I left the autoloader outside the previous night to make sure it was good and cold (it got down into the single digits). This 26 inch barreled test gun is horribly nose-heavy and the 28 inch barrel versions will, naturally, be even worse. I have fired 1500 rounds through a 1986 model; no jams. The SX2 more closely resembles the SX4. Just want some thoughts and opinions on the Winchester SX4 and Browning Maxus. Common problem that is now fixed. The Browning Maxus II pattern from 35 yards. Browning Maxus 2 Worth the Money? The Maxus II weighs around 7 pounds, and is available in 26- or 28-inch barrel options (except the Sporting model). I dont pattern shotguns from a rest because I dont feel it gives me an accurate representation of the guns capabilities. I saw many folks who had to hold the underside of the fore-end in the palm of their hand because of its shape. And just like that, we have a surprising winner from this long-awaited shotgun showdown! It used a gas tippet system borrowed from the Browning Gold. They are both gas guns, but the SX1 utilized a gas piston that traveled just far enough to set the bolt in motion and then relied on momentum to finish the process of ejecting a spent shotshell. There is now a rectangular cross-bolt safety that is an eyesore, but works just fine, but no . Today we're using the SOSA TEST (Steves' Official Shotgun Assessment To Effectively Save Time). Weatherby Not at all. Just $1 per month , Brownings flagship gas-operated autoloader has slimmed down and become a more shooter-friendly shotgun, By Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited. MAXUS 2: This shotgun stands out to me. Grouse is usually a shorter, lighter gun with lighter loads. A forum community dedicated to Shotgun owners and enthusiasts including the Remington, Beretta, and Mossberg shotguns brands. Of the crop of new autoloaders that hit the market more or The old Maxus was blocky and kind of hard to get a comfortable grip on for those with smaller hands. I have owned, and extensively hunted with, at least five Browning Golds. dedicated 391 and 390 Beretta aficionados to shake their collective heads and Other than the highly rust prone finish on the SX4 I own, I don't think there is much to choose from. The oversize bolt handle protrudes unnecessarily from the right side of the receiver. Winchester makes the SX4 in a compact model with a 13-inch length of pull as well. We patterned each gun with Federal Speed Shok 3-inch, No. So, if youre interested in a durable duck gun that wont drain your bank account, but will function when you need it to, heres is a more in-depth look at waterfowls best value in an auto-loader: the Winchester Super X4. The last post that I made was in response to liquidrazer asking if i made a decision between the two. My picks in a 3" Gas semi-auto for the needs you stated: Just wanted let you all know I took the point lastnight on buds and bought a maxus golden clays in AAA maple. Its there for 3-gun shooters so they can load multiple shells into the magazine at once with relative ease. Winchester Super X4 Overview Winchester SX4. Now, what I don't like about it: the plastic plunger behind the gas cylinder is plastic. It was also a tank (8 pounds) due to its all-steel construction. The bolt reliably cycles, but it does take some force to pull back. The rubber slows that process. No I Didn't i went and shouldered the maxus and the SX3 and liked the feeling of the SX3 more but the features of the maxus. It was a smooth, blocky fore-end that became slick in the rain or snow. trigger, extremely light weight and a better than average recoil pad. It is an eyesore, but works as well as its predecessors. Well, it is absolutely the simplest to take down for cleaning of any that I've ever seen. Lines are molded into the butt stock and the recoil pad does not follow the toe line of the stock. The Winchester Super X4 was one of the best patterning shotguns in our testnot surprising since it uses the proven Invector Plus choke system, which many Browning guns have utilized for decades. The bolt-release button is larger on the SX4 as well. So does this mean that the Maxus 2 isn't worth the extra money? Out of the countless shotguns I have shot at the range, the Maxus II is in my top 10 for being the most forgiving. Only had 1 or 2 malfunctions and that was with 1 oz loads. Side note: Go with the Old School Camo . The maxus is an improvment on the SX3, an already great gun. I like the sx3 a lot; no experience with the 4 but I believe they are internally the same. I am always curious to see what will be revealed about a gun once its patterned. A complaint about the early Browning Gold and SX2 12 gauge autoloaders was that they were muzzle heavy. Versa-Max has been improved to the point where it merits serious consideration I know both are owned by the same parent company, so if the difference between the two guns is trivial, then the Winchester would be the better value yes? Browning upgraded the fore-end and pistol grip with rubber over molds. the sx3 had the same action as the maxus but I believe the sx4 is cheaply made ? Both the Winchester and Browning are very similar with the Browning being just a few ounces lighter. Updated Nov 10, 2021 10:05 AM EST. March 10, 2018 in Guns & Equipment, Hi folks, looking at getting a new gun in the summer. This is Euro-trash styling at its worst. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Fair enough, the 20 bore sx3 does look like a purely rebadged fusion, Maxus all the way. Browning supplies many of the same options in its A5 and Maxus II. I here that they're damn near the same gun but I have no personal experience handling the Maxus, although I do own an SX4. But since the only thing left to hunt in Illinois besides whitetails are grays and foxtails, he now spends most of the fall and winter searching for oak and black walnut trees, and walking behind a crazy Russian squirrel dog named Vladimir. I never felt the gun slip in my hands. Browning A5 and Maxus shotguns along with the new Super X4 are in on sale with special deals at presleys Outdoors. None of our testers in Texas could tell much of a difference between the A400 Xtreme Plus and the SX4 when it came to recoil. Skinny money roll out with the SX4, want to be a baller in the blind ain't no better answer than the Maxus 2 Wicked Wings. Upload or insert images from URL. Updated Dec 1, 2021 9:34 AM EST. With very poor balance and handling, retina-scalding styling, an unacceptable trigger and an overall low-quality build, this is a shotgun model I will be delighted to never handle or shoot again. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Very second nature. Read Next: The Evolution of Shotgun Coatings, From Blued Barrels to (Mostly) Impervious Firearm Finishes. The exterior is not on par with more expensive auto-loaders, but again, youre not paying as high a price for this gun. In 2006, Winchester debuted the SX3 with the Active Valve gas system. Though reliable, the latter was one of the strangest fitting shotguns I have ever owned. The flagship model remains the Browning Maxus, introduced 18 years ago in 2009. Members; 1.9k . The maxus is extremely lightweight, some people love it, i honestly didnt like it. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. We will never sell your information, for any reason. The gun has never failed to cycle. The SX4 is the most nose-heavy Active valve model shotgun I have ever reviewed. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. It is supplied with a garishly oversized pad without an insert. You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers. Theres also no rotating bolt head, which ensures better lockup when the shotshell is pushed into battery. You have to see what feels better in your hands. Get a FREE case of Federal Ammowith the purchase of a shotgun > $500! The SX4 is lighter in weight and has a rounded receiver and the Silver is angled off. up or thumbs down verdict on several firearms. The pistol grip is truly dinky, another change in the negative category, as far as my hand is concerned. have heard reports the forends come loose , but what truth is in that I dont know ? Although saying that browning didnt produce a 20 autoat the time of the sx3. Thanks, I have the SX4 Waterfowl in Max 5 (3" version). Weatherby You cannot paste images directly. The one difference you will find in the Winchester Super X4 is a brass ring at the base of the piston, not a black rubber O-ring. Aftermarket support is things like bolt closers, magazine tube weight kits, chokes, recoil pads, etc. You can post now and register later. My custom gun paired with a Rob Roberts T3 choke does shoot better at distance. My gun came with 6 shims and 2 extensions to adjust the length of pull. Even their websites are very similar. Display as a link instead, soft shooting gun and cycles 2 3/4, 3 & 3 1/2 all without any issues Although Winchester literature says this gun comes with a "Hard Heel Insert" recoil pad, that is not the case. A forum community dedicated to Shotgun owners and enthusiasts including the Remington, Beretta, and Mossberg shotguns brands. The SX4 is the most nose-heavy Active valve model shotgun I have ever reviewed. category, in alphabetical order. Turkey is usually a shorter, middle weight gun with very heavy loads. FABARM XLR5 VELOCITY I have never actually shot the maxus, but I have only heard good stuff. Review: 2017 Remington V3 Walnut Review Part One Federal's new 12 Gauge Target Shotshell: Federal Premium Gold Medal Grand Preview: Remington V3 Walnut 2016 Browning A5 Sweet Sixteen Phase Two Recreational and practical applications abound with these .22 caliber handguns. I have used the SX4 for most of my professional career, but I have also really enjoyed the Maxus 2. If you want a 20 gauge, go with the silver. Overly hollow stocks that We set the decoys, climbed in the pit, and he unsheathed an original Browning Maxus. The gas system is almost the same except the Maxus is a bit heavier duty with an additional metal piece rather than polymer. Since then, I have reviewed dozens of examples under the Browning and Winchester nameplates. But Ive also patterned and shot a handful of other SX4s on ducks, snow geese, and clay birds. To me, it is clearly a rapid advance to the rear, compared to the SX3. The gun's soft-shooting VersaPort gas system left the author unbruised and thoroughly charmed by Argentina's wingshooting. WINCHESTER SX4 VS BROWNING MAXUS 2 SOSA TEST LINEUP: BROWNING MAXUS 2 WICKED WING: $2,099 (-7 HANDICAP) WINCHESTER SX4 HYBRID HUNTER: $1,029 (-3 HANDICAP) Category #1: LOOKS. AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types. Although saying that browning didn't produce a . Ive used an SX4 for my main duck gun the last two seasons and shot it on spring snow geese with a seven-round magazine extension affixed. The gun will also be widely available in models that are all-camo (Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Habitat and Break-Up Country), and the all-black Stalker, which comes with flush chokes, not the extended chokes you will find in every other model except the deer slug gun. Its an awesome feature because these are both areas of the gun that can become worn over time. Ive shot the SX3 plenty and was impressed with its functionality, but Winchester lowered the price on the SX4 by $200, and my thought was: that cost cutting had to come from somewhere. (Just a side note: I was impressed the SX4 cycled as well as the SX3, and it has better ergonomics and overall fit and feel). Its a series of springs in the stock that softens the blow to your shoulder once the trigger is pulled and the force of the shotshell charge is sent backwards. i have a Maxus and i have been very pleased with it. ALL the ones I have see have been fine . I have an SX4 and have been pretty happy with it other than losing a charging handle. As you can probably tell by the custom Cerakote finish on this test gun (which is my personal SX4) there have been some aftermarket modifications made that you wont find on a factory SX4. Lastly, if you are serious about trap, get yourself a real trap gun. A lot of new competitors start with a BT 99 and then some graduate to better guns as they more serious about the sport. The SX4 is about half the price (The Browning name warrants a huge markup). I like that. We shot light 1-ounce target loads and heavy 1 1/8-ounce duck ammo on bluewing teal with the SX4. Gas guns typically cost more to manufacture than their inertia-driven counterparts because there are more moving parts to them. Browning BG MAXUS SPORTING GOLDEN CLAYS 12GA 3 28VR INV 5 WALNUT 11635301 for sale and auction. The SX4 is most poorly balanced, nose-heavy Active valve model shotgun I've ever tested. If you love the Maxus 2 in your hands and all the added features, don't hesitate to go for it. Browning has been using the speed loading function for decades (you will find it on the A5 line as well). Pigeon Watch Ltd. Ive found the system to be both handy and a pain in the ass. FABARM XLR5 VELOCITY versions and is Browning's best autoloading shotgun. Different guns shoot differently. less together in 2010, the Vinci has proved to be one of the most innovative and I was skeptical Winchester could pull off a gun that cycled shotshells reliably at such a low price point. That made the gun a little more difficult to swing than some of its competitors. I actually like the cheek piece for another reason: It always lets you know where your cheek needs to be, so your head is on the stock properly. Pushing eight pounds and with an extremely thick recoil pad, It performed so well they kept it in the SX4. Unless you're trying to kill turkeys at 60 yards. Want to make America great again? There is a cut out on each side of the fore-end your thumb and fingers will naturally find. overly heavy guns are part and parcel of the Stoeger line. In the end I bought a used Browning Citori Trap Model. BROWNING MAXUS Although the Maxus retains the heavy triggers of most current Browning autoloaders, it is one of the softest-shooting seven pound autoloaders out there. I thought it was odd-looking. Hands get cold all the time when you are hunting and if you have that little extra grip it may be the difference between killing a bird or missing it.. Theres never a feeding issue when you are shooting, but when loading and unloading the gun, it can take a few extra seconds to place the shotshell in the magazine or remove it. I've been taking apart the SX4 for a very long time. There is limited availability on several other models that include an old-school vintage tan camo (there is also a Cerakote Wicked Wing in this offering), Realtree Max-5 and Timber (also available in Wicked Wing), Mossy Oak Bottomland and Bottomland Original (also available in Wicked Wing), and the Maxus Hunter, which has a walnut stock/fore-end and a black anodized receiver and barrel. Ve ever tested length of pull the purchase of a shotgun > $ 500 Beretta, and Mossberg shotguns.! Believe they are internally the same bit heavier duty with an extremely thick recoil pad are both areas the. 2 in your hands and all the added features, do n't hesitate to go for it kept in! Was one of the fore-end your thumb and fingers will naturally find the Maxus 2: shotgun. 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So well they kept it in the end I bought a used Browning Citori trap model you 're to! Accurate representation of the Stoeger line naturally, be even worse muzzle heavy cheaply made things bolt... Makes the SX4 in a compact model with a 13-inch length of pull as well system borrowed from the side! Only heard good stuff we 're using the SOSA test ( Steves ' Official shotgun to! Gun a little more difficult to swing than some of its competitors firearm and. Thoughts and opinions on the A5 line as well gun once its.. And a pain in the palm of their hand because of its competitors new gun in the.! Paired with a 13-inch length of pull as well test ( Steves ' Official shotgun Assessment to Effectively time.