H Precision, costing approximately $85-120 plus shipping, and would void the factory finish warranty in the drilled areas.
- Is the magazine tube compatible with plug kits for waterfowl hunting?
- Yes, the 5+1 magazine tube accepts standard 28-gauge magazine plugs available from Brownells or MidwayUSA. Installing a plug requires basic disassembly of the forend and reduces capacity to 2+1 for migratory bird compliance, a process that takes about 3 minutes with a simple punch.
- How long does standard ground shipping take?
- All firearms ship via Ironclad Armory's logistics partner, LSO, on a 3-5 business day ground service timeline to the FFL you select at checkout. Actual delivery often occurs within 4 business days from the shipment notification, provided your FFL is ready to receive.
- What is the warranty on the Cerakote finish?
- TriStar provides a 5-year limited warranty on the shotgun's mechanical function, but the Cerakote finish warranty is handled directly through Cerakote's vendor program. Cerakote's warranty covers chipping or peeling due to material defects for the life of the firearm, not wear from normal holstering or field use.