Danoi99 Posted June 9, 2013 Report Share Posted June 9, 2013 Can anyone offer any good advice for me ? I want to purchase a semi-auto for shooting English Sporting and some Pigeon shooting . I like the look of these 4 : Winchester SX3 Beretta A400 Xcel Sport Browning Maxus Sport ( or maybe just Black synthetic stock variant, cuz the fake carbon stock is maybe a bit much ) Benneli Rafaello Sport ( in my dreams maybe, bit too much wonga for this puppy ) Good honest advice from shooters that either own, or have had a pop with any of these guns is welcome. Sarky comments like "Shoot them and find out" are not, cuz lets face it, who the hell would let me put 50 carts through a new gun to see if I like it ? I have only ever shot one semi............a Beretta A391. I found it so easy to hit clays that it felt like I was cheating !! Probably cuz I shoot with a side by side hammer gun that is choked Full & Full !!! Not great for the close, fast crossers !!! But I still get up around the mid 40's at my local clay shoot !!! Look forward to reading the advice from seasoned shots !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted June 9, 2013 Report Share Posted June 9, 2013 think you answered your own question get another 391 if you hit loads with one,we don't go clay shooting to miss them so sounds like the ideal gun for you and being a beretta it is a proven model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Poon Posted June 9, 2013 Report Share Posted June 9, 2013 Nice choice of semis there pal, I've got a maxus carbon fibre, it's a very nice gun to look at and shoot with very little recoil I'm only a clay shooter mind you so I can't comment on pigeon shooting. I'm also after a Benelli supersport they are the dogs dangly bit of semis . Most gun shops will have a demo gun or used version to shoot before you buy, if not see if anyone has the above guns mentioned at your local grounds to have a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike-b Posted June 9, 2013 Report Share Posted June 9, 2013 cant help you with any of these but ever thought about a remington? 1100/1187?? i shoot a 1100 and wouldnt change it for the world and my shooting buddy shots a 1187 and a 1100 and loves them ! there cheap, very well built and with a bit of looking around you can get one with some beautiful wood work! parts are easy to get hold of (not that they often go wrong) just a suggestion! but as bostonmick said if you work a 391 well then stick with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePestControllers Posted June 10, 2013 Report Share Posted June 10, 2013 i have a beretta al391 competition sporting 30" in my opinion for the second hand price it takes some beating. Cheers Daz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted June 10, 2013 Report Share Posted June 10, 2013 I have shot with a few - Remington 1100, Beretta, Benelli, Franchi, KFC, Nikko, Smith and Wesson, Baikal, Hatsan, Winchester and Fabarm I don't believe there is a better handling semi auto than a Remington 1100. They were slightly fussy about brand of shell - get the right cartridge and stick with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alros01 Posted June 10, 2013 Report Share Posted June 10, 2013 hi if it's a beretta you want try the teknys gold I've one and its a good gun but I also have a benelli m2 this to is a good gun prefer this to the super black eagles I've had I've never tried the Remington or the maxus hope this helps a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danoi99 Posted June 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2013 hi if it's a beretta you want try the teknys gold I've one and its a good gun but I also have a benelli m2 this to is a good gun prefer this to the super black eagles I've had I've never tried the Remington or the maxus hope this helps a bit Thanks for that ...........I was thinking of the old M2 myself as I have heard it's a good, proven & solid gun for the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danoi99 Posted June 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2013 I have shot with a few - Remington 1100, Beretta, Benelli, Franchi, KFC, Nikko, Smith and Wesson, Baikal, Hatsan, Winchester and Fabarm I don't believe there is a better handling semi auto than a Remington 1100. They were slightly fussy about brand of shell - get the right cartridge and stick with it. I keep hearing about this 1100 thingy, would love to have a pop with one to see what the fuss is about !! Wouldn't mind getting hold of a Remington Wingmaster Pump ( if you can get the old 2+1, SGC friendly version ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B B Posted June 18, 2013 Report Share Posted June 18, 2013 As your use of semi autos is limited and as such you will have no ingrained preferences, it may be a good idea if you do indeed try a Remington 1100, as sujested there is no better fitting handling semi made for off the peg gunfit for most people of typical western physeque. So you are almost guaranteed to shoot one well. Dont get sold on the Beretta hype they are not what they used to be Beretta built its semi auto reputation on the old 301/302/303 range and the Browning badged clone the B80 all very reliable semi autos the latter 300series are not in the same leage and have got steadily worse as time went by culminating in the A400 with its highly visible bodged welding and other less well known issues, these are best avoided in my opinion. Out of the guns you mention the SX3 would be good or the plain synthetic maxus if you have a little more money. If you want a reliable shot after shot semi in the sub 1000 quid range look at the versamax its totaly reliable shot after shot with any load and in any order, and you dont need to bother cleaning it if you dont want too. None of the afore said guns can boast this aspect of the versamaxes design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted June 18, 2013 Report Share Posted June 18, 2013 Your not a million miles from me if your in my neck of the woods your welcome to try my 1100 it's a great gun and handles nicely (and I'm not a semi lover). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NathanM Posted June 18, 2013 Report Share Posted June 18, 2013 I've got an sx3, and it performs faultlessly. It doesn't come with the bells and whistles that the maxus does, but it's cheaper, and in my opinion in handles great. It's light, and can handle any load I put through it! Mine is the grey shadow, which has a tough grey finish to the barrel and receiver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinchesterDave Posted June 18, 2013 Report Share Posted June 18, 2013 Well the only experience I have with the above is the sx3. I use it on clays frequently and used it wild fowling last season. It's a fantastic gun, very reliable and has cycled everything I've put through it including 24g loads. It won't let you down. However the quality between that and the beretta or even the maxus is probably noticeable... Thats not to say the sx3 is bad quality. But it what ever suits you best mate, you can adjust most modern semis now anyway to aid gun fit so it's the one you like best. But from personal experience the sx3 is a cracking gun that won't let you down and is under £1000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningDJC Posted June 19, 2013 Report Share Posted June 19, 2013 For pigeon shooting the speed loading of the maxus takes some beating in my opinion. If you do decide on a Beretta the older al391's seem to be much better than the new a400's etc in my opinion. Lots of people love sx3's but they arent for me. Neither are the 1100's, they seem to just be hassle with cycling constantly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sx3 clay breaker Posted June 19, 2013 Report Share Posted June 19, 2013 I've got a maxus 3.5 in carbon fibre finish and my dads got a sx3 in 3.5 in cammo finish and there's not much between them and there both awesome guns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloggs Posted June 19, 2013 Report Share Posted June 19, 2013 I sold my A400 and bought the Ultimate Ducks Maxus. The speed load system is superb, never had a stoppage - awesome gun IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danoi99 Posted June 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 Your not a million miles from me if your in my neck of the woods your welcome to try my 1100 it's a great gun and handles nicely (and I'm not a semi lover). Dude ! that's a very kind offer indeed !! If I could get the time off work I would be there in a jiffy !!! I am a slave at the moment !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danoi99 Posted June 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 Would like to thank you all for your advice on this subject. I have put a Maxus in the shoulder the other day and it felt just right. I am 6ft 1" and average ( bit of muscle ) build, I know these things are built to fit Mr. Average well..........it fitted like a glove !!!! There is a £120 cash-back offer going on at the moment if you buy a Maxus before Aug 31st.................I am thinking of getting the Composite Super Magnum ( chambered for 89mm) might go for the middle size 71cm barrel. Sportsman Gun Centre are pumping them out at £1075.99p !! with the cash-back deal...........that's a new Maxus Composite Super Magnum in my cabinet for £955.99p. ( Maybe I can pick on up for less at the CLA Game Fair ) 2 questions for all you experts out there. Q1. Will putting 76mm carts through an 89mm chamber have an adverse effect on patterning ?? Q2. Will my wife forgive me for dipping into our mortgage deposit fund...........to the tune of £950 + ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B B Posted June 23, 2013 Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 Q1. Will putting 76mm carts through an 89mm chamber have an adverse effect on patterning ?? A.1 None whatsoever ! Q2. Will my wife forgive me for dipping into our mortgage deposit fund...........to the tune of £950 + ? A.2. No because you wont want to swap the gun out anytime soon. You obviously like the gun the fit and feel and the maxus is an exelent shotgun go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Churchill Posted June 23, 2013 Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 I have a 3 1/2 " chamber Maxus that i use in the field, If i'm honest, i'm a Beretta man, however The Maxus is the only Browning i own and all i can say is that it is superb, it has been 100% faultless, it's never put a foot wrong. The only downside to the Maxus is the price, but having said that to have a gun that wont let you down, then it's worth every single penny. I've shot the Beretta A400 that was owned by Bloggs and i think the Maxus is the better gun, and it's so easy to strip and clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimmie Posted June 23, 2013 Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 There's a grade 2 maxus's for sale on gun watch for £625. Now that is a bargain !!!! If I had the money it would be in the cabinet !!! (But like you me and the missis are saving for a mortgage deposit) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sx3 clay breaker Posted June 23, 2013 Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 Paid 1049 for my maxus carbon fibre in three and a half in mag at shooting supplies never got no cash back tho but an awesome gun mines only had a couple hundred round thru it it did jam a couple of times the other night but put this down due to it being new and only just running other than that you go far wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Churchill Posted June 23, 2013 Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 Paid 1049 for my maxus carbon fibre in three and a half in mag at shooting supplies never got no cash back tho but an awesome gun mines only had a couple hundred round thru it it did jam a couple of times the other night but put this down due to it being new and only just running other than that you go far wrong If you don't mind me asking, what carts are you putting through it, and do you clean it, i only ask as mine has been faultless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sx3 clay breaker Posted June 23, 2013 Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 Hi mate there was a few 32 grams and 28 grams they were 67 mm but it shot these faultless until I shot 3 63 g carts it usually cleaned it was jamming when the lift lifted up it was getting stuck I think I might because I shot in the rain and never took trigger mech out but it should be ok now it's been clear I will update next time I'm out rgds scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Churchill Posted June 23, 2013 Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 Hi mate there was a few 32 grams and 28 grams they were 67 mm but it shot these faultless until I shot 3 63 g carts it usually cleaned it was jamming when the lift lifted up it was getting stuck I think I might because I shot in the rain and never took trigger mech out but it should be ok now it's been clear I will update next time I'm out rgds scott Thanks for the reply, i use 70mm 30 or 32g 6 shot in mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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