corkycorksta Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 Hopefully after, a four month wait, my SGC will shortly be issued - looking for your advice on a "gun for all occasions". It's twenty five odd years since I owned a shotgun - I used to have an AYA yeoman and a Baikal single barrel "fence post mender" and used them mainly for rabbits, vermin and occasional clays. Things have come along way in terms of gun development and I think I have narrowed my choice down to either an A400 or a Maxus. I'm not flush but will probably buy new so I just want to buy one quality gun that can cover me for vermin, clays, decoying and maybe duck if I decide to join my local wildfowling group. I don't see it's likely I will be doing any driven game so a quality semi auto seems to be the way forward. I like the fact that the maxus comes with all shims to adjust for fit, can anyone tell me does the A400 also come with these ? With either I have the option of 3.5inch chambers - is this really necessary and is there any disadvantage to the having bigger cartridge capability ? Do any of you guys have any negative feedback on either of these guns or any other suggested models that are comparable ? Thanks CC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 Regarding the A400 I recently bought a new A300 outlander and that also come equipped with shims etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 I have a 3.5" A400, it came with shims which I used as I'm left-handed. It's light and soaks up recoil well. I can't compare it to the Maxxus as I haven't owned one, but some people say they don't like the firing cycle of the A400 - it's very fast and makes a mechanical "ringing" sound. No problem for me, but you might be best to try one for yourself before spending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corkycorksta Posted August 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 Thanks Fruity/catweazel With regards to chamber size, are there any practical reasons not to buy a 3.5" ? For example will it still cycle short cartridges without problem ? Does it make any difference to the pattern or recoil ? Ta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 Thanks Fruity/catweazel With regards to chamber size, are there any practical reasons not to buy a 3.5" ? For example will it still cycle short cartridges without problem ? Does it make any difference to the pattern or recoil ? Ta My A400 has cycled everything I've tried except for Hushpower Subsonics. I once took it clay shooting and the clay ground only had 21g Eley Firsts, it cycled 100 of them without a hitch. It works fine with 2.5" cartridges too, I put loads of them through it without a single problem, in fact aside from the Hushpowers I don't remember a single failure of any type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 Have you thought about the Winchester SX3? Basically the same gun as the Maxus but with a much lower RRP. Had mine for 4 years now and can't fault it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 (edited) My A400 has cycled everything I've tried except for Hushpower Subsonics. I once took it clay shooting and the clay ground only had 21g Eley Firsts, it cycled 100 of them without a hitch. It works fine with 2.5" cartridges too, I put loads of them through it without a single problem, in fact aside from the Hushpowers I don't remember a single failure of any type.Same with my outlander recycles everything I put through it Just to put a small dampener on things but you did ask for everyday experience If you do buy Beretta (and I own 3 now) and your unfortunate to have any warrenty issues , gmk who carries out the warrenty work are a total shambles ,the service is slow and the attitude unhelpful ,they never phone back or tell you when the gun will be ready This is just my personal experience, but I have used them 5 times now for warrenty work and they have given the same poor service every time,which is a shame because I love Berettas:) Edited August 2, 2014 by fruity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corkycorksta Posted August 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 Have you thought about the Winchester SX3? Basically the same gun as the Maxus but with a much lower RRP. Had mine for 4 years now and can't fault it.Now that's interesting, I picked up one of these in the shop and liked it. I then put it back thinking it was made in Turkey. Nothing against anything from Turkey as Hatsan was initially on my list. I discarded the idea after watching a young lad with an Escort at our local clay ground get jam after jam - unsurprisingly he still scored higher than me, but I thought I just can't put up with that sort of frustration ! I know some are good guns but how can I be sure that one I buy won't be a duffer ? Anyway when you say they are basically the same can you give me a little more detail ? Do you mean they have a similar design ? Fruity - I am slightly alarmed that you have had 5 warranty issues with Beretta, do you buy a lot of guns ? Or maybe just bad luck ? I had thought these were some of the best ? It would really annoy me to have to take a grand plus gun back to the shop. I would end up wishing I'd saved some dosh and bought a Revo or the like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinchesterDave Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 With regards to chamber size mate I can only think of having a 3.5 inch chamber as an advantage personally. It means you can use up to the heaviest of magnums for geese if you do join your fowling club and with regards to cycling light carts, I highly doubt it'd be a problem. I've got an sx3 myself 3.5in and I've used 2 3/4in 24gram clays and 67mm 28g clays and it's been fine mate. The only thing they might suffer with is 2 1/2in carts but then again a 3inch gun probably would also. Can't comment on the a400 but that might cycle the short carts as well. Personally I don't see why you'd ever go with a cart that small so you shouldn't have a problem mate- get a 3.5in gun. *cough* maxus;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bb Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 Fruity - I am slightly alarmed that you have had 5 warranty issues with Beretta, do you buy a lot of guns ? Or maybe just bad luck ? I had thought these were some of the best ? It would really annoy me to have to take a grand plus gun back to the shop. I would end up wishing I'd saved some dosh and bought a Revo or the like. My pal had a new Beretta semi-automatic a year or two ago. After many returns to GMK he exchanged it for an over/under. Fortunately for him he works close to GMK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimfireboy Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 I borrowed a maxus, thought it was ok but I prefer the A400 so I bought an Xtreme. I think it was the right decision for me. More money but no regrets. Never had a jam, shoots lovely and soft as well with the kick-off system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiffy Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 i cant speak of the maxus but i have a 3.5" A400 and love it, camo finish is not the best but it comes with all the shims you could need even cast shims but out of the box mine was the best fitting gun i have shouldered. ive put a few hundred rounds through mine now without any issues and most have been 28 gramms as for buying a 3.5" usually i would only go for a 3.5" if i wildfowled or thought that during my ownership wildfowling would be a possability but as the A400 seems to cycle anything then even if i didnt fowl and if i could afford the extra id go for the 3.5" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 (edited) [quote name="corkycorksta" post="2594784" timestamp="1406980129" Fruity - I am slightly alarmed that you have had 5 warranty issues with Beretta, do you buy a lot of guns ? Or maybe just bad luck ? I had thought these were some of the best ? It would really annoy me to have to take a grand plus gun back to the shop. I would end up wishing I'd saved some dosh and bought a Revo or the like. No just two new ones a 692 for my clay gun, then a outlander shortly after for rough shooting Annoyed is an understatement, and I feel gmk just inflame the situation with there attitude and poor service and lies The 692 I due to be sent back again now with another fault , but to be honest I really cant be bothered taking it back to my rfd at the minute im sick to death of the thing wish id never bought it It just thought I should add, I have always owned beretta,s and until now never had a single problem with any of them which is why I continue to buy them Edited August 2, 2014 by fruity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kelly Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 (edited) I have a 3.5" black maxus ( the "Black Death")and it's absolutely fine. Cycles all cartridges 67mm and longer but like most autos can struggle with 65mm cases. The manufacturers only state using 70mm + cases, so that's fine. i expect the A400 would be the same. It's a nice slim light gun too, which works really well in a hide or for wildfowling. I haven't used an A400, but the berettas I have used have been a lot chunkier and heavier than the maxus. Edited August 2, 2014 by Tim Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VicW Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 I have owned several Beretta's and have only had one warranty claim. That was on an A300 Outlander where a part of the cocking rod broke off. I took it into the gunshop where I bought it. He phoned GMK, explained the fault and they put a replacement part in the post that day. It arrived the next morning and I had the gun back by lunchtime. Vic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 (edited) When these are released in the Autumn everyone will want one. The Benelli Powerbore http://www.benelli.it/en/new-raffaello Edited August 2, 2014 by Whitebridges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 The maxus and the sx3 are essentially the same gun and share the same action/barrel etc main difference between the 2 is that the maxus has the speed load function. I tried the A400, maxus and the sx3 and out of all of them the Sx3 was the one I liked, also it did seem like a bit of a non starter to spend the extra on the browning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinchesterDave Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 With regards to chamber size mate I can only think of having a 3.5 inch chamber as an advantage personally. It means you can use up to the heaviest of magnums for geese if you do join your fowling club and with regards to cycling light carts, I highly doubt it'd be a problem. I've got an sx3 myself 3.5in and I've used 2 3/4in 24gram clays and 67mm 28g clays and it's been fine mate. The only thing they might suffer with is 2 1/2in carts but then again a 3inch gun probably would also. Can't comment on the a400 but that might cycle the short carts as well. Personally I don't see why you'd ever go with a cart that small so you shouldn't have a problem mate- get a 3.5in gun. *cough* maxus;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 You really need to try them to see what you like the best. My choice would be A400 extreme but far to much as a marsh gun for me so I use a SX3 made in Belgium by FN Herstal. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
affinity121 Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 When these are released in the Autumn everyone will want one. The Benelli Powerbore http://www.benelli.it/en/new-raffaello No synthetic version :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 No over/back bored barrel, so just what is the power bore as it's no different to the one they use now. Nice looking gun but it's a new M2 that will be wanted more I think. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPJA Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 (edited) Have you thought about the Winchester SX3? Basically the same gun as the Maxus but with a much lower RRP. Had mine for 4 years now and can't fault it. SX3, Great gun! had one for a while now and I can't fault it. Good build quality Good Price Easy to clean Only issue I've had is if they are oiled too much they can jam, they like to run slightly drier i think. Saying that if you do put too much oil on the action it will burn off in the first few shot and performs fine then. Edited August 3, 2014 by LPJA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiffy Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 When these are released in the Autumn everyone will want one. The Benelli Powerbore http://www.benelli.it/en/new-raffaello not for me, i had a benelli super black eagle 2 which although it was a fantastic gun i couldnt hit the side of a barn with it... got my bertetta and theres no looking back, im still a **** shot but im much much better than with the benelli... it also hated the foreshore and rusted so bad even though i seemed to be oiling it all the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler325 Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 What about a Remington VersaMax? Iv got one and really cant fault it! It has cycled everything iv put in it, i even got it to cycle 21g clay loads! And the recoil is less than a A400 or maxus as i tried them both and the versamax before i bought, and the versamax was the best handling and softest kicking gun of the 3! ATB WF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 not for me, i had a benelli super black eagle 2 which although it was a fantastic gun i couldnt hit the side of a barn with it... got my bertetta and theres no looking back, im still a **** shot but im much much better than with the benelli... it also hated the foreshore and rusted so bad even though i seemed to be oiling it all the time That's a rum old job. Each to there own. Good job we're all different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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