Browning Maxus

[Richie10]

Hi,

Just got the Browning Maxus. Easy to dismantle for cleaning, great loading mechanism, no need to stick a cartridge in the chamber and quick unloading from the magazine.

Was going to go for the SX3 but thought the extra features with the Maxus did it for me.

I have heard it is better to put some bigger loads through it first to loosen the action up first as I am yet to use it.

 

Anyone have one and experiences of them? How they perform on the foreshore? Is the recoil reduction that noticiable?

 

Cheers

 

 

 

 

[TbirdX]

Putting some big loads through it won't do any harm but I didn't with mine, it's only ever been fed a diet of 28g or 24g shells with no problems.

[oscarsdad]

I have the 3 1/2" chambered version and it has never jammed apart from when trying to get 21g / 24g clay loads to work. I don't think there is any need to bother with heavy loads to start with, mine is most often used with 32g pigeon loads but has been used with up to 63g with no issues.

[kent]

It will do fine on the foreshore just remember to clean the action, gas assembly and mag as well as the barrels when you get home

[Richie10]

Cheers guys.

 

I have previously used a pump(SXP) and Hatsan on the foreshore, and now clean them religously after leaving the pump once overnight. Never again.

 

Would you remove the trigger group or just periodically?

 

Cheers

[kent]

Cheers guys.

 

I have previously used a pump(SXP) and Hatsan on the foreshore, and now clean them religously after leaving the pump once overnight. Never again.

 

Would you remove the trigger group or just periodically?

 

Cheers

 

Removing the trigger group means easier re-locating of the bolt in place and, yes any dirt, sand or salt water that gets in there. So yes I should and do unless it was just a nice clean session

[stalker58]

Have a look at the pattern tests I done on here under eley lighting

Edited March 21, 2014 by stalker58

[anthonychez]

Kent it makes no difference with the maxus with regards to bolt locating. Unlike the sx3 it self aligns.but itus a good idea to ckean the trigger group every few outings if not every , its surprising how much powder gets trapped in that area.

[kent]

Kent it makes no difference with the maxus with regards to bolt locating. Unlike the sx3 it self aligns.but itus a good idea to ckean the trigger group every few outings if not every , its surprising how much powder gets trapped in that area.

 

That's interesting with it being the same action and all, will have to have a look at that some time. Maintaining the trigger from all contaminates is good as are maintaining the slides, tried mud dust is a good abrasive and if the slides wear the gun is junk as the bolt can start to pivot sideways

[anthonychez]

They arnt the same at all. Sx3 is very similar to the browning gold tho.you can look at mine sometime if you wish.slides definitely need cleaning on every visit espcially on the marsh.

[kent]

They arnt the same at all. Sx3 is very similar to the browning gold tho.you can look at mine sometime if you wish.slides definitely need cleaning on every visit espcially on the marsh.

 

The ones I have seen are from the same factory, same action body etc. Not identical but near enough. Yeah will have a look some time

[wraivi]

 

The ones I have seen are from the same factory, same action body etc. Not identical but near enough. Yeah will have a look some time

Youll find the maxus has a different gas system and the browning fast load system. The bolt construction is not the same, the maxus has a non rebounding firing pin to enhance lock time. Also the bolt has a different bolt guide on the carrier. Edited March 23, 2014 by wraivi

[kent]

Youll find the maxus has a different gas system and the browning fast load system. The bolt construction is not the same, the maxus has a non rebounding firing pin to enhance lock time. Also the bolt has a different bolt guide on the carrier.

 

In principle all gas autos are very much the same the same, who ever makes them. The two guns are both made by FN for what amounts to the same client, bits are different but compare the basics. I shouldn't mind betting betting you could build an sx3 + Maxus hybrid they are that alike in certain areas but yes they are different not just re-badged

[woody801]

I have a camo version of the maxus. Must say its one of the nicest gun to shoot I've ever used. Love the features and the easy strip down for cleaning. It's never jammed and cycles loads from 21 to 46 gram. The only thing I'm dissapointed about is the finish. It seems to be really below par. Which is surprising because I also have a browning phoenix and that's excellent. Anyone else found this?

[babka3487]

I bought a duck blind maxus new for last season and got on really well with it. I 'loosened it up' with 28g clay carts initially around 100 or so then into normal wildfowling loads. It handled everything from the clay carts to the 3 1/2 inch steel without fault with recoil on the bigger loads very well controlled. The only thing I did find was that the removable forsight beads can come out easily and lost three over the course of the season which was annoying. Apart from that really pleased and would buy again.

[wildfowler.250]

Had mine for a couple of years now. It's the 3 1/2 inch.

 

1) it wouldn't cycle shells shorter than 70mm reliably. 21g 70mm case goes through no problem.

 

2) the front sights/beads fall out. I've lost all the green ones and only have 1 red one left. I'll need to order up new ones from somewhere?

 

I'd clean the gun as often as you can be bothered. I shoot a lot in thick mud and it does eventually accumulate and jam the gun,(even if it looks fairly clean).

 

 

Very good gun though. I'd say the features won me over compared to the sx3 but both great guns!

[chrispti]

The felt recoil is minimal using big fowling loads..... That's the only good thing iv got to say about them.

[wildfowler.250]

The felt recoil is minimal using big fowling loads..... That's the only good thing iv got to say about them.

Really? What didn't you like? I've used the sx3, xtrema2 and maxus a lot and it's my favorite by a mile.

[kent]

Had mine for a couple of years now. It's the 3 1/2 inch.

 

1) it wouldn't cycle shells shorter than 70mm reliably. 21g 70mm case goes through no problem.

 

2) the front sights/beads fall out. I've lost all the green ones and only have 1 red one left. I'll need to order up new ones from somewhere?

 

I'd clean the gun as often as you can be bothered. I shoot a lot in thick mud and it does eventually accumulate and jam the gun,(even if it looks fairly clean).

 

 

Very good gun though. I'd say the features won me over compared to the sx3 but both great guns!

I suggest your maintenance routine is perhaps responsible for your guns ability with shorter shells, the sx3 will do them ok

I have a camo version of the maxus. Must say its one of the nicest gun to shoot I've ever used. Love the features and the easy strip down for cleaning. It's never jammed and cycles loads from 21 to 46 gram. The only thing I'm dissapointed about is the finish. It seems to be really below par. Which is surprising because I also have a browning phoenix and that's excellent. Anyone else found this?

I don't think finish is the top of the list when most are buying a cammo wrapped gun, more durability in the field

[chrispti]

Really? What didn't you like? I've used the sx3, xtrema2 and maxus a lot and it's my favorite by a mile.

Apart from not being able to get the stock/combe high enough for me.... I didn't like the small narrow stock, didn't like the feel of the gun in my hands, the gas spring broke, it frequently jammed using clay loads.

 

I just didn't like the gun.

 

I prefered the sx3 to the maxus. Iv also had 2 xtrema 2s, better guns by a mile.

 

Mind you, I'd have a maxus over a benelli any day of the week.

[anthonychez]

I must say i prefer my sx3 as like said it cycles all carts with ease, but im with wilfowler . 250 my maxus jams with carts less than 70 mm but it dose state in the owners manual that carts of 70mm and over should be used. shame really as i shoot alot of 67mm fiocci carts. Its recoil is less than the sx3 tho with 3.5 inc carts i aslo dont like the paint finish on the barrel as mine has rusted on the rib.

[riptide]

Well guys mine is a Browning Gold Auto 3 1/2 inch camo model 8 years old now and still going strong..One problem I am a lazy sod so dont clean it that ofton ,like I have not yet cleaned it from the 20th Feb last but have used it on 4 clay shoots since then !!!! with another one this Sunday 60 bird with duck Fluury after !!! I have found that it does not seem to suffer from not being cleand !!!!!!

 

Up the washes in Jan just gone and as nothing to do one evening at my friends were we stay thought maybe I should clean it and found I could not get the barrel of ,so much crud had built up on it ,barrel stuck tight well .after a hour we finally got it of and it then had to spend ages clleaning it to get barrel back on !!!!! So maybe I should clean it more ofton !!! What i do is now and then give it a spray with Gun cleaner asnd lube rub it over ( Metal parts ) then a bit of Gun oil and stand it barrel down so oil and lube does not build up on the action otherwise it can form a stick coating which attracts the dirt and crud !!!!

 

Compleatly diffrent from Army days were had to strip clean and re-assemble my SLR in a smoke filled chamber wearing a gas mask !!!!!! must say the army never made anything easy ,, if one did not do it fast enough you spent free time sweeping up Tree Leaves in to heapes of a hundred .not easy with a wind blowing I can tell you ! , maybe thats why I am sluggish in coming forward to clean my gun now !!!!!

 

Riptide

 

Sorry Richie10 going away from your post !! ..My mate had a Browning Maxus ,did not get on with it ..wanted to bust clays before last season and it kept jamming ,but onl on ceartain makes of catridges,probaly due to the low-power of them ,but then started to play up with heaver loads ,so he sewnt it of two a browning approved gunsmith but it still had to go backj a couple of times !!! He has sold it now !! gone back to Berreta !!! Mind you he changes his gear so many times I lose track ! He is good at it I must admit , he keeps all the boxes , info , packing ,bill of sale and invoices then shows whole lot on E-BAY !!!!....

Edited April 18, 2014 by riptide

[GADWALL41]

Hi ,

well firstly I hope you enjoy using the gun , it certainly looks the part .

However , my experience of using one over 3 seasons is this .

Easy to strip and easy to clean , I did so after each and every trip out , fired or un shot , cleaned , my army training never left me and that's coming up on 40 yrs ago.

 

What I don't like most about this gun is the Magazine cut off kept getting caught and knocked on , or off . If you don't notice this and you get a few birds overhead , you will only have one shot . The butt pad shape , concave , didn't suit me I changed mine to a Browning 725 flat pad and it was a perfect fit . I have a 725 also. My main problem was I just couldn't shoot straight with it . I raised the comb , lowered the comb , cast off cast on more cast off still not to my liking .

The chokes Pattern way to wide for what they are marked , I usually shoot 1/4 choke and gram load , duck only no geese here , I had to up that to an extended 1/2 choke to get the same knock down power with this gun .

Sure some FTE, FTF issues most semis will do that to you every now and then .

Next issue , wouldn't fire , couldn't open the bolt . Back to the shop , back to Belgium and nearly 6 months later - it have lost a pin from the breach block jammed up in the slide.

Got it back shooting ok , until one evening a flight of Pintail came into a flooded field , 1 hit 2 misses , should have been a triple . I can hear the blame the operator not the machine song , sorry , enough time with it and got the Divorce .

 

Now I use an A400 Xtreme , no issues and shooting straight . All guns from all companies can give problems , I have had my Beretta problems to SV 10 PERENNIA , don't buy one .

2 guys in my club Bought a Max after me and one of those has been traded in also , he couldn't get on with it either .

 

I hope it works out for you ,

 

Cheers ,

 

Quack Quack !

[Richie10]

_Hi,

_{Been out with the maxus a few times and for me, it has been the perfect fit. I am hitting more than I have ever before.}

_{Not had a jam or anything, but I use the larger carts.}

_{Well aware that you can buy something and it can wrong, whatever you buy, had an escort before and that didn't give me any issue. Maybe I am just lucky.}

 

_{So far I am very happy with the purchase.}

 

_{Thanks for all your input.}

 

_Cheers.

[BellySlater]

I bought a duck blind maxus new for last season and got on really well with it. I 'loosened it up' with 28g clay carts initially around 100 or so then into normal wildfowling loads. It handled everything from the clay carts to the 3 1/2 inch steel without fault with recoil on the bigger loads very well controlled. The only thing I did find was that the removable forsight beads can come out easily and lost three over the course of the season which was annoying. Apart from that really pleased and would buy again.

Had the same issue with mine, a drop of superglue on the sight bead and its stayed on through all weathers