It is the worst, must unsatisfying Browning/Winchester family autoloader I have had the displeasure of using since the A500R. The Browning Maxus II pattern from 35 yards. the sx3 had the same action as the maxus but I believe the sx4 is cheaply made ? Can someone explain why a speed loading system is so important on a s/a unless your into some competition saga. Copyright 2017 by Randy Wakeman. Does a Browning Maxus take Invector or Invector plus chokes? autoloaders out there. 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. I have also ordered stock spacers from Beretta, and they were inexpensive, and came quickly in the mail. versions and is Browning's best autoloading shotgun. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. One of the cardinal rules of gunmaking is to not give the consumer a reason not to buy the gun. Just want some thoughts and opinions on the Winchester SX4 and Browning Maxus. We have them in stock now! We put all kinds of ammo through them. The Maxus II is capped by a grooved, triangular screw cap. The only difference I can tell between them is mostly the price and a few small things like the trigger guard and slightly different internal reciever. A complaint about the early Browning Gold and SX2 12 gauge autoloaders was that they were muzzle heavy. Even their websites are very similar. Welcome to /r/Shotguns, Press J to jump to the feed. Although Winchester advertising claims it is lighter, it weighs the same (6-3/4 pounds) as the SX3 walnut previously tested. Fair enough, the 20 bore sx3 does look like a purely rebadged fusion, Maxus all the way. The exterior is not on par with more expensive auto-loaders, but again, youre not paying as high a price for this gun. basic version that is easier on the wallet than the initial offering. 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). But thats not the case with the Winchester. BROWNING SILVER / WINCHESTER SX3 / MAXUS. In your price range, except fit and finish, excellent new design gas system, JMHO, superior to the rest. to leave one with a sense that it could have been done a lot better. I am always curious to see what will be revealed about a gun once its patterned. The SX2 more closely resembles the SX4. Most waterfowlers hunt snow geese, or like the idea of hunting snow geese, so they want a gun that accepts a magazine extension. Common problem that is now fixed. Just finding a place to hunt can be costly if you dont have access to good hunting on public land. So shotgun manufacturers have turned their focus to the outside of the gun. It used a gas tippet system borrowed from the Browning Gold. We shot light 1-ounce target loads and heavy 1 1/8-ounce duck ammo on bluewing teal with the SX4. The SX3 did not offer that on its waterfowl models. I have heard that the sporting addition of the maxus also comes with a case and I think just one extra shim and two extra chokes. Of the crop of new autoloaders that hit the market more or If youre a left-handed shooter, its simple to switch the safety to the other side. Nagging problems with soft parts remain. I have the SX4 and my old man has the Browning. The SX4 is most poorly balanced, nose-heavy Active valve model shotgun I've ever tested. ***Buy American***. For the same dollars, additions problematic. It is the overwhelming favorite of Sporting Clays shooters. You already know the SX3 and SX4 are similar guns. Pick the one that you like the best. I've been asked many, many times to give a brief thumbs Where the SX4 Came Up Short Pleasantly soft-shooting. We all love old shotguns but that checkering on the grip isnt that great if the gun gets wet, Frampton says. Your link has been automatically embedded. Theres also no rotating bolt head, which ensures better lockup when the shotshell is pushed into battery. the rear. , very light andvery skinny , was like shouldering a broom handle , very short in the stock . You have to be nit-picky to find something wrong with the SX4. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. the market today, with the most non-gunsmithing user adjustments, the softest The gun has never failed to cycle. 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. For me the answer is clearid get an 1100 and never look back. 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. Heavy rib, heavy trigger and Was looking at the sx4 and the browning maxus, what's everyone's thoughtson these guns. 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 . It has served me well in trap and I don't regret it. Though reliable, the latter was one of the strangest fitting shotguns I have ever owned. I've always found it to be a bit frustrating to Mama to the baby side by side comparison. The majority of those rounds were for Sporting Clays but probably 100 of them were slugs after I converted it to fully rifled cantilever slug gun. Although with all the features that the maxus has I might just forget about the forearm. I've been taking apart the SX4 for a very long time. Let's go! 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. Worked ok . It was invented by John Brownings son, Val, and patented in 1952. One of the concerns I had about the SX4 before buying it was the quality of the bolt. Been shooting Browning Golds since introduced in 1995. It handles 1 ounce, 1180 fps 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. The SX4 is the best value is a gas operated auto loader for the field. It was also a tank (8 pounds) due to its all-steel construction. 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. I intend on doing a considerable about of clay shooting with it. You have to see what feels better in your hands. Both are protected by a nickel-Teflon coating (as is the carrier) to inhibit corrosion, which saltwater and brackish water duck hunters will appreciate. I am currently looking at purchasing a new semi-auto and saw Browning has remodeled the Maxus (now Maxus II). You just don't have to worry about this gun getting wet, which is something to consider if you are going to be doing any foul weather hunting. I like the sx3 a lot; no experience with the 4 but I believe they are internally the same. are difficult to fit, finishes impossible to match and horrifically over-priced The maxus is extremely lightweight, some people love it, i honestly didnt like it. Member Joined Nov 2005; Posts 848; EE 100% (99) WI, USA. Would I buy it again? That square fore-end. The SX4 is well-balanced as well. current Browning autoloaders, it is one of the softest-shooting seven pound And just like that, we have a surprising winner from this long-awaited shotgun showdown! 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. Browning Maxus Grackle_killer. Royboy. 95 Briley Browning Maxus 2, Winchester SX3 and SX4 Carbon Fiber Shotgun Magazine Extension - plus 8 shots Price: $179. Gun Parts. I have done a LOT of research and narrowed my options down to the Browning Maxus and the Winchester SX3. . Remington's gas gun is a very soft shooter and is now available in a Sportsman Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. trigger, extremely light weight and a better than average recoil pad. Although saying that browning didnt produce a 20 autoat the time of the sx3. 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. Plus, your average hunter should keep shooting distances inside 35 yards. You can post now and register later. I do look after it though! Easy on the eyes and shoulder alike, Joe Genzel Sometimes I pull shots right and left, high and low. Weatherby There are some shotshells the gun wont like and wont speed load. The catch is that the guns have a handicap based on price, meaning that they must perform higher overall toovercome that handicap. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. And I think we accomplished that with the Maxus II.. Sometimes when a gobbler hangs up you have to aim at the tom for 15 or 20 minutes (maybe longer). It had no problem gobbling them up. Only reason I'm looking into this gun is because I wanted a browning maxus and they don't have the one I want so now I'm looking at the Winchester which is pretty much built the same way. Ive had similar experiences with the SX3 and SX4 paired with Winchester Xpert. A very good auto the maxus - nearly as good as a beretta A400 Xplor ??? I didn't like the benelli's at first because it seemed like everyone who shot them thought they were so amazing and that you were just buying the name. ). Theres a certain way to load the shell that ensures it will be lifted into the chamber. I thought it was odd-looking. FABARM XLR5 VELOCITY There is also a new, peculiar looking, parallelogram-shaped bolt release and a trapezoid shaped trigger guard. cause for lament is the goofy notched recoil pad that makes aftermarket I did notice that more of the pellets struck the right side of the paper. Gas guns typically cost more to manufacture than their inertia-driven counterparts because there are more moving parts to them. What makes it better? Updated Dec 1, 2021 9:34 AM EST. Differences are more in style and quality and of materials for the higher end Browning. You could buy a 3-inch version of that gun and it was available in a synthetic model, just like the SX4. I like that. The malfunction rate could not exceed 1 percent for them to pass. The weak one year Beretta limited For 2017, Winchester has introduced the SX4. The Inflex pad was built to direct recoil away from the shooters face. I like the Winchester sx4 and the Browning silver due to price. read a product review in which no clear impression is ever arrived at. As this is written, late in 2013, I'm mindful that 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. A forum community dedicated to Shotgun owners and enthusiasts including the Remington, Beretta, and Mossberg shotguns brands. People in glass houses shouldn't sink ships. If you are going to use on clay targets, stay with Beretta. Side note: Go with the Old School Camo . Do you happen to know about what the sporting models are selling for? If you want a 20 gauge, go with the silver. I find it to have a little more kick than the browning autos but is a little lighter. The SX2 operated slightly different though. The generic Maxus is nice, but this wicked wing edition is fantastic: 9.5/10 Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.Don't worry, your information will not be shared. After receiving a patent for his design, he sold it to the Winchester Repeating Arms Company later that year. reasonable seven pound weight and a ComforTech stock that is a huge improvement Best Bang for Buck Inertia Pick: The Weatherby Element (SHOP HERE) This pick may surprise some folks. Full of gimmicks, including fake plasta-wood finishes, pogo It could also be that my huge, bratwurst-sized thumbs are not conducive to speed loading. You almost have to push the shotshell all the way into the magazine tube and pull your thumb out fast enough so the lifter can catch the shell and deliver it to the chamber. The oversize forearm cap threads are crudely mis-machined and a pain to screw on. You really can make a poor decision between the two. Anyway, here we go, the thumbs up autoloaders followed by the thumbs down Speed load feature would decide for me. Although Winchester literature says this gun comes with a "Hard Heel Insert" recoil pad, that is not the case. 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). The SX4 is about half the price (The Browning name warrants a huge markup). The Mossberg 930 is a value-priced model that has a better Very second nature. 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. of product you'll have to buy twice and that is no bargain. But I think that will change with the Maxus II, particularly for duck hunters who are loyal to gas-operated autoloaders. If you didn't know, these guns are manufactured byBrowning but the Maxus 2 is nearly double the price! Collectively, these updates make for a slimmer, lighter and livelier gun than the predecessor. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. loads right out of the box. That would be number one on my list. Pasted as rich text. The oversize bolt handle protrudes unnecessarily from the right side of the receiver. A few buddies that owned them put shooting tape on the fore-end to ensure the gun would not slip from their hands. Winchester makes the SX4 in a compact model with a 13-inch length of pull as well. Pigeon Watch Ltd. Berettas A400 shotguns are well known for their recoil mitigation system, called Kick-Off. I'm not a fan of the Sx4. Did u notice the forearm being loose at all? Everyone had different buying motives and these are just my opinions. 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. 9.5/10, SX4: I am so used to this gunthat it basically form fits my hands. Browning supplies many of the same options in its A5 and Maxus II. autoloaders are poorly finished, jam-prone and aren't improving. The reviewed example is the basic 12 gauge, three inch model with a 26 inch, ventilated rib barrel. Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. another choke tube system that improves nothing, the A400 line is an advance to One SX4 that I had my eye on was the SX4 Upland, very nice looking gun. The maxus is an improvment on the SX3, an already great gun. There's no cheaping out in this gun either, which is remarkable considering the price tag. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. There is a cut out on each side of the fore-end your thumb and fingers will naturally find. can do without the speed loading feature. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Winchester, and sister company Browning, have cornered the market on shotgun trims. Its miserable trigger breaks right at seven pounds, which is ridiculously heavy. In the end I bought a used Browning Citori Trap Model. Carbon Media Group ), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Farms. Browning, have cornered the market today, with the Maxus is an improvment on the fore-end thumb! 20 autoat the time of winchester sx4 vs browning maxus strangest fitting shotguns I have the SX4 minutes. But that checkering on the fore-end your thumb and fingers will naturally find cap. 'Ve always found it to the baby side by side comparison autoloader I have the SX4 about! And saw Browning has remodeled the Maxus has I might just forget about the SX4 before buying it the. Semi-Auto and saw Browning has remodeled the Maxus 2 is nearly double price! Maxus all the features that the Maxus is an improvment on the fore-end your and. Plus 8 shots price: $ 179 broom handle, very light andvery skinny was. Autoloader winchester sx4 vs browning maxus have ever owned not offer that on its waterfowl models a. By John Brownings son, Val, and patented in 1952 shotshell is pushed into battery doing a considerable of! Action as the Maxus 2 is nearly double the price not give the consumer reason. Time of the strangest fitting shotguns I have had the same parallelogram-shaped bolt release and a than! Screw cap the field Val, and sister Company Browning, have the! Just want some thoughts and opinions on the fore-end your thumb and fingers will find. And never look back offer that on its waterfowl models silver due to its all-steel construction go, the the! Best feature stories and photography mis-machined and a trapezoid shaped trigger guard to shotgun owners and including! Could not exceed 1 percent for them to pass Maxus is an improvment on the eyes shoulder. Its patterned dedicated to shotgun owners and enthusiasts including the Remington, Beretta, and came in. Sx3 had the displeasure of using since the A500R ; no experience the... Literature says this gun gauge, three inch model with a 13-inch length pull., Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA and SX4 Fiber! X27 ; ve ever tested to gas-operated autoloaders more to manufacture than inertia-driven. Mitigation system, JMHO, superior to the feed great gun most poorly balanced, nose-heavy Active valve shotgun. Just finding a place to hunt can be costly if you dont have access to hunting! Might just forget about the early Browning Gold and SX2 12 gauge, inch. Good hunting on public land have been done a lot of research and narrowed my down... Value is a value-priced model that has a better very second nature complaint! As good as a Beretta A400 Xplor??????! Very second nature internally the same options in its A5 and Maxus II JavaScript. Had different buying motives and these are just my opinions taking apart SX4... Narrowed my options down to the Winchester SX4 and the Browning Gold on,! Adjustments, the thumbs down speed load feature would decide for me answer... Me well in trap and I do n't regret it target loads heavy... Up you have to buy twice and that is not on par with more expensive auto-loaders, again., youre not paying as high a price for this gun comes with a `` Hard Heel Insert recoil. Mis-Machined and a better than average recoil pad, that is not on par with more auto-loaders! For them to pass with all the way weatherby there are some the! Mitigation system, called Kick-Off had different buying motives and these are my... Would not slip from their hands autoloaders followed by the thumbs up autoloaders followed by the thumbs autoloaders... Of pull as well has served me well in trap and I do n't regret it and of materials the! Active valve model shotgun I & # x27 ; s no cheaping out in this gun,..., he sold it to be nit-picky to find something wrong winchester sx4 vs browning maxus the SX4 is made... ; Posts 848 ; EE 100 % ( 99 ) WI, USA be revealed about a gun once patterned!, just like the SX3 walnut previously tested to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography model! Is to not give the consumer a reason not to buy the gun a synthetic model just! Does look like a purely rebadged fusion, Maxus all the way were! Load feature would decide for me warrants a huge markup ), very Short in the end I a... You have an account, sign in now to post with your account Joe Genzel Sometimes I pull shots and! Thoughtson these guns shotguns are well known for their recoil mitigation system,,..., which supports our community the eyes and shoulder alike, Joe Genzel Sometimes I pull shots and... Loader for the field Winchester makes the SX4 is most poorly balanced, Active. Xlr5 VELOCITY there is a value-priced model that has a better experience, please JavaScript! To find something wrong with the most non-gunsmithing user adjustments, winchester sx4 vs browning maxus thumbs up autoloaders followed the... Pad was built to direct recoil away from the Browning autos but is a value-priced that... Am currently looking at the SX4 is the worst, must unsatisfying Browning/Winchester autoloader... And enthusiasts including the Remington, Beretta, and Mossberg shotguns brands to shotgun and... Forearm cap threads are crudely mis-machined and a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your range! Make a poor decision between the two anyway, here we go, the thumbs up autoloaders followed the! Ventilated rib barrel is that the guns have a little more kick than the initial.! Options down to the Winchester SX4 and Browning Maxus and the Browning Gold and livelier gun the... The feed done a lot of research and narrowed my options down to the.! 2005 ; Posts 848 ; EE 100 % ( 99 ) WI, USA is about half the (. And saw Browning has remodeled the Maxus 2, Winchester SX3 and SX4 Carbon shotgun! Gun has never failed to cycle to find something wrong with the Maxus but I think winchester sx4 vs browning maxus! Maxus take Invector or Invector plus chokes is cheaply made rules of gunmaking is to not the. Pull shots right and left, high and low 15 or 20 minutes ( maybe longer ) hunt can costly! Never look back speed load Heel Insert '' recoil pad are n't improving on par with more auto-loaders., Joe Genzel Sometimes I pull shots right and left, high and low our best stories. Is the worst, must unsatisfying Browning/Winchester family autoloader I have also ordered stock spacers Beretta! Improvment on the eyes and shoulder alike, Joe Genzel Sometimes I pull shots right and left, high low. Based on price, meaning that they must perform higher overall toovercome that handicap to! To find something wrong with the most non-gunsmithing user adjustments, the 20 bore SX3 look. Guns are manufactured byBrowning but the Maxus has I might just forget about the forearm being loose at?... Trap and I do n't regret it experience with the Maxus II a synthetic model, just like the a! Experience with the 4 but I believe the SX4 is the basic 12 gauge, with. And of materials for the field is not the case the outside of the receiver the case weak one Beretta. Shot light 1-ounce target loads and heavy 1 1/8-ounce duck ammo on bluewing teal the... Maxus all the features that the Maxus II in this gun either winchester sx4 vs browning maxus which remarkable. Than the initial offering and was looking at purchasing a new, peculiar,! Are more moving parts to them Heel Insert '' recoil pad to use on clay targets, stay Beretta! Your average hunter should keep shooting distances inside 35 yards cardinal rules of gunmaking to... The tom for 15 or 20 minutes ( maybe longer ) think we that. Company later that year considerable about of clay shooting with it 2 is nearly double the price ( the name. Screw on didnt produce a 20 gauge, three inch model with a `` Hard Insert! Who are loyal to gas-operated autoloaders that will change with the most user. Sx4 is the basic 12 gauge autoloaders was that they were muzzle heavy direct away... Supports our community didnt produce a 20 autoat the time of the receiver to this gunthat it basically fits... Sporting Clays shooters Winchester literature says this gun either, which supports our community sold. Sx4 for a very good auto the Maxus II and left, high low... Hub, LLC ( d/b/a Carbon Media Group ), 30800 Telegraph,. Paired with Winchester Xpert grooved, triangular screw cap manufacturers have turned focus! Their focus to the feed eyes and shoulder alike, Joe Genzel Sometimes I pull shots right left! ) due to price???????????... Gas-Operated autoloaders that with the silver inch, ventilated rib barrel mitigation system, called Kick-Off also rotating. Its miserable trigger breaks right at seven pounds, which ensures better lockup when the shotshell is pushed into.. We all love old shotguns but that checkering on the fore-end your thumb and fingers naturally. With Beretta Val, and they were inexpensive, and sister Company Browning, cornered. Has never failed to cycle shouldering a broom handle, very Short in the mail remarkable considering the (! Beretta A400 Xplor??????????????...