My maxus recoil spring rusted all over my mag tube sandpaper fix. Lower buttstock bolt stripped. C clip on sling mount on end cap fell off 2x and the pointy areas of the rubber overmoulding kinda peel back a bit. And the buttstock end is not waterproof. I added a drain hole in the side of my stock. I have 200 target rounds and about 75 to 90 waterfowl rounds thru my gun. I clean it well after every hunt. The gun is 1 year old.
Would love to know what shotgun would you recommend if I could only go all out for 1 shotgun for bird and skeet shooting?? Would really appreciate the help!!
I never cared for the old A5 humpbacks and couldn’t hit a thing with them but my SX2 and now the Maxus 2 WW edition wow what a beautiful looking east shooting and hard hitting smoothbore
Thanks for the review .. I own a Browning Silver , have had it since 2010 and its been through hell and back in all kinds of shooting . From 2-3/4 to 3-1/2 mixed shells I have never had a jam . Plus here in Canada we have cold season hunting in the minus and its never jammed or miss fired .. As a big guy myself I like a heavy and bulky shotgun , I also have big hands and to my fit the pistol grip is perfect .... When I purchased this shotgun money was not an issue , I picked up the Maxus and it didnt feel right to my shoulder . Later when The A5 came out in 2014 it was somewhat new and I didnt want to go down that road by buying a new product at that price without any reviews ! Now there are plenty of reviews with the A5 and there seems that there are plenty of problems with the new design .. I have many friends who still own the Original A5 and they love it , imagine my budy who is born in 1966 and owns a shotgun that is 1 year younger than him and still works great (1967) Auto 5 light 12 ...
Gotta agree on your scores and conclusion. I have the Maxus II and a vintage A5. I prefer to shoot my Maxus II over the vintage A5, but I"ve seen the newer A5s now and I kinda like it's looks over the Maxus. I think you and the SOSA test are accurate!
I have to agree with your pick. My son just purchased the Silver today and we are going out shooting tomorrow but I just like the feel and the way it mounts with the A5. This could be a little bias as well as I grew up shooting the old A5. But I've always shot better with a hump back. I even have a Gold Hunter from 2006 that I shot for many years but finding my shooting has improved with my new A5 purchased 5 years ago. My son grew up shooting the Gold Hunter and that's probably why he went with the Silver. We'll see if his shooting improves this fall. Thanks for the reviews! Love the videos.
My Browning gold has a one pin trigger group… although it’s at the cost of having the safety in front of the tigger guard. I’ll take a safety rear of the trigger and two pins for the trigger group vs 1 pin. Out of all the shotguns I own I have never once been bothered by having to remove two pins to clean the trigger group.
I love my maxus II. It’s a great shotgun for hunting. 3.5 inch chamber and super smooth recoil. Never had an issue with feeding/reliability in mine. Initially it shot high left but browning took care of that right away. Now it’s a duck/clay machine. Never shot an a5 tho, but they are very similar guns. I definitely didn’t pay 2k for mine.
My buddy had a new A5 and it jammed constantly. I got the OG Maxus and it’s been pretty solid for 12 years. I had to replace the piston spring a few years ago as it was cracked. After a break in period it is back to business.
I like all the videos of yours I have seen thus far. Your older review was one of a few that helped me settle on a Maxus II a few weeks ago to replace my 870 Wing master. I like your new rating; it shows that each person listens to their gut a bit. I chose the Maxus II because it felt more like my wing master than any other brand or model; in my hands. It just spoke to me. I only wanted to replace the 870 because it is a fixed choke 2¾”, and 2¾” waterfowl shells can be hard to come. So I got a 3.5” version to have the option; 3” waterfowl shells in late season can be non-existent. Again, great content, and thanks for sharing.
I would love to see a review on the vintage browning A5. Is it still a great option when compared to modern day waterfowl guns? Or is it more of a collectors item then anything?
I've shot the Maxus 1, Silver, and A5. out of those 3 hands down the best value is the Silver. no noticeable difference in recoil of the silver to the maxus 1. the A5 for whatever reason was a jam machine on target loads, we tried AA's, Rio, Kent, Score, and Challenger target loads (1 1/8oz, 1145 - 1300 fps)... it didn't like any of them, but did do better with the higher FPS target loads. buddy ended up getting the silver and it's been a workhorse for the past 3 seasons.
Maxus II for sure! I may be biased though lol. Ordered mine from Reeds for hundreds less than msrp. Very little recoil, I had zero issues and I didn't even clean it for first 1000 rounds. I do have one complaint, forend leaves marks on barrel.
B-80 Pulse over 40 years of hunting NO problems .Thirty inch barrel - Waterfowl ,Twenty six inch barrel, - Turkey Hastings rifled slug barrel ,- Deer. Same as a Beretta 303 . Both made in Portugal on same machines
I have a Browning A5 Light 12 and if I ever was going to buy another shotgun it would be the A5. The vintage camo one of course. Great job on the review.
I looked at all of those as well as the Benelli, Franchi and Beretta options a couple years ago. I chose the Browning A5 Wicked Wing....it felt best in shop and looked best on paper...and there was a sale so that sealed the deal after I actually ordered a Benelli that I think someone in warehouse at store had done a "personal" layaway on as it was physically there but when I paid for it they came back day later and said unavailable. LOL So took the Browning and very glad I did that....as it has been a thrill to shoot, very reliable. Only issue I had was the choke getting hard to remove...so unlike my upland guns...I have to make sure to keep threads and area behind choke lubed well to keep out moisture and prevent it from seizing. The past year it has been perfect in that regard as well. I put a Jebs on it for timber ducks....and a Carlsons for Turkey hunting. No regrets.
Hey Steve, you and I have the same body type so your videos really help me in choosing a proper fitting shotgun, thanks for your time and hard work putting these together.
I completely agree with your excellent video assessment. I have the A5 and the Maxus 2. I like to shoot both and do a little bit better with the A5. When it comes to cleaning I really like the A5. I have had the old A5s in the past, and the new one is much improved.
Six month update: Being now retired, I shoot clays most days of the week. Both models work as advertised. My A5 is the go to gun. I put the Maxis II into the car safe recently and have shot it as my backup. When I get home I remember why the A5 is my first choice. It is much easier to clean and put away.
Makes me a little sad cause I just ordered the Maximus 2 myself,.. deciding factor was recoil cause I messed up my neck awhile ago but I’m sure in the end I’ll pick up an A5 someday,..hard to beat the look but I’ll likely lean to the wood stock on that one. Awesome video as usual, keep them coming.
I wanted an sx3/4 but my local gun shop had a browning silver 3.5 for less than the camo winchester. In fact it was near the same price as the black 3.5 sx4, and browning had a 100 dollar rebate conpared to winchester was only 50. Its been absolutely fantastic, its a bit heavier than the winchester but all i do is hunt from a blind, so i dont mind the weight. If id be walking aroind with it all day, id want the lighter winchester. The silver is basically an expensice sx4, the a5 and maxus are definitely in another tier. At MSRP, the silver really doesnt make much sense. If you can get one at sx4 prices, its definitely worth it
A5 was my first waterfowl shotty. I just recently bought a Maxus 2. I love my A5. Aesthetically my favorite gun of all time. Performance wise, it’s a great gun. One hell of a shooter. But the reason I bought the Maxus is because it has some things the A5 is missing. Like the oversized trigger guard. Awesome for gloves. Rubber over molds are a big one in the rain. My A5 gets pretty slippery in the rain. The other big one is the bolt. The A5 bolt rotates into the barrel to lock. The only reason this is an issue at all is if you don’t clean that recess in the barrel, you can can have a misfire due to shallow pin strike. Obviously not an issue if you’re routinely cleaning your gun but a gun that’s designed to handle abuse says a lot to me. You won’t see this issue with the Maxus. All in all, the A5 speaks to my soul but the Maxus has some advantages. All that said, I don’t think you’re gonna be wrong for choosing either one.
I’m slightly bias towards the maxus 2, I have a lot of shotguns, probably not as many as you but more than the average person and the maxus 2 Is my favorite, followed by the A400extreme. I have A5 and while the hump back is nostalgic, it throws me off when shooting. Not sure why it just does so for that reason it looses points with me.
I would love to see you review the Remington VersaMax (waterfowl pro for extra points)... I have the WF pro and love it. Have owned and shot one for about 5 years now and it handles recoil well and has stood up to abuse-- it's very robust.
I uhh dont have any of those but i do have a discounted browning gold hunter, kicks pretty good but nit to hard, my next is a combo mossbreg, rifled barrel and smoothbore
Cool video. I like the A5. It fits me great and comes up perfect. I like the easy cleaning. Liked my 12 gauge so much I just bought the sweet sixteen version.
As in most of your videos, this one is more about you than the shotguns that you’re comparing, particularly in the break-down segment. You see, we already know what you look like but we learned little about what the shotgun internals look like. ‘I’m gonna give you a 5 on this one’
Caution to some... I wanted an A5 badly when they first came out (new versions), but despite being 5'11" with large hands, the gun just didn't fit me... reach to the trigger is soo long. Always always check fit if at all possible before buying!
I have the Maxus 2 WW also love the gun can shoot it all day upland and waterfowl hunting. The gun shop I bought mine from had both A5 and Maxus 2 in WW for it just came down to what felt better in my hand is what the gun smith told me to go with. I liked the rubber over molding a little bit more so I ended up choosing that. Now as for how it’s holding up. The point of t(e rubber in my thumb of the forearm sleeve is starting to let go ever so slightly. I think the adhesive is failing. I don’t hunt a crazy amount with it only 10-20 days a year plus some sporting clays here and there. Happy with my purchase thou.
I love my silver but I have noticed it is finicky about how it is oiled and doesn't like underpowered loads. After a few thousand target loads I broke my carrier dog shooting a magnum turkey load and sent it to the factory where they fixed the carrier dog and replaced the main buffer spring so it took some time to break it in for better reliability. I do feel that in an all browning competition it's not fair to compare them to benelli. Also you said you shot the silver at 1.21 and then said you shot the A5 faster at 1.24? If I could own only one browning semiauto it would be just one more.
I've had Browning semi automatics. None of them would eject 3.5 Fiochi 63 grams cartridges. My Winchester sx4 ejects them fine at around half the price.
I really appreciate your honest opinion on all the different brands as I am deciding on a new shotgun , The Winchester SX4 , the Affinity, and now Browning also the CZ so what is overall best Gas or Inertia both seem to be reliable. Will I like Benelli ? Some good stuff out there.
So I’m currently deciding between the A5 and the maxus 2 , never had that nice of a weapon and I plan on using it , it’s come down to those two I think but I have another question would you think that is more durable all camo or the cerakote? I think they both look good. I kinda have a feeling that the camo is more durable. What are your thoughts?
I have little shotgun experience but want to get back into some bird hunting with my kids, love Browning rifles, I guess for me does the A5 jamb less or more than maxus? I like the lighter weight of the maxus. Is inertia more reliable than gas?
With all 3@Shotguns being a Browning it would not matter on how fast each gun is? They will all perform well no matter how many rounds you run through it! It's the Price Tag you need to worry about?
I want an A5 so bad but all I hear is how bad they jam. I would only be shooting 3 inch waterfowl loads out of it though and wondering if that would make a difference?
Hey Steve Have u done a gun review on the Remington V3 waterfowl pro? My dad has the the solid black one & it shoots very soft. I have the maxis 2 & love it but, his Remington has way better (softer) recoil. If u can get one to try out then, plz do. God bless u brother, Chris D. from Fairhope AL
Dude, I’ve been watching your stuff for a long time. I have got to ask this… how did you come to the conclusion ”I wish it was a little more reliable” on the A5 and didn’t sink the two gas guns for it? The A5 was the only one that didn’t misfeed. Second question, what’s the deal with the pattern/bead placement and midbead alignment? I love my A5 but my SBIII was better hands down. The raised rib versus the flat rib is just so different in reflex shooting. It would make an interesting video that I know I would appreciate if you could shed some light on the two
That’s funny. I hadn’t finished the video when I commented and at the end you mentioned the SB3 😂. Mine was one of the ones with the barrel alignment defect so I traded it for another A5. Needed a gun for duck season.
Hey i already bought a CZ Supreme field but would love to hear your thoughts on the best CZ O/U gun or even the best CZ break action gun! Thank you in advance if that's a possibility!
I have a Chesapeake 28" 12ga en route now, along with an A400 Xtreme Plus. Really excited about them -- and agree that a review of a couple Fabarm guns by Steve would be awesome.
Will you be doing a Fabarm test soon? Their XLR Velocity or XLR 5 Waterfowler? Then one I like which is the Fabarm L4S, it's a real beauty to clamp on. I haven't test shot L4S yet. I have their XLR Velocity in the sports version with a kickstop in the piston, it is very heavy, the recoil is barely noticeable even with sharp hunting cartridges.
