shootingmike Posted April 25, 2020 Report Share Posted April 25, 2020 I’m deliberating between SX4’s and Franchi Affinity’s and keep going back and forth. Most of my shooting is 3” steel at wildfowl. I like the idea of the franchi, but am drawn to the SX4 as it seems they’ve thought about Fowler’s more (back bored, bottom threaded chokes, oversized controls). All the SX4’s I see are 3.5 inch apart from the wood stock which I don’t want. Does anyone who has one have any issues with ounce loads for clays or 1&1/8 for pigeons? i know I need to shoulder both really but just wondering.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holloway Posted April 25, 2020 Report Share Posted April 25, 2020 I am no expert Mike but i had a 3 1/2 inch sx3 and it wouldnt cycle under 32 gms i also had a 3 inch sx2 that would cycle anything in a 70 mm case ,having said that the sx3 was fairly worn out when i got it ,i have just put a deposit on the Affinity as i never use 3 1/2 inch steel and they look good value for money very similar to a Benelli so im told. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digger79 Posted April 25, 2020 Report Share Posted April 25, 2020 Had one for 2yrs, tried on clays with 28gm 7s, kept jamming would not cycle properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootingmike Posted April 25, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2020 Thanks Holloway... I don’t really want 3.5 anyway but it seems to be the only option unless you go for wood. Also looking at the Franchi but think the sx4 seems more wildfowling friendly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry78 Posted April 25, 2020 Report Share Posted April 25, 2020 My browning A5 3 1/2 inch chamber won’t cycle light loads I think most 3 1/2 inch semi autos probably the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootingmike Posted April 25, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2020 Cheers Lads. Pity as I feel like that’s the way I was gonna go. To be fair I rarely shoot clays anyway and could just use a 32 g for the odd pigeon day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokersmith Posted April 25, 2020 Report Share Posted April 25, 2020 I’d be shocked if an SX4 wouldn’t reliably cycle 32g 70mm cases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancer425 Posted April 25, 2020 Report Share Posted April 25, 2020 (edited) Mate has one it works with 28 gram loads, various kinds with no issues ever. The internet threw this video up looks ok on light dove loads. I would buy one quite confidently for light loads. Edited April 25, 2020 by lancer425 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted April 27, 2020 Report Share Posted April 27, 2020 On 25/04/2020 at 16:48, Gerry78 said: My browning A5 3 1/2 inch chamber won’t cycle light loads I think most 3 1/2 inch semi autos probably the same Until recently, my Beretta Xtrema reliably cycled any cartridge that fit inside it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancer425 Posted April 27, 2020 Report Share Posted April 27, 2020 10 hours ago, motty said: Until recently, my Beretta Xtrema reliably cycled any cartridge that fit inside it. The until recently aspect of your post . Developed a fault? Sold? Not been using it? It just got me curious that is all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry78 Posted April 27, 2020 Report Share Posted April 27, 2020 12 hours ago, motty said: Until recently, my Beretta Xtrema reliably cycled any cartridge that fit inside it. That’s good to hear I should’ve said in my post my New Browning A5 won’t cycle light clay loads my mistake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arjimlad Posted April 27, 2020 Report Share Posted April 27, 2020 My SX3 3.5" cycles anything put through it from 28g, as long as it is in a 70mm case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootingmike Posted April 27, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2020 Cheers all. Nice to hear some real accounts from people. Sounds like it’d be fine then. Have they sorted the bolt handle flying out on new ones, or is it still a rat tail file job? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted April 27, 2020 Report Share Posted April 27, 2020 On 25/04/2020 at 13:57, holloway said: I am no expert Mike but i had a 3 1/2 inch sx3 and it wouldnt cycle under 32 gms i also had a 3 inch sx2 that would cycle anything in a 70 mm case ,having said that the sx3 was fairly worn out when i got it ,i have just put a deposit on the Affinity as i never use 3 1/2 inch steel and they look good value for money very similar to a Benelli so im told. Enjoy your Affinity, I love mine, crackin gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted April 27, 2020 Report Share Posted April 27, 2020 There's a difference in a semi auto between a 65/67mm 28g cart and a 70mm 28g cart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted April 27, 2020 Report Share Posted April 27, 2020 6 hours ago, lancer425 said: The until recently aspect of your post . Developed a fault? Sold? Not been using it? It just got me curious that is all. I have recently purchased an A350, so my Xtrema hasn't been used for a while. It had started to play up, maybe jamming once in 25 shots, which isn't good enough. This is down to one or two factors, not least a small crack on the bolt slide rail. It has been a very reliable gun for the last 10 years or so. It may yet be repaired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancer425 Posted April 27, 2020 Report Share Posted April 27, 2020 3 hours ago, motty said: I have recently purchased an A350, so my Xtrema hasn't been used for a while. It had started to play up, maybe jamming once in 25 shots, which isn't good enough. This is down to one or two factors, not least a small crack on the bolt slide rail. It has been a very reliable gun for the last 10 years or so. It may yet be repaired. Thanks for the explanation, i was just interested to hear what had occurred, i have seen the extremas take some serious work over the years and they generally are reliable. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simcgunner Posted May 2, 2020 Report Share Posted May 2, 2020 I have a SX3 and never had a problem with shooting 2.5 inch loads that i use in my antique SXS guns up to 3.5 inch waterfowl heavy shot.. my experience is the 70mm shells deliver excellent paterns and the 3.5 inch loads are unplesant to shoot. as an aside comercial Dove loads are typically full 3 Dram loads and are not what I would consider Lite loads. and are a bit of overkill in my opinion. lighter loads work fine on Doves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted May 2, 2020 Report Share Posted May 2, 2020 If you run a SX3 or 4 with oil on the ide rails and recoil spring it should cycle decent 24 g clayoads no problems. I used to run all sorts through my sx3. People try to run them dry, you need big loads to do that. Nitty is the crack in the aluminium action slide rail or the steel bolt itself? The metal bolt should weld and work fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jnw Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 I’ve had my SX4 for a while and never had an issue with it cycling using 28gsm 70mm Cartrages. Been flawless On every shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.