Buying a new shotgun soon.. opinions wanted..

[Cintax]

I am looking at buying an auto loader in the coming weeks. I am considering the Browning Silver Hunter or Winchester SX3 Walnut Field. Both firearms are within $30 of each other so price isn't a factor (Silver hunter is discounted heavily). I realize these guns use the same action so in theory they should be pretty much equal in terms of a lot of things. The reason I like the Walnut Field over this years Black Walnut is cosmetic in terms of the colour and that the Walnut Field comes with length of pull spacers. I have handled both the SX3 and the Silver Hunter in a local store and they were quite light and really seemed like a nice firearms. I was hoping some people who own or have shot one of these guns can weight in on them.

As I mentioned earlier, I found a store has both the Silver Hunter and SX3 Walnut Field in stock at good prices. The only version of Silver hunter in 12ga that they have in stock has the 28" barrel with a 3.5" chamber. My concern is that the Browning website states the firearm will cycle 1 1/8" oz 2 3/4" loads at the light end. Question one - is this statement accurate? I am specifically asking about 7/8 to 1 oz loads. Will light loads with higher dram equivalents still cycle?

Is there anything that I should watch out for?

 

[hunter5425]

What are you're proposed uses for the gun? If its for all round hunting then a 3.5" has some merit if waterfowl are in the equation, if clay birds is the game then a 3" gun will more likely handle very light loads than a 3.5" gun. Lastly and most important handle both guns and see which points best and fells best for you, for what its worth I like wood and blue on my shotguns for no reason other then looks.

 

[jewman22]

I cant speak for the Browning as I have not shot one, but the SX3 is one of the best autoloaders on the market. It is light, fast and will cycle those 7/8 oz. loads without any difficulty. Another plus is that it is very light recoiling, so even if you use the 1 1/8 oz. loads, it wont beat you up.

Another one to consider is a Fabarm XLR, there isn't alot of info on these guns, and I only know of one dealer in the country who has them. (The Shooting Edge). Great bunch to deal with, and will order replacement parts if anything breaks. I just picked one up and prefer it over the SX3. A little heavier, but better balance IMO.

hope this helps.

 

[EugLaw]

I have an SX3 Walnut Field. Had it for over a year now and love it. I have other shotguns but the SX3 is my favorite. It is fairly light but not so light that it kicks too hard. It will cycle light loads no problem. As far as 3" shells goes, I believe thats all you need and thats all I use even though I have other 3 1/2 inch guns - waterfowl, turkey etc. If you need bigger than 3" 12g then you need a 10g to make any significant difference IMO. There are folks who hunt waterfowl with 20g. The grey finish on the SX3 has been great, looks good, durable and easy to maintain. Just wipe down with a rag, no oil needed. The gun does fit me well - very important. The only downer to a gas operated autoloader is they get dirty and need to be cleaned. I have a Benelli (inertia driven) and it doesn't get dirty so fast. The SX3 will shoot as fast as you can pull the trigger! I think there alot of "bang for the buck".

 

[VLT79]

All I have left is a 3.5" SX3 and it will cycle 1oz. loads @ 1180fps without any problems...as did my 3.5" Golds and 3.5" Silvers. They all cycled 7/8oz loads as long as velocity was over 1250fps. Some guns require a couple hundred round break-in period while others will shoot the light loads reliably right out of the box. The first thing to do when you get that new gun is to strip it down (remove the stock and strip the action spring/follower assembly as well), and clean all the rust proofing/grease/heavy oil that Browning/Winchester loves to use so much. I also find that a light polishing of the bolt rails and a couple other parts with emery cloth helps light load reliability as well but many folks advise against the polishing because it is a new gun and it could void warranty...

I also have 3 Gold sporting clays guns that are chambered for 2 3/4" only...shot lots of geese with them using an old Federal (2 3/4", 1 1/4oz, #1 shot @ 1275fps)steel shot load at ranges out to 62yds...so you can ignore the old "a 3.5" gun is a requirement for waterfowl"!!!

 

[Hoss83]

Sx3!

 

[Cintax]

Thank you very much for your responses.

What are you're proposed uses for the gun? If its for all round hunting then a 3.5" has some merit if waterfowl are in the equation, if clay birds is the game then a 3" gun will more likely handle very light loads than a 3.5" gun. Lastly and most important handle both guns and see which points best and fells best for you, for what its worth I like wood and blue on my shotguns for no reason other then looks.

My intended use of this firearm is kind of a catch all. I'd use it for turkey, waterfowl, upland and clays. With regard to the 3.5" chamber, I'd actually prefer the 3" chamber as I don't feel that 3.5" is necessary but they only have the 3.5" Silver in stock. Ideally I'd be comparing the 3" Silver to 3" SX3 and in that case I think I could just flip a coin or go with whichever gun has the higher quality finish.

I cant speak for the Browning as I have not shot one, but the SX3 is one of the best autoloaders on the market. It is light, fast and will cycle those 7/8 oz. loads without any difficulty. Another plus is that it is very light recoiling, so even if you use the 1 1/8 oz. loads, it wont beat you up.

Another one to consider is a Fabarm XLR, there isn't alot of info on these guns, and I only know of one dealer in the country who has them. (The Shooting Edge). Great bunch to deal with, and will order replacement parts if anything breaks. I just picked one up and prefer it over the SX3. A little heavier, but better balance IMO.

hope this helps.

I haven't shot either of them, just held them in my hand. I am glad to hear that the SX3 will cycle those light loads. I figured that the Silver chambered in 3.5" would cycle them as well if I bought high speed loads.

My understanding is that both the Silver and SX3 use the same parts so there might not even be much of a difference there.

I have an SX3 Walnut Field. Had it for over a year now and love it. I have other shotguns but the SX3 is my favorite. It is fairly light but not so light that it kicks too hard. It will cycle light loads no problem. As far as 3" shells goes, I believe thats all you need and thats all I use even though I have other 3 1/2 inch guns - waterfowl, turkey etc. If you need bigger than 3" 12g then you need a 10g to make any significant difference IMO. There are folks who hunt waterfowl with 20g. The grey finish on the SX3 has been great, looks good, durable and easy to maintain. Just wipe down with a rag, no oil needed. The gun does fit me well - very important. The only downer to a gas operated autoloader is they get dirty and need to be cleaned. I have a Benelli (inertia driven) and it doesn't get dirty so fast. The SX3 will shoot as fast as you can pull the trigger! I think there alot of "bang for the buck".

The fact you have had one for a year and are recommending it says a lot. I've been saving up for a shotgun for a little while now and I don't want buyers remorse. Does your SX3 have a blued barrel or is it coated as well? Did it come with stock shims for cast and drop or just length of pull? An advantage of buying synthetic is I know they have those cast and drop spacers.

I agree with your comments on 3.5" chambers - people have been killing goose, turkey, waterfowl, etc. for years using sub-12 gauge shotguns with fixed chokes and 2 3/4" or 2 1/2" chambers. I have even read about guys hunting turkey with 28 gauge and having much success.

All I have left is a 3.5" SX3 and it will cycle 1oz. loads @ 1180fps without any problems...as did my 3.5" Golds and 3.5" Silvers. They all cycled 7/8oz loads as long as velocity was over 1250fps. Some guns require a couple hundred round break-in period while others will shoot the light loads reliably right out of the box. The first thing to do when you get that new gun is to strip it down (remove the stock and strip the action spring/follower assembly as well), and clean all the rust proofing/grease/heavy oil that Browning/Winchester loves to use so much. I also find that a light polishing of the bolt rails and a couple other parts with emery cloth helps light load reliability as well but many folks advise against the polishing because it is a new gun and it could void warranty...

I also have 3 Gold sporting clays guns that are chambered for 2 3/4" only...shot lots of geese with them using an old Federal (2 3/4", 1 1/4oz, #1 shot @ 1275fps)steel shot load at ranges out to 62yds...so you can ignore the old "a 3.5" gun is a requirement for waterfowl"!!!

Thanks for the comment. It sounds like I might be fine with target loads from either gun.

Sx3!

Seems to be a consensus here.

 

[mikeyb]

I have the Browning in a 3" and before I bought it we had both it and the Winchester SX3 on the counter completely disassembled, they are the same on the inside. Damn gold trigger got me. Love it, dead reliable with even light target loads.

 

[daman2270]

Yep, had the same dilema last year ....but it was SX3 or Maxus....went with the Maxus because it fit/felt better. Have zero regrets on the Browning but I don't think you can go wrong going with whichever one shoulders better for you. Both good reliable bird blasters.

 

[Cintax]

I have the Browning in a 3" and before I bought it we had both it and the Winchester SX3 on the counter completely disassembled, they are the same on the inside. Damn gold trigger got me. Love it, dead reliable with even light target loads.

It really is nice. Does yours have a blued barrel?

Yep, had the same dilema last year ....but it was SX3 or Maxus....went with the Maxus because it fit/felt better. Have zero regrets on the Browning but I don't think you can go wrong going with whichever one shoulders better for you. Both good reliable bird blasters.

I'd consider buying the Maxus, but there is a price jump there that I'm not comfortable with. I feel that you're right, as long as they fit, I really can't go wrong. I wish I knew someone local with one. :/