Army Armament TTI Sand Viper GBB Pistol; Upgraded Version

The sister platform of the JW4 Pit Viper, the upgraded Sand Viper is designed primarily for 2/3 gun competition shooting, or absolutely destroying some unlucky skirmishers! The Sand Viper is loaded with slick high-speed features with a combat-optimised leaning. Like the Pit Viper, the Sand Viper sports a single port compensator up front with a dynamic swept-back look which matches the slide serrations for a menacing style and also has a stippled grip for superlative gripping qualities and comfort.

What separates the Sand Viper from its jet black relative is its optics-ready slide and flat coyote bronze finish, both of which contribute immensely to its enticing looks. The rear of the slide is cut for either RMR or Docter footprint optics and comes pre-installed, meaning no wasting time sourcing a mounting plate, you can install your red dot sight right away for the quickest target acquisition on the battlefield. If the Pit Viper isn't fast enough for you, the Sand Viper should be!

Starting at the front of this gorgeous sidearm we can find the Sand Viper's unique single-port compensator with a dynamic, swept-back look and oblique edges for easier holstering. This is a big part of the Sand Viper look and has been immaculately executed by Army Armament. The compensator is also threaded at the front, allowing you to mount a suppressor or tracer unit using a 12mm CCW female to 14mm CCW male thread adapter.

The Upgraded Version of the Army Armament Sand Viper now comes equipped with a CNC aluminium slide and steel hammer group parts for a longer lifespan and sharper angles with a clear-cut finish. This is a fantastic addition to the already sensational Sand Viper, and while the original was stunning in regards to its looks, this upgraded version is even better!

The iron sights have been completely omitted from this TTI Sand Viper in favour of an optics-ready slide and RMR/Docter footprint mounting plate. This means the front of the CNC aluminium slide has no iron sight, this may sound like a negative but in actuality, it reduces snagging potential and gives you a clearer sight image once you have your red dot installed. The mounting plate is located at the rear of the slide and is recessed to provide as small a bore offset as possible, meaning less need to compensate when shooting rapidly at close range.

The slide follows directly after the compensator and matches the bold, angular look with both front and rear gripping serrations. These serrations give you plenty of options when it comes to manipulating the slide of the pistol and their texture means you don’t need to worry about your hand slipping off the slide when operating in whatever conditions mother nature could throw at you.

On either side and atop the slide, there are machined ports which reduce the weight for a faster cyclic rate and better gas efficiency. These ports also look fantastic, showing off the eye-catching black finish of the outer barrel beneath, a prerequisite of the Taran Tactical look. The subtle contrast between the coyote bronze finish of the slide and frame and the black outer barrel gives the Sand Viper a boutique tactical look; very fitting for a pistol which is priced at $8000 for the real thing!

To the rear of the ports on the left side of the slide, we can find the first of our laser-engraved Taran Tactical markings, together with the now iconic Taran Tactical logo boldly displayed in white. As with previous versions of Army Armament TTI pistols, the markings are flawlessly engraved and look great combined with the aggressive looks of the Sand Viper!

Over on the right side of the slide, we can see the Taran Tactical logo proudly displayed together with the model name, “Sand Viper” in Taran Tactical’s unique font surrounding the chamber. The "S" in "Sand Viper" is even styled to look like a snake! Could this pistol get any more badass? We think not! Just below the model name, we can also see a crisply engraved Taran Tactical logo which is more discrete than the laser-engraved markings but still boasts proudly of its strong lineage. While the Army Armament version of the Sand Viper is far more affordable than the real steel, its licenced TTI markings are still a huge flex over other Hi-capas!

At the rear of the slide is where we can find the optics cut and optics mounting plate, allowing you to mount a red dot sight to the Sand Viper and run it how Taran himself intended. The mounting plate is compatible with micro red dot sights with an RMR or Docter style footprint, meaning you have access to the two most common red dot sight footprints out there. We can confirm that the VORTEX Optics Venom Red Dot Sight has the correct footprint, as does the PCS Miniature Red Dot Reflex Sight.

Moving downwards we come to the frame of this glorious sidearm where we can find the pistol's controls. The manual safety catch is located at the rear of the frame and is present on either side to allow for easy use for both left and right-handed shooters. Each safety lever is textured for optimal grip and effective wet-weather use and can also be used as a thumb rest for the strong hand thumb to achieve more effective recoil control and faster target-to-target transitions.

At the rear of the frame, we can find the hammer which has been finished in black to match the outer barrel. This hammer is significantly skeletonised to reduce weight and add to the high speed look of the Sand Viper. Its black colouration discretely ties the pistol together and gives it a balanced look and its steel construction means it will last the ages!

The rear of the grip also includes a secondary safety known as the “beavertail grip safety” which needs to be pressed in to unlock the trigger. This feature is derived from the iconic 1911 platform and has remained throughout its development and is still present to this day in most modern Hi-capa 2011 pistols. This works brilliantly to prevent snags and negligent discharges and is very low profile in shape, making it a pleasure to hold.

The slide release catch is located on the left side of the frame, right where we would expect it, and is an extended design with a large contact surface to make dropping the slide after a reload easy and intuitive. The magazine release is just below, where the trigger guard meets the grip, and is a large circular button which is easy to find, even when the skirmish turns tense and adrenaline rises, allowing for speedy reloads when time is of the essence!

The shape of the trigger guard matches the standard Hi-capa squared profile, allowing for extra recoil control by positioning the weak side trigger finger on the front of the guard in what is known as the “European grip”. The bottom of the trigger guard also has a stipple texture to provide extra grip and control when firing rapidly which is well suited to modern shooting stances and 2/3 gun competition shooting conventions.

Just ahead of the trigger guard we are treated to a 20mm Picatinny frame rail, allowing you to deck the Sand Viper out as a primary pistol with a tactical flashlight or laser aiming module if the operation requires it. This rail is nice and long and covers the entire dust cover but only has a single attachment slot, ideally placed for an X300, XH35 or X400 style illuminator. The optics-ready nature of the Sand Viper makes it a great platform to choose if you plan on running pistol only in CQB, allowing you to benefit from the speed increase a red dot sight provides without needing to run a bulky rifle platform that will slow you down.

The trigger is a skeletonised design with 3 ports, just like the real Sand Viper and is a straight-back pull like other Hi-capa and 1911 pistols, making for an easy transition from older pistols of the same family to this ultra-modern platform. The trigger pull is light and crisp like Army Armaments' other Hi-capa offerings, providing some serious rapid-fire potential for dealing with multiple foes!

The grip itself is stippled across the front and sides to provide superior gripping qualities whether you wear gloves or not and guarantees your Sand Viper will stay firmly in your hands as you sweep the muzzle back and forth to engage multiple targets. The rear strap of the grip is also checkered, and at the base of the grip we have an aluminium extension known as a “magazine well flare”.

Present on many race gun style Hi-capas, the magazine well flare is designed to help guide your magazine into the pistol during a reload. It has a very wide opening to eliminate fine motor movements and effectively allows you to throw the magazine back into your sidearm when your ammo supply runs dry. The magazine well flare also has a secondary function as a palm rest, keeping your hand in the perfect position to access the controls and tame the recoil of the Sand Viper during rapid strings of fire.

When it comes to performance, the Sand Viper benefits immensely from its weight reduced slide and slightly shorter length than the previous Taran Tactical Combat Master, giving it a slightly snappier slide speed which works perfectly with its optics-ready nature and high speed aesthetic.

Inside, this Upgraded Version of the TTI is very well equipped, boasting steel hammer group parts and a steel hammer to go with its new CNC-machined external parts. The inner barrel is a 6.03mm tightbore, raising FPS and improving accuracy potential as long as you do your part. Also inside is Army Armament's new cold-resistant nozzle, designed for improved consistency and resistance to the "cooldown" effect.

The adjustable HOP-up of the Upgraded Sand Viper is located on the bottom of the outer barrel and is accessible with the slide removed, in "field stripped" condition. To remove the slide you will first need to remove the magazine and rack the slide to cock the hammer. With this done you can pull the slide back to align the slide lock lever with the rearmost cutout on the left side of the slide. With the slide in this position, you can push the slide release catch through from the right side of the frame, after which the side can be slid forward and removed from the front of the pistol. The adjustable HOP-up allows you to tune the Sand Viper for different ammo weights and extend your range, adjusting the dial until the trajectory is as flat as possible.

The O-rings, gas routers and other rubber parts are now made from a new formula, integrating silicone into the mix for improved cold-weather performance. The magazine knocker valve has also been redesigned, showing Army Armament is always attentive when it comes to enhancing its sidearms and wants us to have the best product possible!

If you are looking for an optics-ready Hi-capa GBB and you have evolved beyond the need for iron sights, then the Sand Viper was designed for you. This pistol has a unique look which is hard to imitate and a performance that sets it a league above the rest when it comes to GBB platforms. Either displayed as part of a TTI pistol collection or as a robust, skirmish-ready sidearm, the Army Armament Sand Viper Upgraded Version really can do it all and looks superb at the same time!

Features

• Full metal construction
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Superb accuracy potential
• Officially licenced by Taran Tactical Innovations - Realistic trademarks!
• Upgraded version - CNC machined externals, steel hammer & hammer group parts
• 9x19 Engraved marking on the outer barrel - Visible through the ejection port on the right side
• 12mm CW threaded compensator - Ready for a tracer with 12mm to 14mm CCW adapter
• Gear adjustable HOP-up unit - Adjust for different ammo weight, accessible when the slide is removed
• Front and rear slide serrations - Easy to rack the slide however you do it
• 20mm Picatinny frame rail - Ready for a tactical flashlight or aiming laser
• Ambidextrous manual safety catch - Great for left and right-handed shooters
• Ported slide - Ports on each side reduce weight and contribute to the high-end TTI styling
• Enlarged slide lock/release - Easy to reach, even for those with smaller hands
• Extended magazine release button - Easy to find when things get frantic
• Stipple textured grip - Comfortable and grippy with or without gloves
• Magazine well flare - Faster and easier reloads under pressure
• Squared trigger guard with textured surfaces - Great for the "European grip" technique
• Skeletonised hammer - Reduced weight, pairs well with the high speed look of the Sand Viper
• 3-Port skeletonised trigger - Crisp and light straight back pull like a 1911
• Optics ready slide with mount plate - Compatible with Docter and RMR footprint micro RDS
• Compatible red dot sights - VORTEX Venom Red Dot Top Load | PCS Miniature Red Dot Reflex Sight
• Compatible with Army Armament Hi-Capa magazines - TTI Style | STACCATO Style | Extended mag

Package Includes

• Army Armament TTI Sand Viper GBB Pistol; Upgraded Version
• 28rnd Hi-capa GBB Magazine