SX3 magazine damage

Cintax

Cintax

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Orillia, ON
I have an issue with damage to the magazine tube on my 20 gauge SX3. In the second picture I have moved the brass ring to get a photo of the hole in the tube; normally it sits in that channel.






Has anyone ever seen this sort of damage or corrosion?
 
DILLIGAF said:
My SX2 is burnt up from the years of use but no corrosion .
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I have just over 4300 rounds through this shotgun since 2013. I am not sure when this started but I recently noticed the damage when cleaning the gun. Once I moved the brass ring I noticed that pin hole in the magazine wall as well.
 
Only on guns that were put away wet and/or never cleaned on a regular basis
Is that maybe the case here???
How often do you normally clean it is the big question, Not a big deal to fix regardless
Mine are cleaned after every outing regardless if they fire one round or 200 and look like new and some have a few 1000 rounds through them
Cheers
 
3macs1 said:
Only on guns that were put away wet and never cleaned on a regular basis
Is that maybe the case here???
How often do you normally clean it, Not a big deal to fix
Cheers
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I usually clean it after I use it but that could be the problem. That metal is pretty stained and I have had problems getting all the powder and such off it it lately.

I just got a quote for the replacement parts. It's going to be around $130-150. :/
 
Cintax said:
I usually clean it after I use it but that could be the problem. That metal is pretty stained and I have had problems getting all the powder and such off it it lately.

I just got a quote for the replacement parts. It's going to be around $130-150. :/
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Cannot see too much cleaning causing it. Then again I have no idea what you are using to clean it
I have four golds some bought in 93 which are pretty much the same two x2 and a x3 and none look like that or even close to it
Cheers
 
3macs1 said:
Cannot see too much cleaning causing it. Then again I have no idea what you are using to clean it
I have four golds some bought in 93 which are pretty much the same two x2 and a x3 and none look like that or even close to it
Cheers
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I use G96, a rag and a stiff bristled toothbrush.

Are the magazine tubes on your guns aluminum?

The Winchester parts guy hadn't heard about this sort of thing happening and I didn't find much on Google about this either.
 
Cintax said:
I use G96, a rag and a stiff bristled toothbrush.

Are the magazine tubes on your guns aluminum?

The Winchester parts guy hadn't heard about this sort of thing happening and I didn't find much on Google about this either.
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Just the X3 I think but that is a 12ga but it should not matter. Rest the design is different than your pic but they don't burn up tubes
I thought also winchester changed the tubes on the X3 to stainless steel in the later ones not black with the brass ring like early ones
Maybe they did that for a reason. I would ask winchester directly
Cheers
 
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I have been using up a box of 300 Challenger T20 lately. They are pretty hot stuff. Apart from that I shoot mostly target loads (Federal, Remington and hand loads), some steel for waterfowl and some turkey loads. I don't abuse the gun at all either.

IDK. My dad said he thought it was oxidization but from what I don't know. Maybe some mixture of heat, G96 and powder residue?
 
I thought the mag tubes on the SX3 and Browning Silver were the same l since they use the same gas system. But that is clearly not the case. My silver never ends up looking like that no matter how many rounds I go through. My mag tube is stainless steel. I guess this is another reason to add to the why "I prefer the Silver" column. I would not be happy with that at all. I guess the easy fix is replace the mag tube. Is aluminum the only option?
 
When I called Winchester I gave them the serial number of the firearm and told him what parts I needed. The person I spoke to didn't offer any choices, and I didn't even think to ask. I forgot that they are basically the same gun. Darn.

Is the silver also an aluminum receiver? Typically you shouldn't thread stainless into aluminum due to chance of galling.

I already ordered the parts and I will just replace the tube. I hope it threads out without too much hassle as I don't think using heat is possible without damaging the Perma-Cote finish. I also ordered a new recoil buffer so all in the parts are $112.40 plus shipping and HST. :/
 
1963beretta said:
I thought the mag tubes on the SX3 and Browning Silver were the same l since they use the same gas system. But that is clearly not the case. My silver never ends up looking like that no matter how many rounds I go through. My mag tube is stainless steel. I guess this is another reason to add to the why "I prefer the Silver" column. I would not be happy with that at all. I guess the easy fix is replace the mag tube. Is aluminum the only option?
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I don't know if it is simple as changing the tube. I think the stainless ones are different diameters over the length and may effect the internals of the gas system
I will see if I can find anything
Cheers

All I found quick but I remember something like this. A question for winchester IMO

The black tube had a brass ring where the piston sits and the gases would stain the brass ring for easier cleaning and strength
The mag tube was also one diameter from top to bottom.
With the stainless steel tube, it is thinner at the top and has a thicker part where the gas piston sits and then thin again from there down.
It seems that there would be 2 different size gas pistons because the one with the black tube would have a smaller inside diameter than the gas piston on the stainless tube.
I'm beginning to think that I got the older style because the black tube was all one size and with a smaller inside diameter gas piston would make the gun lighter.
 
Cintax said:
When I called Winchester I gave them the serial number of the firearm and told him what parts I needed. The person I spoke to didn't offer any choices, and I didn't even think to ask. I forgot that they are basically the same gun. Darn.

Is the silver also an aluminum receiver? Typically you shouldn't thread stainless into aluminum due to chance of galling.

I already ordered the parts and I will just replace the tube. I hope it threads out without too much hassle as I don't think using heat is possible without damaging the Perma-Cote finish. I also ordered a new recoil buffer so all in the parts are $112.40 plus shipping and HST. :/
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My silver has an aluminum receiver and stainless mag tube. My mag tube doesnt have that brass ring contraption you have there. Its just a plain old stainless mag tube that looks like every other stainless mag tube I've ever seen. After a long day of shooting, there are definitely "burn" marks on the tube, but a little solvent takes it right off. Sometimes a brass brush is needed to get stubborn burn marks out. But what you have there is a corrosion of a different kind. Looks like some kind of chemical or salt corrosion. I wonder if the shells you are shootibg are corrosive??
 
My typical factory loads are Federal Top Gun and Remington Gun Club. I also reload with 20/28 but that is following the Alliant website.

Code: 
7/8	1,200	Win 209	20 / 28	CB1078-20	15.5	10,010

I have also shot some factory turkey, duck and goose loads but in small numbers. The only load that is suspect to me is some older Challenger T20 Sporting loads. They have a lot of pressure, enough to deform the case head at the extractor relief on the bolt face.
 
That mag tube is the same as the Browning Silver hunter 20 gauge . the one I had also developed a burn in the mag tube where the brass ring meets the edge of the recess it sits in . although not as bad as your gun . like yours the gun was used heavily for clay targets . I think the erosion is caused by excessive heat and pressure being forced through the barrel ports .
 
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rembolt said:
That mag tube is the same as the Browning Silver hunter 20 gauge . the one I had also developed a burn in the mag tube where the brass ring meets the edge of the recess it sits in . although not as bad as your gun . like yours the gun was used heavily for clay targets . I think the erosion is caused by excessive heat and pressure being forced through the barrel ports .
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Interesting! I didnt catch the 20g part and my Silver is a 12g. No such brass rings on the 12g mag tube. Just a plain old stainless tube.
 
rembolt said:
That mag tube is the same as the Browning Silver hunter 20 gauge . the one I had also developed a burn in the mag tube where the brass ring meets the edge of the recess it sits in . although not as bad as your gun . like yours the gun was used heavily for clay targets . I think the erosion is caused by excessive heat and pressure being forced through the barrel ports .
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I would think that the magazine tube would last more than 4300 rounds. Now these Challenger T20 are pretty potent. I got them cheap because my buddy was worried because Briley told him that they could damage his tubes. I figured that wouldn't be a big deal for a gas gun. Well, no worries, one box left and I won't use them again.
 
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1963beretta said:
Interesting! I didnt catch the 20g part and my Silver is a 12g. No such brass rings on the 12g mag tube. Just a plain old stainless tube.
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Only on the later produced 12ga. I am guessing 2009 up. First ones had the ring that is the winchester x3 mind you I am not sure if silver follows that or not
Cheers
 
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