Browning Silver vs. Winchester SX3 vs. Remington Versa Max

R

RatFink

Regular
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
YYC
While searching through CGN and the internet, I have read a lot of things individually about these shotguns but never in direct comparison.

Can anyone offer their direct comparative experiences between these 3 shotguns? I know the SX3 and the Silver have very similar/identical internals but in terms of overall functionality? What made you choose one over the other?


Thanks!
 
I know the browning is exactly the same almost part for part as the sx3 I've taken apart both.... They maybe aren't interchangeable but they all look the same I think the silver hunter had a different trigger pack. There both made by fhn fabric national. Haven't seen the Remington close up. I have a silver hunter in 3'1/2 love it, however if I could buy new I'd probably buy the sx3 because I like the feel on the synthetic stock. The browning is really pretty looking I get sad to see it dirty. I want a sa08 weatherby for hunting cheep and high quality plus I can abuse it a bit without feeling as bad. I've heard great things about the Remington I've shouldered one and it was awesome. I've used both the browning and the Winchester they felt the same when I shot them. I think the sx3 had a better sight bead.
 
I own a silver hunter, its pretty hard to beat although I made the mistake of shooting a friends SX3 20 gauge for a round of skeet last summer and it has been haunting my dreams ever since. The only thing that keeps me from buying one is my current search for the perfect New Brunswick deer rifle.
The Versa Max is nice but it doesn't feel the same in my hands as the SX3 or Silver.
 
Why does the SX3 peak your interest so much when you have the Silver?

JamesM said:
I own a silver hunter, its pretty hard to beat although I made the mistake of shooting a friends SX3 20 gauge for a round of skeet last summer and it has been haunting my dreams ever since. The only thing that keeps me from buying one is my current search for the perfect New Brunswick deer rifle.
The Versa Max is nice but it doesn't feel the same in my hands as the SX3 or Silver.
Click to expand...
 
I'm not sure, probably has something to do with my not having handled or seen any 20 gauge silvers locally. I know I could order a silver 20 gauge and probably love it just as much. The biggest selling feature to me is price, I know its only a hundred dollars or so different but I'm kinda cheap. If I finish my rifle quest and walk in to my LGS and they have a Silver 20 in stock I'd have a hard time resisting its calling. Also I want it with synthetic stocks and I can't get the silver 20 gauge that way.
 
JamesM said:
I'm not sure, probably has something to do with my not having handled or seen any 20 gauge silvers locally. I know I could order a silver 20 gauge and probably love it just as much. The biggest selling feature to me is price, I know its only a hundred dollars or so different but I'm kinda cheap. If I finish my rifle quest and walk in to my LGS and they have a Silver 20 in stock I'd have a hard time resisting its calling. Also I want it with synthetic stocks and I can't get the silver 20 gauge that way.
Click to expand...

Ok that makes sense, I was thinking it had something to do with handling or something.
 
Bought a Browning Silver Hunter on sale at WSS today. They didn't have the 28" barrel so I had to go with the 26" but I liked the way it came up nicely.
I spent hours deciding between the Hunter and the Lightning. The Lightning has a really beautiful stock but in the end, the gloss finish would drive me up the wall trying to keep it clean and scratch free.
 
Good call and the differences between a 26" barrel and a 28" is barely noticeable in the field for most shooters. I am sure you won't be disappointed, in fact I'd initially been set on a 3" with a 26" barrel but walked away with a used one LNIB for $300 less then new with a 3.5" chamber and 28" barrel and I don't have any regrets.
 
RatFink said:
I have read a lot of things individually about these shotguns
Click to expand...

I'm thinking that the words or phrase "read about" should not be used in the same sentence as "shotgun"
they are much too subjective and relative to the individuals body. they can not be simply measured up and reported on like a rifle. there is not even a rear sight on the things..........it is our dominant eye, so every thing is much too subjective to make an informed choice from reading.

having said that, the reading can narrow the field if there is some criteria like barrel length, ability to cycle a variety of loads since we are talking semi auto's here, type and way of dismantling for routine maintenance: stuff like that

i wanted a gun that would withstand bad weather as i had some frustrations with actions crapping out with mud in the past, so i went to the Alaskan hunting forums and read that the SX3 was the king of coping with crud, so i went and shouldered a bunch of those. no fit; nothing hit.
so i tried the browning since, i "read" that they were virtually the same. this gun fit me -happy day! the Remington did not. I am not concerned with 3 1/2 inch so i now have a silver hunter in wood with 28" barrels and 3" chamber and a whole bunch of geese now that i have found the federal black cloud ammo and the Carlson choke made for that ammo.

so for this body type, or whatever, the silver hunter is now the 'meat in the pot' gun. And the wood is tough, i have waded through thick brush deer hunting with it and it resists scratching really well, strangely well.............I love the gun and have used it for 3 seasons and it does cycle everything from the lightest target loads to the kick my pants off 3" mag 00buckshot with out a hiccup. And it is easy to clean too.

sorry for the long post, i find the reading can go only so far for shotguns: then action is needed: chase the item of interest down and shoulder and touch, feel, fiddle with etc. shotties are a difficulty to purchase sight unseen - for me any way.
~jsd
 
I had the silver out last weekend at the AHEIA trap range for the first time. Really fun gun to shoot, doesn't kick you in the shoulder at all and points well. It cycled winchester white box target load no problem but I tried to put a box of Rio target load from crappy tire through it and it stove piped or failed to even cycle the action easily 18/25 times.
 
i think for the price for a browning silver,,maybe you should look at a browning maxus its a bit more money ..but it is the best auto loader on the market..
 
I have a Silver Lightning, Maxus synthetic and a Beretta 391... I like them all... the Maxus is the only 3.5" gun and only because it does double duty as a turkey gun... I don't use 3.5" loads for waterfowl. If you forced me to choose one, it would be the 391 with nice wood... but the Maxus does shoulder nicely.
 
i dont mean to beat up on italian shot gun guys,i own a very good italian OU that i use for sporting clays,but..i think the gas system in the maxus is far better then any gun on the market..the 391 is kind of a pain to clean were the gas goes through a vent out under the forarm,dont get me wrong they function flawlessly,on the other hand the maxus breaks down in seconds and very easy to clean with less gas residue because it is vented up around the barrell and with adjustable trigger pull and stock..it will fit almost anyone..the recoil is almost nil..i like the quick load option you put a shell in the mag and it loads the chamber automaticly ,and yes they came out with a very pretty version in wood,, just a great gun to shot.just my toughts and almost every other maxus owner.the reviews on the maxus say they are second to non.
 
Last edited:
heres a little story for ya...i bought a silver hunter brand new..the 4th time out i desided to try 3 1/2 inch shells through it, the second shot split the wood forearm down the middle..i had to take it back to the dealer that i bought it off..he had it for 3 weeks and i started to complain..he said he was calling the browning rep again...the next day he called me up and said come and get your gun..i get there and he hands me a duck blind maxus..i said this is not my gun ,he said it is now this is your lucky day..he said with the delay and the failure in workmanship..browning desided to give you a better gun.that doesnt happen every day..lol.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom