Maxus, SX3 or Versa Max?

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sks

New member
I have been looking at the Maxus in 12 gauge lately and been told by some that the SX3 is the same shotgun with a different name. While not new to shotguns I really would like input from some of our forum experts on this one.

Are they essentially the same gun? If not, what are the differences?

Also, some have recommended the Versa Max. Thoughts on that one are appreciated.

I do not need a new shotgun but just want to get a good semi auto for duck, quail, squirrel, skeet and just plain fun.

Thanks in advance for your input.
 
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BigJimP

New member
Browning bought Winchester 4 or 5 yrs ago ...( and then FN bought Browning) ....so yes, the Winchesters and Brownings are almost identical.

It looks to me like FN - is letting Browning run the shotgun division ..and Winchester shotguns are even using the Browning Invector Plus choke systems in their guns now.

There are subtle differences in many of Browning semi-auto models ...Maxus, Silver, etc ... and there are about 10 versions of the Maxus lineup of guns and about 12 or 15 of the Silver line of guns from Browning. You'll have to do some side by side comparisons of the specific models you are interested in ...some are just finished differently, some are chamber length from 2 3/4" - to 3" - to 3 1/2" ...and it depends on what you want ...and barrel length options, etc...

A good semi-auto 12ga / with either a 28" or a 30" barrel - and screw in changeable chokes ...makes a good versatile gun ...and will handle everything you need. Recommending the Maxus - when there are 9 models ..makes no sense ...until you pick one that will work for you / same for the Silver line of guns ....

Versa Max is a Remington model ...so another company ...with dozens of different semi-autos in their lineup as well.

You're going to have to be more specific / spend some time looking at the Browning / Winchester / Remington websites ...to figure out what you want.

Personally - I would also suggest you add Benelli and Beretta into the mix as well ...and look at their lines. My personal semi-auto of choice / for a very versatile gun is the Benelli SuperSport - and I have one in 12ga with a 30"
barrel and a 20ga with a 28" barrel...both very nice guns / do everything pretty well.
 
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jmortimer

Moderator
I believe the SX3 has two gas pistons for light and heavy loads and MAXUS has single piston for all loads. My opinion is that the Maxus is the best semi-auto in terms of felt recoil, reliability, and rate of fire.
 
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sks

New member
Big Jim, thanks for the input. I like Benelli and bought my wife a Montefeltro while I have a Super Nova. Will check out their semi auto line as well for my purposes. Haven't looked at Beretta and don't own one but I'll give them a look at well.

Another question: Once I buy the gun who do you recommend I go to in order to get the gun fitted? Skeet club, local gun smith? I've never had a shotgun fitted but in talking to some friends they really think it is important. I've generally just bought the gun that felt good and handled well as far as pointability and adapted myself to it.
 
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LSnSC

New member
The Browning will hold its value better and have a better fit and finish than the other two. The Maxxus Sporting is a very attractive shotgun.
 
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shootniron

New member
We shoot A LOT of skeet and of all the auto shotguns that we have had including Benelli, the SX3 has been the best in our opinion and it has only one piston for the 3" chambered gun that we have, 2010 yr gun. However, we have not tried the newest Browning, they may better.
 
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BigJimP

New member
As far as having a gun fit ...part of the key is to buy a model of gun that has a lot of built in adjustability. Some have shims that you can change between the receiver and the stock ...to change the angle of the comb ..or to add cast left or right ( not much ) ...but its a good adjustment. Some guns have that option - many don't.

If you stay with a wood stocked gun / its a little easier to change the recoil pads / or the angle of the butt -- so you can raise or lower the comb ...or change the length of pull.

Some guns have built in soft comb inserts - like Benelli Super Sport model -- so you can buy a different comb insert and move comb up or down. Same thing on butt pad - Benelli Supersport has optional recoil pads - so you can increase length of pull.

Some guns have adj trigger shoes - so you can move the trigger about 1/4" ...

A few semi-autos have adjustable comb inserts built in ...many don't...

so as you go thru this process - consider all those issues....
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In terms of fit - you can do it yourself - at a pattern board. The key is - does the gun hit where you look.

But if you have a guy in your area - at your club / maybe a stock specialist / maybe an instructor ...can help you on fit. 90% of gunsmiths - have no idea about "Fit" ... 99% of gun sales counter guys have no idea about "Fit" or why adjustability is a good thing...all they know is price.

You need to get around some competition shooters ...Skeet or Trap shooters probably ...because they've had this stuff figured out for a long time. They know about Point of Impact - and how to adjust a gun - higher or lower - so it hits where you want it to hit. Sheet shooters shoot a more all around setup - with guns shooting more of a 50%/50% pattern ...where Trap shooters tend to want guns that hit high ...like a 60%/40% pattern or even 70%/30% ... but any of those guys can be a big help ....and you can make some friends ...and ask their help in picking a gun .../ maybe shoot a lot of different guns as you go thru this process.
 
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BigJimP

New member
Start by looking at ...and understanding the adjustment issues and options in a gun like the Benelli Super Sport ( not the Sport II model ) ...

The super sport is a carbon fibre gun ....with shims ...changeable comb pads...changeable butt pads...comes with 5 chokes...has the "comfort tech" recoil supression system in it... 12ga comes in 28" or 30" barrels ...its a really light gun at around 7.2 lbs ...inertia operated so it shoots clean ... Downside on it is list price of $ 2,069 but in my area its selling new for around $ 1,875 ...but my point is, understand the adjustability ...

and then look at other models of guns ...some with similar options ...some with no adjustabilty ...

and figure out your budget ...and how you want to make a selection..

There are guns like the old Remington 1100 ...and a company Jack West stocks ...that makes a parallel comb synthetic stock - with an adj comb insert - and a soft comb insert for the 1100's and the 11-87's ( and the 870 pumps) ....and while the 1100 is old technology / understand the adjustment issues ...so a gun can be made to "Fit" a shooter... The Jack West Stocks ...in my opinion ...take an old technology gun ...and make it a very very good gun with a lot of adjustability.

and go to a club - talk to a lot of serious competition shooters ...and discuss fit / and guns / and durabilty ...and shells ( 1 oz, 7/8 oz in 12 ga ) and velocity ...and chokes ...and whatever ...and find out what they doing / and why !

http://www.benelliusa.com/shotguns/benelli_supersport_and_sport_2.php

I'm trying not to say ....buy a super sport ..and you're all done ...you have to do what is best for you ! There are a lot of good guns out there / they're just different ...and priced to meet certain price points ...options cost money ...do you need them ( maybe ) ...maybe not.

Today I'm 6'5" and 275 lbs ...but my weight tends to flucuate ...so I will sometimes adjust my combs mid season .../ and I need guns that have a comb parallel to the rib ...so I can shoot the same gun in a T shirt vs a heavy coat and vest ...without Point of Impact changing .../ most all of the semi-autos do not have parallel combs ...but just because I find that the most versatile / doesn't mean you will.

It just isn't as easy as ....buy the Browning Maxus, or buy the Benelli Super Sport ....there is a lot more to it.../ and no matter what - have fun with the process !
 
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wilkerr1

New member
I can't speak for the Benelli or SX3, however I have recently purchased the Browning Maxus SPT and it's a GREAT Gun. Shoots anything you put through it and recoil is near non existant. It has many shims and chokes, but I find that unless your above or below the average male you probably won't need to make any adjustments. Cleaning is a breeze, flip the forearm switch up, pull off forearm and bingo the barrel comes off. No twisting, pushing, etc.. I mainly use mine for Trap. It is super light making it extremely quick on targets.
 
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sks

New member
Thanks to all for your comments. I'll continue to do some investigating and see if I can't shoot some of these. Going to duck hunt with an SX3 26" in December and looking forward to that. A friend is loaning it to me to see if I like the gun. After 4 days of duck hunting I should have a good idea of how the gun feels to me. :)
 
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sks

New member
Well the SX3 I was going to hunt with in December was sold. :( Oh well, the hunt continues. :)

BigJimP, I have been looking at the Beretta A400 Extreme Unico. Really nice looking shotgun that feels good in my hands. Haven't shot one yet but will try to get my hands on one soon.

The big selling point of the VersaMax is that it cycles any ammo reliably. I am a bit skittish because of the M2000 I bought that wouldn't cycle anything reliably. Not even 3" shells!:eek::eek: Shouldn't all good quality semi autos cycle 2-3/4 light loads to 3-1/2 magnum loads reliably?
 
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BigJimP

New member
Well - good luck with the continuing search ....

Yes, in my opinion - all of the big name companies making semi-autos -- Browning ( Winchester), Benelli and Beretta - if they are chambered in 3" will shoot 2 3/4" and 3" shells .....and if they are chambered in 3 1/2" - they will fire 2 3/4", 3" and 3 1/2" shells reliably - but the length of the shell is not the issue in my mind !

But all 3 - or 4 companies depending how you break them down - have very different operating systems in their guns ( Browning - Winchester and Beretta are all gas guns / Benelli - a subsidiary of Beretta is all Inertia guns ) ...and in general, if any of the guns is going to be finnicky, it will probably be the Inertia guns .....but it isn't the hull length that's the issue - its the "velocity" of the shell. When you get into "light" loads ...around 1150 fps ...then many guns will have trouble cycling them. However, most any well made gun - will or should cycle shells at 1200 fps ...( regardless of whether its a shot load consisting of 7/8 oz , 1 oz, 1 1/8 oz, etc ....).

I'm not trying to start a brand war here ....but the M2000 is a Stoeger ...and we all shared your pain with that gun ...but it was a Stoeger ...:( / and for that reason alone ...I'd certainly stay away from anything in the Stoeger line ...but Benelli has not been plagued by the same issues ???:D
 
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sks

New member
Stoeger is out

BigJimP: Yeah, I don't want to hate on the Stoeger because some guys have had great luck with them but I sent mine back to the factory twice and it still wouldn't cycle reliably. Sold it to a guy, told him it wouldn't cycle, and hope he is happy.

I'm going to spend some time handling the Browning, Benelli, Beretta, Remington and Winchester in the coming weeks to see which one I like better. Hope to have one chosen within a month.
 
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sks

New member
Bit the bullet

Well I read so much on the Browning, Benelli and Beretta that my eyes crossed. :D Have handled them, run my hands all over them, put them up to my shoulder countless times to the point I think it was confusing. They all felt good of course.

Finally settled in a Beretta A391 Extrema 2 in Max 4 with a 26" barrel. It felt the most solid of everything I handled and just seemed the most natural. Can't wait to get some rounds through it either this week or the next.

Got it NIB for $1,100.00 and had a $150.00 gift card to put toward it as well. Price was right so I bit the bullet.
 
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sks

New member
dalecooper51: That is the plan. :D Am really working to see if I can get it out tomorrow at least to the skeet range. It is 10 minutes from my house while the shooting range we go to is 40 minutes away. I'll pattern it later and see how it does.
 
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dalecooper51

New member
Wow, I am envious. The range is 10 minutes from my house, but the only skeet field within 2 hours is about 35 mins away. Sporting clays is about the same distance. I would love to have clays right down the road.
 
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sks

New member
Sorry for the envy. :) My wife and I are going to shoot skeet tomorrow afternoon. Can't wait to try the Beretta.
 
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