“autoloader”

Self-branded as "The Value Experts," TriStar is home to an array of respectable shotguns and handguns, which are often available at a budget-conscious price point. The company has, for years, rolled out a variety of fine-shooting scatterguns. One thing that's long eluded it, however, is a 3½-inch autoloader for the more dedicated waterfowl hunters among us. That changed at SHOT Show 2017, however, when TriStar announced its new Viper Max.

Shotgun fans have long been acquainted with Winchester's Super X3, which has served as the company's premier autoloader for what feels like eons now, and it has acquitted itself very well. That said, all eras come to a close eventually. Though the SX3 isn't quite taking a bow just yet, the sun will soon rise for another scattergun bearing the Winchester name—the Super X4.

Kyle Wintersteen has been mulling the thought of swapping his autoloader out for an over/under. Follow along as he discusses the potential pros and cons of such a move.

The high-velocity, high-energy .17 Winchester Super Magnum rimfire is a welcomed cartridge for many wishing to engage everything from destructive rodents to marauding coyotes, especially in regions where centerfires are noisy, frowned upon or even illegal. But finding a rifle to shoot the world’s fastest rimfire has been a challenge.

TriStar has announced its first 3½-inch autoloader in the form of the Viper Max. Here are five things you need to know.

The Turkish-made Viper G2 Camo offers great value in a dedicated turkey autoloader. It fits well, carries easy, and is wonderfully effective.

If you enjoy a small-bore shotgun for hunting and shooting you will be interested in the 28-gauge semi-automatic addition to the Mossberg International series.

The Maxus has a sleek, streamlined fore-end. I worried it would be too thin for my big paws, but it provided plenty of real estate between my fingers and the barrel. From the article "Browning Maxus."

Pump-action shotguns are darn reliable. It's why the design has had such sustained success, even after the advent of the autoloader. We recently covered one of 2016's best values in the budget-friendly Stoeger P3000, which impressed our reviewer. It impressed consumers, too, because for 2017 Stoeger has announced the P3500—the same gun, essentially, just chambered for those big ol' 3½-inch shells.