Meet the Outfitter G3
The Traditions Outfitter G3 is a break-action, single-shot centerfire rifle built for a hunting market and touted as “the perfect choice for whitetail and large game.”
Most G3 variants are built with a 22-inch chromoly fluted barrel. The guns come standard with the company’s Elite XT trigger system, which uses both a rebounding hammer and manual crossbolt trigger safety. That Elite XT trigger system allows the action to be opened without disengaging the crossbolt safety, meaning shooters can load and unload the rifle with added security.
The G3 is built on a steel frame, uses an 11-degree target crown, and all rifles are drilled and tapped. The larger calibers, including .350 Legend, .450 Bushmaster, .45-70 Government, and our own .35 Whelen, come with a muzzle brake to aid in recoil reduction.
At 5.8 pounds, the Outfitter G3 is a light single shot, aided by its lighter synthetic stocks. Many models are equipped with a patented QD forend which allows for rapid push-button takedown. Chamberings include: .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .350 Legend, .35 Remington, .35 Whelen, .360 Buckhammer, .450 Bushmaster, .45-70 Government, and .300 AAC Blackout.
Several chamberings are available in a Youth variant with a shorter length of pull. Many, including our test gun, can be had as scoped combos with a Traditions-branded 3-9x40 optic. Retail prices on those start at $599.95.
Our Test .35 Whelen
The impressive chambering list is initially what drew our attention to the Traditions Outfitter G3 family. If you’re in the market for a current production .35 Whelen, the list of options is short. The round hooked us into snagging a rifle, but it’s the rest of the story that seals the deal. With many of the larger chamberings, our .35 Whelen G3 comes with the Cerakote-matched muzzle brake, a welcome addition to what could be a shoulder-pounder in a light, synthetic-dressed rig. There’s a 1:14 twist rate, which is a happy medium for the Whelen between the also common 1:12 and 1:16 rates of rifling twist.
This variant also includes the company’s QD removable forend for fast takedown, and with that slide button inset on the forend, there’s little chance of it snagging or getting in the way. Our test rifle is threaded at 5/8x24, and swapping the brake for a suppressor like the Banish 46-V2 is a no-brainer. As it sits with the BDC scoped setup and muzzle brake, MSRP is listed at $699.95, and real-world prices hit lower.
As with all manufacturers, Traditions claims the scope is boresighted at the factory, but it’s always best to double-check this fact, as well as ensure the correct torque on the mounts. In this case, torque was fine, but we were not on paper at 50 yards. A quick secondary boresight got us to zero much more quickly with less ammo, and the rest is history.
Getting to Know the Rifle
Spoiler alert: accuracy proved well above expectations. Let’s not kid ourselves – the .35 Whelen is a beastly, practical round for big-game, big-woods types of hunting, but a precision long ranger it is not.
The 5.8-pound weight for the bare rifle sounds light, but topped with the scope, a sling, a suppressor or any other extras, reaching the 6.5-pound mark is not difficult. The included Traditions optic may not be a top-dollar option, but for an affordable combination rig, it served us fine. An included, double-winged hammer extension makes cocking the hammer much simpler with the scope installed.
The Outfitter G3’s stock is no custom job, and feels like any synthetic budget gun; however, this one sees the upgrades of both an adjustable comb and LOP fit. The comb adjusts with a flat screwdriver, and it remained snug throughout extensive range time. Traditions includes three .25-inch spacers for customizing the LOP. It ships with all three installed, measuring a full 14 inches, but that can be reduced to near the same metrics of the compact variant, making this a handy rifle for sharing among shooters of varying builds or growing with a younger hunter.
It’s worth noting that if the shooter is not mindful of cheek weld, it’s not only possible, but also unpleasant, to get the cheek pinched along the comb’s leading or trailing raised edge. The buttpad is dense yet soft enough to help significantly with recoil.
Field Notes
Regardless of the particulars, it’s all worth it when a .35 Whelen prints near-MOA groups from a budget combo. Recoil is noticeable, but more than manageable with just the brake. Adding a suppressor takes it down even more. The safety system with the rebounding hammer and manual crossbolt will be welcomed by some and scorned by others. In the end, that’s all a matter of personal preference.
One other point worth noting is the action release located ahead of the trigger guard, which proved incredibly stiff and the action difficult to open. It takes a concerted effort to open quickly, but it can be done with practice. We suspect operation will loosen up with more time and rounds downrange.
We hit the range with a couple flavors of Whelen ammunition. Factory loads are not uncommon, but it’s not generally the richest troves at your dealer. For testing, we picked up DoubleTap 200-grain Lead Free SC-HP, DoubleTap 250-grain JSP, and Remington High Performance Rifle 250-grain PSP.
The DoubleTap rounds proved not only the most readily available, but accurate to boot. Though lead-free is not always our top choice, those 200-grainers punched out some dandy cloverleafs at 100 yards. That said, all three of the ammunition brands and types grouped within 1.5 inches, and the majority of groups were at the 1.35-inch mark.
The G3’s trigger is not stellar, but above average in the single-shot world. There’s a hint of grittiness and a skip during take-up, but after that, the break is repeatable and measures in the 4.5-pound range. It’s no custom job, but it’s an easy trigger to master, and superior to many.
Given the customizable features, workable trigger, and impressive accuracy, this combo proved a pleasant surprise time and again. A range performer is one thing, but we wouldn’t be afraid to hunt with this rig, either.
Final Thoughts
The Outfitter G3 is lightweight, handy, accurate, and affordable. It offers chamberings many other gunbuilders do not, and for hunters, that means something. While the single shots are not perfect, they’re plenty practical and always accessible.
