trigger, extremely light weight and a better than average recoil pad. Welcome to /r/Shotguns, Press J to jump to the feed. The SX4 is the best value is a gas operated auto loader for the field. All three uses require very different guns for the purest. The Herstal Group, referred to as Browning more often than not, has had the Active valve genre of gas-operated autoloaders on the market for a good long while. 2s with a muzzle velocity of 1,550 fps and a charge weight of 1 1/8 ounces. Its best pattern totaled 124 of 140 pellets (89 percent) inside the 30-inch circle, which was only matched by the Franchi Affinity 3. Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. I saw many folks who had to hold the underside of the fore-end in the palm of their hand because of its shape. The gun cycled flawlessly on a brisk 20-degree day in late February. While the aesthetics may dismay, it has good shell handling, a Duck hunting is an expensive pursuit. Let's go! My Maxus is the 3 1/2 inch stalker model. The SX4 is lighter in weight and has a rounded receiver and the Silver is angled off. I am still considering getting a semi for huntin and sporting clays and if I do it will be either an SX-3 or a benelli. And you get the same reliability from the SX4 that you would from those three guns. Plus, your average hunter should keep shooting distances inside 35 yards. Smartly, Browning has fixed that problem with the 12-gauge 3 -inch Maxus II (Winchester SX4 extension mags can be paired with the new Maxus). I actually haven't held either of them yet but typically brownings feel good to me. No magazine cap; just some funky little latch you pulled on to field strip the gun. We all love old shotguns but that checkering on the grip isnt that great if the gun gets wet, Frampton says. In your price range, except fit and finish, excellent new design gas system, JMHO, superior to the rest. The guns to look at are the Maxus sporting and Sx3 sporting, both having some nice features that set them apart like wider ribs, different stocks (the SX3 has an adjustable cheek, the sporting Maxus is dimentionally different the the standard), and other things. That would be number one on my list. The new Phenoma gas-operated semi-auto is available in a full range of gauges from 12 to 28 and .410 bore, and the 20-gauge we tested was one of the biggest surprises in the test. It also included 3 chokes and I bought a skeet choke. It is supplied with a matte (read unpolished) metal finish and a cheap, matte black, plastic stock with crudely textured grip panels and sling swivel studs. 562K views 5 years ago With the recent release of the Winchester SX4 semi-auto shotgun, many people wondering what the difference is between the SX4 and the SX3. That is a decision that you must make for yourself! I also shot several turkey loads through my personal SX4 to break it in after purchase. Joe Genzel is a senior editor at Outdoor Life. versions and is Browning's best autoloading shotgun. the new 2014 models are soon to be announced. done, I'll take a stab at it. The SX4 is light (7.1 pounds), making it a fine choice for walk-in duck hunters. The other three are all very good models. Since we tested so many guns (17) in Texas, we picked one distance (35 yards) to pattern each gun from. Differences are more in style and quality and of materials for the higher end Browning. The inside of the barrel is chrome plated. The SX4 is the most nose-heavy Active valve model shotgun I have ever reviewed. There is no grip cap. I have an Italian made 390. There is now a reversible, rectangular cross-bolt safety. Whether our targets in the field or our targets in life, we will only hit what we are focused on so live the #targetfocusedlife. Though reliable, the latter was one of the strangest fitting shotguns I have ever owned. The SX4 is most poorly balanced, nose-heavy Active valve model shotgun I've ever tested. Royboy. the rear. Just $1 per month , If youre looking for a reliable 3-inch auto-loader thats affordable, theres no better choice than the Winchester Super X4, By I thought it was odd-looking. It is the type Theres also an oversized bolt handle on the Winchester Super X4 so you can load and unload it with cold fingers or gloved hands. I never felt the gun slip in my hands. Paste as plain text instead, The SX4 is about half the price (The Browning name warrants a huge markup). The gas system is almost the same except the Maxus is a bit heavier duty with an additional metal piece rather than polymer. It used a gas tippet system borrowed from the Browning Gold. Theres also no rotating bolt head, which ensures better lockup when the shotshell is pushed into battery. Only Franchis Affinity 3 and Berettas A300 Ultima rivaled the SX4, but both are 3-inch guns that cost about the same as the Winchester. For 2017, Winchester has introduced the SX4. This particular gun has a Cerakote barrel and receiver coupled with Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Habitat camo on the stock and fore-end. Duratouch is junk, it rubs right off. I have no problem at all with my forearm. It also gives you better control of the Maxus II. Lines are molded into the butt stock and the recoil pad does not follow the toe line of the stock. And the last place you want to skimp on is your shotgun. There's no cheaping out in this gun either, which is remarkable considering the price tag. I am leaning toward the browning but am not sure yet. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Sure, you have to change valves to switch from low brass to high, but hey, that's a lot of versatility for the money. The maxus is extremely lightweight, some people love it, i honestly didnt like it. The gas system is almost the same except the Maxus is a bit heavier duty with an additional metal piece rather than polymer. . Probably, but the A400 Xpolar is surely tempting albeit more money. The SX2 more closely resembles the SX4. The only problem was i wanted it for trap so a semi in the first place wasn't my best interest so i decided if i got one i wanted one with the works, which is the maxus, but it didn't feel right. 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. | I would also like to know if anyone has shot both hunter and sporting models and if you think the extra $$ for the sporting models will be worth it. Theres a certain way to load the shell that ensures it will be lifted into the chamber. Specs on the Browning Maxus II Gauge: 3-inch and 3 -inch (tested) 12-gauge Action: Gas semiauto Capacity: 4+1 Chokes: Browning Invector Plus Extended, IC, M, F Barrel: Flat rib, front. Grouse is usually a shorter, lighter gun with lighter loads. Winchester, and sister company Browning, have cornered the market on shotgun trims. extra barrels ($799) all combine to make the A400 series one that has caused The SX4 is most poorly balanced, nose-heavy Active valve model shotgun I've ever tested. It could also be that my huge, bratwurst-sized thumbs are not conducive to speed loading. The SX4 is offered in 20 different synthetic, camouflage, and a combination of camouflage and Cerakote finishes called Wicked Wing. The flagship model remains the Browning Maxus, introduced 18 years ago in 2009. 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. FWIW the SX4 is available in 20ga and the Maxus is 12ga only. The pistol grip is truly dinky, another change in the negative category, as far as my hand is concerned. The updates are all ergonomic. The SX3 (and Browning Silver) share the same action and can Its there for 3-gun shooters so they can load multiple shells into the magazine at once with relative ease. Beretta firearms are pretty good. Don't leave out the Beretta A300, or even the A400, if you have the funds. The pellets did shade slightly to the left side of the target, but there were no holes in the patternboard large enough for a duck to fly through. I believe they're both made at Browning Portugal. Weatherby I left the autoloader outside the previous night to make sure it was good and cold (it got down into the single digits). Members; 1.9k . Since then, I have reviewed dozens of examples under the Browning and Winchester nameplates. Speed load feature would decide for me. Winchester, and sister company Browning, have cornered the market on shotgun trims. Rubber would have been better, and finally, two gas cylinders. I have the V3 and it is a good choice. Its miserable trigger breaks right at seven pounds, which is ridiculously heavy. Ive had similar experiences with the SX3 and SX4 paired with Winchester Xpert. , very light andvery skinny , was like shouldering a broom handle , very short in the stock . Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.Don't worry, your information will not be shared. Pigeon Watch Ltd. Its a 3-inch shotgun with one of the best operating systems (Active Valve) you will find, and hundreds of dollars cheaper than a Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus, Benelli Super Black Eagle 3, or Browning Maxus II. Whatwe're really looking to find out today is whether or not the Maxus 2 is worth the extra money when the SX4 shares many of the same internal parts as the Maxus. There are better duck guns than the SX4, but in terms of value, Winchesters auto-loader is unmatched. This part will keep your shotgun in top shooting shape. Its nice to be able to rest your cheek on that pad, and know you are ready to shoot when the opportunity presents itself. dedicated 391 and 390 Beretta aficionados to shake their collective heads and The receiver, trigger guard and trigger are aluminum alloy. Because without a reliable firearm, theres not much sense in heading to the blind. This was rectified in later models by using a lighter, titanium alloy magazine tube. The same tube extensions that fit Winchester SX3 and SX4 guns fit the Maxus II. JavaScript is disabled. The other changes are puzzling as well. And honestly, it was never a widely sought after-gun by waterfowlers or pheasant hunters (in part because the A5 and Citori are so popular). Apparently, Browning/Winchester has done away with any appearance of Belgium manufacture, for the barrel is stamped, "Made in Portugal by Browning Viana." Never seen a 20 sx3 but would be surprised if browning allowed Winchester to use it? During our Texas shotgun test it was clear from the first mornings hunt that the SX4 was a favorite to win best buy. to leave one with a sense that it could have been done a lot better. One of the concerns I had about the SX4 before buying it was the quality of the bolt. This is Euro-trash styling at its worst. Description: Browning Maxus/Winchester SX3 & SX4 Action Spring Tube. No drop shims are supplied, but you do get one thin plastic spacer you can use to slightly lengthen the stock. All Rights Reserved. Its heavier due its steel receiverbut it balances and feels better due to its steel receiverat least in my hands. Flagship model remains the Browning name warrants a huge markup ) i & # x27 s! 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