Will this be a hunting gun, a clays gun, or both?

Chris

 

I am partial to the Maxus or the Beretta 391. Both are very soft to shoot and are very reliable. They also can be had in a variety of configurations to meet your needs. Whatever you pick, make sure it fits your (or has the ability to be adjusted easily) and enjoy shooting it. Happy Retirement!!!

 

Will this be a hunting gun, a clays gun, or both?

Chris

Yeah, this!!!!

If sitting in a duck blind one gun will work fine; however, if walking the hills looking for birds you would want a completely different shotgun.

Mostly clay bird shooting calls for another shotgun!!

 

Shoulda been more specific. I have a duck blind shotgun-a stoger, I have a 391, but it seems a little clumsy; looking for something lighter

 

The Maxus is a great all around shotgun-IMO, as an all around, can't be beat for that
I liked them well enough to have bought a 2nd
Also have an A400-nice all around gun as well, but to me, don't like it nearly as well as a Maxus

 

Shoulda been more specific. I have a duck blind shotgun-a stoger, I have a 391, but it seems a little clumsy; looking for something lighter

...again, for what kind of shooting?

 

+1. Have Maxus Sporting and really like it. Just got an A400 20ga and it's a lot more plastic than I realized.

The Maxus is a well made gun, comes with shims to adjust cast and comb, and two 1/4" LOP shims, 5 chokes, and is 4+1. I like the pinged-finish bolt compared to the painted (and later scratched) bolt of the A400. Mine is 28" and weighs 7.3 lbs. Some say the trigger is heavy but I don't notice it.

 

The Browning Maxus is one great gun. But I think you can afford a Fabarm. There are many very nice clean like new used guns out there. From $1500 to $2000.
Remember it's your retirement gift. It only happen once in your life time. Injoy it. Don't let a few dollars stand in your way for a life time of enjoyment. We aren't talking thousands hear only a few hundred bucks.

 

Don't buy anything with a plastic, camo stock.

 

Beretta A-400 Xcel.
Very soft shooter, and mine has never malfunctioned.
I like them so much, I have 7 of them in various configurations!

 

My interests will be mostly for target shooting and dove in September. I appreciate the responses. I will do a little more research, I thought fabarm was in the $3.0 range and not considered those. Thank you guys, I really liked the look and feel of the maxus, but I have several beretta that I like. Hence, my indecision

 

Maybe someone will give you a gun for a retirement present.
My partner gave me a Beretta EELL Classic. WOW! Never expected anything.
It will go to So Dak this year!
If that doesn't happen, for your usage, targets and dove, the A-400 Xcel would fit your needs. It is a target gun, but would be an ideal dove killing machine!

 

Maxus, waaaaay easier to clean! Beretta's are great guns but run dirtier under the forearm with the assembly under the mag tube cap. Maxus/gold/SX3 is wipe off mag tube in one motion and piston. Very easy to clean gas gun!

 

Maxus, waaaaay easier to clean! Beretta's are great guns but run dirtier under the forearm with the assembly under the mag tube cap. Maxus/gold/SX3 is wipe off mag tube in one motion and piston. Very easy to clean gas gun!

He will be retired, so he will have plenty of time to clean it :lol:
They are not difficult to clean. I can clean it completely in 10 minutes.
He has a 391 which is a pain in the A$$ to clean.
How often do you need to clean, 750-1000 rounds which equates to a couple of times a year
for me. Not even a consideration to me.

 

Agreed! 391 is a dirty girl and that over engineered mag tube cap I clean my guns after every outing but these things are very reliable even when super dirty. Cleaning isn't a big deal but the quicker the better IMHO

 

It doesn't take any time to clean a gas operated gun however it takes even less time to clean an inertia or o/u gun. YMMV

 

Have you considered a 20G? You have a couple of 12's. This would be lighter, easier to carry and something different.

Unfortunately, the selection of 20g guns is smaller than 12. I know you wanted a gas gun.

Good luck and enjoy the shopping experience. It does not sound like you have a time crunch.

 

http://www.armslist.com/posts/3927614/i ... f-250-made

Take a look at this gun I own serial number 002 and have added the 28 inch ported Super Sport barrel, it is such a fine gun, every where I go people stop and look at it. It shoots like a dream.

 

My retirement shotgun will probably be a 16 gauge Ithaca Model 37. If I can find one that suits me.

 

Have you considered a 20G? You have a couple of 12's. This would be lighter, easier to carry and something different.

Unfortunately, the selection of 20g guns is smaller than 12. I know you wanted a gas gun.

Good luck and enjoy the shopping experience. It does not sound like you have a time crunch.

I love my 20ga. Browning Silver Hunter. It is light in the field and I have downed many a quail with it. It is easy to take down and clean, accepts 2 3/4" and 3" shells in random order and has a quick load feature that throws the first shell into the chamber automatically. I simply feed the bottom. When birds are up, it comes in handy for re-loading. It is not much on the Trap or Skeet field, however. It has a 26" bbl. :!:

 

P. S. Congratulations on your retirement. I retired 7 years ago and started a design landscape company with my son. Still out there.

 

Mine is a Fabarm XLR5 FR. It is a little more expensive to start, but after you add the Briley closer and bolt handle (which the A400 needs IMHO) there is very little difference in cost. There are many fine autos out there. Cleaning one is NO BIG DEAL. All of them nowadays will run a LONG time between cleanings. How anal you are about that is up to you. Enjoy your retirement, I am. Shoot straight and support your local SCTP programs. J

 

Enjoy your retirement, I surely enjoy mine. If your board in retirement your doing something wrong, LOL.

I added a Remington 870 American Classic being sold by a local collector, NIB, it will be shot.

Why the Wingmaster, simple, because I like it, period.

You can't please everyone, just please yourself, enjoy whatever you decide on.

 

Why the Wingmaster, simple, because I like it, period.

You can't please everyone, just please yourself, enjoy whatever you decide on.

probably the best advice so far

 

Hmmmm; a retirement hunting auto, heh. Ookaay I would look around for a Browning Auto 5 in 20 gauge. Any choke is fine, but I'd jump for a modified. I shoot a Remington model 11 in 20 gauge, but they are really hard to find. The Browning with the speed load feature is probably a better gun anyway. BTW, I am retired too and love it, but a lot of guys have a hard time with it, so find some hobbies and read, read and read some more. Everyday is like Saturday.