Help Me Pick My New Shotgun

[highside74]

I have been reading a lot and handling many shotguns in the last couple months. I wanted to stick in the $1000 range 3.5in and have eliminated stoeger and Remington.

My finalists are

#1 Winchester Sx3 $1049 plus $75 rebate
#3 Franchi Intensity Waterfowler on sale price $899
#4 Beretta A350 on sale price $899 plus $100 Beretta gear credit

OR

blow my budget and buy a

#2 Browning Maxus on sale price $1399 plus $100 rebate

[vandeman17]

I bought the sx3 last season and love it! 1 vote for that one. 

[wadu1]

I bought the sx3 last season and love it! 1 vote for that one. 

Best of the bunch, I'm a Beretta fan and I say go with the SX3. It's close to the same as the Browning Maxis without all the bells and whistles.   

[YoungFowler]

Another vote for sx3


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

[JJB11B]

Another vote for SX3

[fowl smacker]

They're all great guns, get the one that "fits you" the best.

[Brad Harshman]

This spring I bought the SX3 it fits me very well, is light to carry and shoots where I'm pointing.  I have a few hundred rounds threw now, ranging between light target loads shooting clays and 3" 2 shot for ducks.  So far not a single jam.  Needless to say, I love it.  Wish I would of done this year's ago.  Huge upgrade from the rem. 870.  I haven't shot 3.5" shells yet, but I'm not worried either.
Good luck and have fun!

[NW-GSP]

I have the berets a300 and used it since the beginning of waterfowl season last year. Light recoil and it's the easiest shotgun to clean. Very simple. I am not a fan of Winchester shotguns and their shotgun shells are junk.

[Pnwrider]

Where is benelli on your list?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[highside74]

Where is benelli on your list?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Too much $ and inertia systems aren't high on my wishlist.

I'm pretty much set on either the SX3 or the Maxus but put all 4 on my list out there incase I was off base somewhere.  Sounds like I'm on the right track with the SX3. But the Maxus looks sexy and I like the feel of the forend but not enough for the $400 difference unless it is a much better gun. My kind of purchase philosophy is, pick your comfortable budget and then look just above it to make sure you are not going to wish later on that you would have spent the little extra money. 

[Mark Youngblood]

I hunt ducks allot every year and have a Beretta Extrema 2... think the A400 replaces it.  I can say it is hands down then best auto I have ever owned.  I have buddies who shoot Benelli and they are great guns as well but would still pick mine over theirs hands down.  I can honestly say I shoot 500-700 rounds of 3" steel every year for at least the past 5 years on the coast in a salt water environment...only 1 failure and it was an extractor spring that I replaced myself.  I have shot all sorts of shells from cheap to expensive and the gun does not care...I can honestly only remember maybe it mis feeding 2 times...serious... the gun is built for harsh environments as well...not a single spot of rust, the kick off system is a dream for recoil... the gun actually likes to be dirty and still performs flawlessly... it has been submersed in salt water with no effects.... I am actually watching to find a used on for sale juts like the one I have so I have a replacement... just my 2 cents...I own several Beretta o/u guns as well but my duck gun gets heavily used and abused year after year....good luck...  lots of great guns out there juts wanted to share my thoughts from years of use.

[h2ofowlr]

I purchased my son a SX3 and he shoots it very well.  I also have the SX3 in 20 gauge that I use for pigeon and crow shooting.  Great guns.  I would get one of those or the Benelli SBEII.

My vote is SX3 on your list.

Cabelas and Sportsmans warehouse had the SX3 in the $800 range this past weekend.  So, look around as they had some great deals on them.  I picked my sons up for $825 brand new.

[Bill W]

I bought a used Maxus a couple of weeks ago.  Last year while on a trip with Vandemann and CP I got to see the SX3 and Maxus side by side.  They look very similar.   I think Vandemann said the SX3 was the "cheap" version of the Maxus.

[hdshot]

The old Rem 870 express super mag, priceless.

[highside74]

The old Rem 870 express super mag, priceless.

I'm retiring my old 11-87 for this new shotgun.

[Bill W]

The old Rem 870 express super mag, priceless.

I'm retiring my old 11-87 for this new shotgun.

If I were you I'd stick with the 11-87 unless you are after a camo finish shotgun.  I had an 11-87 and it seemed to have thin blue as it rusted easily and needed a frequent rub down.   I will add the Maxus is lighter than the 11-87 by around a pound.

[highside74]

[/quote]

If I were you I'd stick with the 11-87 unless you are after a camo finish shotgun.  I had an 11-87 and it seemed to have thin blue as it rusted easily and needed a frequent rub down.   I will add the Maxus is lighter than the 11-87 by around a pound.
[/quote]

All of those are reasons I'm going to a new shotgun.

[bod]

Sx3 is what I have fits me very well back bored barrel nice gun .

[Bill W]

Lighter shotguns gain value as a hunter gets older.  Those 8 lb guns get heavy after a while.   What little I've shot the Maxus it appears good.  Comes with stock shims to move the POI around a little and there's ones to lengthen the stock.   Barrel is .010 overbore from the traditional barrels and a Briley LM choke appeared to pattern 100% with T shot at 40 yards.  #2 and #3 shot also did good at 40 yards with the LM but more like a 70-80% pattern

[Mark Youngblood]

I have one of those 11-87 as well and I swear I could watch it rusting in the blind (hunting coast)...I finally spray painted it camo and problem was solved...juts a tip 

[highside74]

Pulled the trigger on a SX3 Waterfowl 3.5" max5 camo. $1096 out the door plus a $75 rebate. Thanks everyone

[JJB11B]

you will be happy you did! I love those guns!

[aaronoto]

Good choice!  I had a Browning Maxus, it wasn't worth the premium over the SX3 in my opinion.