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. hassle-free. This particular gun has a Cerakote barrel and receiver coupled with Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Habitat camo on the stock and fore-end. I do look after it though! There's no cheaping out in this gun either, which is remarkable considering the price tag. Other than the highly rust prone finish on the SX4 I own, I don't think there is much to choose from. Recreational and practical applications abound with these .22 caliber handguns. are difficult to fit, finishes impossible to match and horrifically over-priced The fore end of the Maxus clips on, and the Maxus has a magazine cutoff. Theres also a checkered texture so you have something to hold onto. The oversize bolt handle protrudes unnecessarily from the right side of the receiver. What makes it better? 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.. The only We pulled many of these guns off the production line and put them through a 5,000-round ammo test, Frampton says. The guns are very close. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. 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. Winchester, and sister company Browning, have cornered the market on shotgun trims. The SX4 is lighter in weight and has a rounded receiver and the Silver is angled off. Thats why the Winchester SX4 is such a great choice. The SX4 is available with stock lengthening inserts. One of the cardinal rules of gunmaking is to not give the consumer a reason not to buy the gun. Browning supplies many of the same options in its A5 and Maxus II. We have them in stock now! Active Valve runs as clean as any gas operating system there is. reasonable seven pound weight and a ComforTech stock that is a huge improvement I've been asked many, many times to give a brief thumbs If you want to shoot 3-inch shells that will eliminate the 1100. Your previous content has been restored. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Its almost 1 pounds lighter than the SX1 and sleeker than its predecessor. The inside of the barrel is chrome plated. 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). I've only seen them on the browning site and haven't seen an actual retail price. But even when I screwed up, the gun patterned damn well. Would I buy it again? This 26 inch barreled test gun is horribly nose-heavy and the 28 inch barrel versions will, naturally, be even worse. It is the type 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. Where the SX4 Came Up Short Its too bad it didn't. go elsewhere. A later one went ~80K rounds and cracked in a different spot. Although Winchester advertising claims it is lighter, it weighs the same (6-3/4 pounds) as the SX3 walnut previously tested. If anyone knows anything about this please help. You cannot paste images directly. Muzzle heaviness is back, though, with the SX4 and it is worse than ever. Upload or insert images from URL. Theres also no rotating bolt head, which ensures better lockup when the shotshell is pushed into battery. | Theres also an oversized bolt handle on the Winchester Super X4 so you can load and unload it with cold fingers or gloved hands. category, in alphabetical order. Nor the 12 bore SX3, the 20 bore SX3 does. Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more. I've been taking apart the SX4 for a very long time. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! For 2017, Winchester has introduced the SX4. March 10, 2018 in Guns & Equipment, Hi folks, looking at getting a new gun in the summer. The old Maxus was blocky and kind of hard to get a comfortable grip on for those with smaller hands. Different guns shoot differently. It feels like a downgrade from the sx3. If youre a left-handed shooter, its simple to switch the safety to the other side. That square fore-end. Posted By: BOBO the Clown. Sometimes when a gobbler hangs up you have to aim at the tom for 15 or 20 minutes (maybe longer). All Rights Reserved. Mines been grand only issue it wont cycleHull compx. Clear editor. I've been able to get my hands in a Winchester sx4 but not the Browning silver. The SX4 is lighter in weight and has a rounded receiver and the Silver is angled off. Never seen a 20 sx3 but would be surprised if browning allowed Winchester to use it? The SX4 is offered in 20 different synthetic, camouflage, and a combination of camouflage and Cerakote finishes called Wicked Wing. This is Euro-trash styling at its worst. recoil and backed by the best customer service team in the industry. Use code "targetfocused20" for a 20% discount! The loading port also gets lethargic. 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. Browning supplies many of the same options in its A5 and Maxus II. 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). If I'm going to pay $1000 or up for a shotgun I don't want the forearm to be shaking. Good luck. done, I'll take a stab at it. If i was looking for a gun for sporting clays or wingshooting i would've went with the SX3, it seemed to be more balanced and swing better for me. Did u notice the forearm being loose at all? One gun for all three of the uses you cite (clays, grouse, turkey) will mean a slight compromisenot perfect for all three, but adequate for all. Im leaning towards a gas operated gun versus inertia driven. Heavy rib, heavy trigger and Pigeon Watch Ltd. Here's one of the better reviews to date of the Maxus Sporting: I have already bought myself a trap gun, a lightly used 1985 citori trap model(very lightly used considering age). Winchester Super X4 Overview Winchester SX4. 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. The maxus is an improvment on the SX3, an already great gun. Plus, your average hunter should keep shooting distances inside 35 yards. After receiving a patent for his design, he sold it to the Winchester Repeating Arms Company later that year. You have to see what feels better in your hands. The Fusion is a Maxus before the marketing department came up with the name Maxus and played with the fore-end shape. The firing pin has been reliable as well. The cheek piece on the stock does soften the blow of recoil, which was very manageable on the Maxus II. loads right out of the box. Since you said good quality, I'll scratch the 1100 right off your list. A price-point gun with a generally dismal track record that I am currently looking at purchasing a new semi-auto and saw Browning has remodeled the Maxus (now Maxus II). 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. What is a IMP CYL choke? It has served me well in trap and I don't regret it. I also like the wood they put on it a LOT. Browning has been using the speed loading function for decades (you will find it on the A5 line as well). But thats not the case with the Winchester. My gun came with 6 shims and 2 extensions to adjust the length of pull. 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 But I do want to hunt with it also. up or thumbs down verdict on several firearms. The gun's soft-shooting VersaPort gas system left the author unbruised and thoroughly charmed by Argentina's wingshooting. The SX4 is well-balanced as well. It had no problem gobbling them up. The SX4 is about half the price (The Browning name warrants a huge markup). The industry standard is 40 yards, but we wanted to showcase the patterns at a more realistic yardage for duck hunters. Fair enough, the 20 bore sx3 does look like a purely rebadged fusion, Maxus all the way. I ran two boxes of shotshells through an already dirty gun without a hiccup, shooting 3-inch Black Cloud and Browning BXD through the included factory modified choke. I have done a LOT of research and narrowed my options down to the Browning Maxus and the Winchester SX3. I myself have no desire for 3in shells. 2s with a muzzle velocity of 1,550 fps and a charge weight of 1 1/8 ounces. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Its also much easier to clean and has almost a 60 year track record of reliability. It cycled them all without issue. The Browning Gold was also marketed as the Winchester Super X2 in a somewhat plainer configuration. Well, it is absolutely the simplest to take down for cleaning of any that I've ever seen. I don't like plastic. With a budget around 1200-1500 wanting a good quality wood gun ..which would you recommend and why? People in glass houses shouldn't sink ships. dedicated 391 and 390 Beretta aficionados to shake their collective heads and If you want a 20 gauge, go with the silver. Mainly for clays turkey and grose. It is the overwhelming favorite of Sporting Clays shooters. It is a seven pound Personally, I'd go with a new old stock or slightly used SX3 over the SX4. to leave one with a sense that it could have been done a lot better. And the last place you want to skimp on is your shotgun. We shot light 1-ounce target loads and heavy 1 1/8-ounce duck ammo on bluewing teal with the SX4. it has features you don't find very often: authentic walnut stock, decent SX4: This is a solid-looking gun. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. Also I would like to know if anyone knew the retail for both of those guns because the local cabelas has the hunting models for about $400 less than the website prices. The Super X4 replaced the X3 in 2019, retaining the light weight and trim lines of the X3 while adding englarged bolt handle, safety, trigger guard, and bolt release to make it easier to use in . Today we're using the SOSA TEST (Steves' Official Shotgun Assessment To Effectively Save Time). Its a big investment. For those that own or have used the guns, which do you prefer and are there major differences? It was invented by John Brownings son, Val, and patented in 1952. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. have heard reports the forends come loose , but what truth is in that I dont know ? Thats why the Super X4 won the great buy award in our recent review on the best duck hunting shotguns. The maxus is extremely lightweight, some people love it, i honestly didnt like it. These include a pair of 12 gauge three inch chambered models, one 12 gauge 3-1/2 inch version and a couple of 20 gauge Golds. The SX4 and Silver are pretty much the same gun. for the goose pit. I have fired 1500 rounds through a 1986 model; no jams. While quite functional, a ridiculously heavy trigger, harsh Although Winchester literature says this gun comes with a "Hard Heel Insert" recoil pad, that is not the case. . Now to the handling enhancements. I like all black guns and really like the feel of the dura touch stock. I have been looking for a new shotgun but don't know what to choose. Full of gimmicks, including fake plasta-wood finishes, pogo "I drink all different flavors of Kool-Aid; only certain flavors give me the shits!". Both are protected by a nickel-Teflon coating (as is the carrier) to inhibit corrosion, which saltwater and brackish water duck hunters will appreciate. No magazine cap; just some funky little latch you pulled on to field strip the gun. Not at all. I was wondering if anybody has hands on experience with both? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Winchester SX4 Upland 12ga | Shotgun Review Target Focused Life 94K views 1 year ago Beretta 686 Siver Pigeon vs Browning Citori Hunter | Shotgun Showdown Target Focused Life 95K views 9. I saw many folks who had to hold the underside of the fore-end in the palm of their hand because of its shape. Copyright 2017 by Randy Wakeman. Other changes are also puzzling. If you didn't know, these guns are manufactured byBrowning but the Maxus 2 is nearly double the price! It is solid. The SX4 shot 60 percent above and 40 percent below point-of-aim, an ideal gun for duck hunters who cover up the bird and fire. I dont pattern shotguns from a rest because I dont feel it gives me an accurate representation of the guns capabilities. The SX4 is about half the price (The Browning name warrants a huge markup). 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). The SX4 is light (7.1 pounds), making it a fine choice for walk-in duck hunters. A group of Outdoor Life and Field & Stream editors (myself included) tested this gun in Sept. 2021, at Pintail Hunting Club in Texas. . It is the best working man's autoloader Remington has ever created and it is a very good gun. Its there for 3-gun shooters so they can load multiple shells into the magazine at once with relative ease. Todaywe have an awesome match-up between the Browning Maxus 2 and the Winchester SX4! 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. another choke tube system that improves nothing, the A400 line is an advance to makes many wish they had gone elsewhere, to the Franchi Affinity, Girsan or My test model was the Maxus II Wicked Wing. I thought it was odd-looking. I personally chose the SX4. The Browning Maxus II pattern from 35 yards. These opinions may change as I continue to shoot and experience more guns! Probably, but the A400 Xpolar is surely tempting albeit more money. Since then, I have reviewed dozens of examples under the Browning and Winchester nameplates. 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? Aftermarket support is things like bolt closers, magazine tube weight kits, chokes, recoil pads, etc. FWIW the SX4 is available in 20ga and the Maxus is 12ga only. Easy on the eyes and shoulder alike, It is an eyesore, but works as well as its predecessors. Remington's gas gun is a very soft shooter and is now available in a Sportsman Winchester SX4: https://www.winchesterguns.com/products/shotguns/super-x4/current/sx4-waterfowl-hunter-woodland.html, Browning Maxus II: https://www.browning.com/products/firearms/shotguns/maxus-2/limited/maxus-2-camo-realtree-timber.html, https://www.winchesterguns.com/products/shotguns/super-x4/current/sx4-waterfowl-hunter-woodland.html, https://www.browning.com/products/firearms/shotguns/maxus-2/limited/maxus-2-camo-realtree-timber.html. It handles 1 ounce, 1180 fps Thomas Jefferson. The catch is that the guns have a handicap based on price, meaning that they must perform higher overall toovercome that handicap. or anything that involves a Shotgun Though reliable, the latter was one of the strangest fitting shotguns I have ever owned. After a very poor launch saddled with an instant recall, the felt like a proper bit of kit to be honest, good weight and wellbalanced , very smooth cycleing. Winchester SX3 - 02/16/10 04:38 PM. additions problematic. trigger and a lower price than many would think possible. I cannot comment on the Browning. Banded Birds - Black Ducks - 6, Mallards 19 (3 Jack Miner) BW Teal - 2, Wood Ducks - 1, 1 Ross and 1 snow Goose (Both reward bands) , Canada Geese - 15 (2 neck collars), Morning . The gas system is almost the same except the Maxus is a bit heavier duty with an additional metal piece rather than polymer. 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. It was also a tank (8 pounds) due to its all-steel construction. Joe Genzel is a senior editor at Outdoor Life. Presumably, someone at the Herstal Group must have thought this gun doesn't scream cheap and ugly, but it does. Even their websites are very similar. Its an ultra-reliable, gas-driven semi-auto for less than $900. I will say that forevermaybe. The receiver, trigger guard and trigger are aluminum alloy. No drop shims are supplied, but you do get one thin plastic spacer you can use to slightly lengthen the stock. A well-built inertia shotgun with a good trigger. More sharing options. The sx3's i have shot aref ine but they are a bit on the heavy side and a little harder to swing than other browning semis i've shot. Since we tested so many guns (17) in Texas, we picked one distance (35 yards) to pattern each gun from. save you a few pesos compared the Maxus, if you like the raised rib (SX3) and That seems to be one of the ony complaints I've been hearing, people say that without the magazine cap it doesn't hold down as well and jiggles around a little bit while shooting. Weatherby I have an Italian made 390. http://randywakeman.com/2011_Browning_Maxus_Sporting.htm. Lastly, if you are serious about trap, get yourself a real trap gun. In the end I bought a used Browning Citori Trap Model. autoloaders are poorly finished, jam-prone and aren't improving. 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. Fits Winchester 12Ga, Browning Invector, Mossberg 500, Weatherby, pre 1993 Ruger Red label shotguns; Winchester sx-2, sx-3, & sxp Use Browning Invector plus tubes. I'm leaning towards a gas operated gun versus inertia driven. Posted March 10, 2018. Cost me just under $1000. While the aesthetics may dismay, it has good shell handling, a Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Fits 12 gauge Winchester SX3 & SX4 camo, and composite . One SX4 that I had my eye on was the SX4 Upland, very nice looking gun. Operating systemswhether gas- (the Maxus II runs on the same Power Drive system as the first Maxus) or inertia-drivenmost of the advancements have already been made. Turkey is usually a shorter, middle weight gun with very heavy loads. 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. That would be number one on my list. 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. Very second nature. I think we saw one flock of honkers that day, so I spent a majority of the morning staring at his gun. versions and is Browning's best autoloading shotgun. Essentially it skips the step of having to press the bolt release button. 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. 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. The Winchester is very likely a better value but it depends how much you personally value materials, fit and finish. That soft comb is fixed in place, and it does make recoil more manageable, Frampton says. I'm more a browning guy because they fit me well. Duratouch is junk, it rubs right off. Berettas A400 shotguns are well known for their recoil mitigation system, called Kick-Off. Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited. The receiver on my original gun developed a hairline crack at 200K+ rounds. We hate SPAM. autoloader that is essentially maintenance-free. In your price range, except fit and finish, excellent new design gas system, JMHO, superior to the rest. 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.