what should I buy... looking for a new auto-loader

T

thepolinator

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Hello all,
Sadly my auto-loader has started to act up and I am not up to doing the work on it myself. Anywho it is a Mossberg 930. I am looking for a replacement waterfowl gun (I am not really interested in the mossberg line of guns for a replacement). I am currently thinking that the Winchester SX3, Browning Silver or the Browning Maxus would fill my needs, but maybe I am missing something . So here are my questions.
1) Whats the big difference between the gas and inertia driven systems? when I was using my mossberg 930 the porting and gas system really soaked up the recoil, is the inertia system notably more recoil?

2) from a practical standpoint whats the difference between the silver and the maxus?

3) what guns should I be considering that I am not currently looking at and why? My criteria for a new auto-loader are: price (hoping to stay under 1,500, but I know most of these guns are more), reliability, adjustability (I find most guns are too small for me), ease of maintenance (this gun will get wet and I will be cleaning it after most trips, I want to be able to clean it without paying a gunsmith or taking 2 hours to put it back together) and I was hoping for a gas system, but that is more because I don't really know the benefits of the recoil systems.

so am I over thinking this, and what would you guys recommend I buy?
Thanks.
 
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Definitely shoulder a bunch of guns and see what feels right. I really like the Brownings, but they don't fit me well. Remington Versamax would be in a similar price range, the sportsman version is a fair bit cheaper I think. Beretta A300 might be worth a look for a bit over $1k...
 
Another to consider is the Remington Versa Max

REM-81049_1000_grande.jpg


Both my shooters use Versa Max. It's been amazing for them.
 
thepolinator said:
Hello all,
Sadly my auto-loader has started to act up and I am not up to doing the work on it myself. Anywho it is a Mossberg 930. I am looking for a replacement waterfowl gun (I am not really interested in the mossberg line of guns for a replacement). I am currently thinking that the Winchester SX3, Browning Silver or the Browning Maxus would fill my needs, but maybe I am missing something . So here are my questions.
1) Whats the big difference between the gas and inertia driven systems? when I was using my mossberg 930 the porting and gas system really soaked up the recoil, is the inertia system notably more recoil?

2) from a practical standpoint whats the difference between the silver and the maxus?

3) what guns should I be considering that I am not currently looking at and why? My criteria for a new auto-loader are: price (hoping to stay under 1,500, but I know most of these guns are more), reliability, adjustability (I find most guns are too small for me), ease of maintenance (this gun will get wet and I will be cleaning it after most trips, I want to be able to clean it without paying a gunsmith or taking 2 hours to put it back together) and I was hoping for a gas system, but that is more because I don't really know the benefits of the recoil systems.

so am I over thinking this, and what would you guys recommend I buy?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

My a391 extrema and prob the new a400 is 100% weather resistant.
 
Any of those 3 are fine guns... As mentioned, make sure it fits you...

I bought a Maxus and struggled to get it to fit, but the use of the shims is handy, and I eventually made it work.... (PITA)

The Maxus and SX3 are essentially the same gun, with the Maxus being a gussied up version..... So, if you aren't looking for "fancy", my choice would be the SX3.....
 
Superbrad said:
Any of those 3 are fine guns... As mentioned, make sure it fits you...

I bought a Maxus and struggled to get it to fit, but the use of the shims is handy, and I eventually made it work.... (PITA)

The Maxus and SX3 are essentially the same gun, with the Maxus being a gussied up version..... So, if you aren't looking for "fancy", my choice would be the SX3.....
Click to expand...

Actually the Silver and the SX-3 are pretty much the same gun, using the same action, the Maxus action is slightly different.
 
Had a Maxus Stalker, loved it. Now shoot an SX3 Black Shadow, and absolutely love it. Maxus has a flatter rib, SX3 bit raised. And the Brownings have speed loading, which is nice, but for the couple hundred $ difference in brands I can live without that feature. Grabbed my 3.5 SX3 on sale at cabelas for $1039 and couldn't be happier.
 
The SX3 and Maxus come with stock shim kits to adjust the fit for you so fitting is not an issue. Given the troubles the Maxus has been experiencing with gas piston issues(springs breaking) I would opt for the SX3. It is the just a Browning Silver in a different wrapper but the active valve gas system has proven to be bullet proof and extremely reliable since it's inception. Thats my opinion on the subject anyways. Oh and inertia autoloaders have more felt recoil than gas as there is nothing to bleed off some of the recoil forces by using the gases to operate the action. I have shot and owned a few of the modern intertia driven systems and they recoil much more noticably over gas systems.
 
the spank said:
The SX3 and Maxus come with stock shim kits to adjust the fit for you so fitting is not an issue. Given the troubles the Maxus has been experiencing with gas piston issues(springs breaking) I would opt for the SX3. It is the just a Browning Silver in a different wrapper but the active valve gas system has proven to be bullet proof and extremely reliable since it's inception. Thats my opinion on the subject anyways. Oh and inertia autoloaders have more felt recoil than gas as there is nothing to bleed off some of the recoil forces by using the gases to operate the action. I have shot and owned a few of the modern intertia driven systems and they recoil much more noticably over gas systems.
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Even with 2 max drop shims in an SX3 I just could not get that gun to fit me after I grew a bit. Originally got it when I was 18 ND my neck was still getting a bit longer I guess.

The FN guns are not made with much drop at comb or drop at heel. Traded another gent here for a Franchi affinity and it fits like a glove. Also adjustable but the benelli adjustment system has way more movement that the FN system.
 
I like Benellis, more felt recoil but they balance so much nicer than gas guns IMO. No pistons, springs or operating rods under the forearm. Very little maintenance and disassembly is a snap. I shoot 1oz loads for skeet/trap and reliability has been 100% for the 6 Benellis I've owned. Hunting, I don't feel/notice recoil anyhow so its a non-issue.
 
I owned a Mossberg. Bad experience. I have never regretted paying for build quality and adjustability of my Beretta (the now discontinued A391 Xtrema2). If I was on the market, I would buy gas operated Italian again.

As far as recoil is concerned, I only had blurry eyes with 3 1/2" Winchester High density Extended Range loads. Everything else was pleasant. And I don't have the Kickoff option, which really works (I tried someone else's gun). This season I have a Falcon Strike recoil converter, and look forward to trying it on the river.

Good shopping.
 
I currently own an SX3 and use it pretty hard. It has thousands of rounds through it and still cycles like a champ. It eats target ammo and 3.5 bb for geese equally well. i really like the SX3.
Prior to my SX3 I had a Beretta xtrema 2 that i also really liked.

Right now two of my buddies also shoot and enjoy the SX3.
 
Winchested said:
Even with 2 max drop shims in an SX3 I just could not get that gun to fit me after I grew a bit. Originally got it when I was 18 ND my neck was still getting a bit longer I guess.

The FN guns are not made with much drop at comb or drop at heel. Traded another gent here for a Franchi affinity and it fits like a glove. Also adjustable but the benelli adjustment system has way more movement that the FN system.
Click to expand...

I require a fair bit of drop at comb, and the SX-3 fits me right from the factory. On the other hand, my A400 never fit me properly with the comb as low as I could adjust it using the shims.
 
stubblejumper said:
I require a fair bit of drop at comb, and the SX-3 fits me right from the factory. On the other hand, my A400 never fit me properly with the comb as low as I could adjust it using the shims.
Click to expand...

This has been exactly my experience. My Silver fit right out of the box, but Benelli's, Beretta's and newer Franchi's dont fit worth a damn. When I read Winchested's post, it left me scratching my head because my experience was the total opposite. I have a long neck and require a substantial drop. My Silver has way more drop then any Benelli, Beretta or Franchi
 
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