wood or synthetic

Thrasher

Thrasher

Member
I am looking into buying a new gun and am leaning towards the Browning Maxus. I would like to hear some of your thoughts. I like the wood with the nickel finish, but might like to use it for waterfowl as well. If I get the black synthetic stalk I would probably go with the 3 1/2 inch chamber. I have a 11-87 in 3 inch that I can use for ducks and geese. It is wood and matte black.

Does anyone carry a synthetic stalked shotgun for pheasant? Is there any real advantage to a 3 1/2 inch shell for waterfowl?

Thanks for your input.
 
Yes yes and yes. There are some huge advantages to a 3 1/2 shell for waterfowl. Early season you won't notice near the advantages as you will late season. I shoot a lot of ducks each year and let me tell you as the season wears on and the birds get a better plume and fat layer and just all out smarter that extra little bit is a god send. Synthetic is also a lot more durable and although cold at first it warms up quicker. I have two guns myself just because I don't like taking my o/u in to the marsh or goose pit. If you were to get it in synthetic with 3 1/2 you wouldn't be disappointed.
 
I bought the exact gun you are looking at in camo. I think blue and wood are much more attractive but some of the places I hunt grouse are rocky Mountain sides. I don't hunt waterfowl. However, there are quite a few in East Tennessee that do. I could not get my hands on all of my choices when I was in the market and my best chance in moving a gun that did not work for me was better if it appealed to waterfowlers. Thankfully, I love the gun. I use it or a 16 gauge Citori on pheasant.
 
Everybody I know who has bought a Maxus absolutely loves them. They pretty much think it is the best gun ever built. I picked one up and swung it, and it does have a nice feel to it.

I use my camo/synthetic beretta for all hunting... and trap and clays for that matter... :D I'm pretty sure the birds and clays don't give a darn what your gun looks like. Just find one that fits your body and your budget and blast away!:D

Once in a while I will catch a smirk or a puzzled look when I pull out a "waterfowl gun" at the trap park or the pheasant field, but I'm not trying to impress anybody. :laugh:

I could easily get by without the 3.5" chamber, but I do bust out the big shells for geese a few times a year (when I am confident that a mixed bag is not a possibility). Like a pass shoot or after duck season closes.

Good luck, whatever you decide to get.
 
I like wood for everything but foul weather. My duck gun is a Syn. stocked camo Browning 3.5" cynergy O/U. I have a wood stocked Beretta 686 Onyx Pro 3.5" O/U too but it mostly only sees action on the trap range. All my other shotguns are walnut stocked. I love the feel of walnut and the weight of it too.

Nothing, I repeater nothing gives me more pleasure then carrying a high grade O/U with AAA exhibition grade wood in the pheasant field or Ruff grouse woods.
 
onpoint said:
I like wood for everything but foul weather. My duck gun is a Syn. stocked camo Browning 3.5" cynergy O/U. I have a wood stocked Beretta 686 Onyx Pro 3.5" O/U too but it mostly only sees action on the trap range. All my other shotguns are walnut stocked. I love the feel of walnut and the weight of it too.

Nothing, I repeater nothing gives me more pleasure then carrying a high grade O/U with AAA exhibition grade wood in the pheasant field or Ruff grouse woods.
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I agree! I am looking for a synthetic stocked gun for hunting the concrete waterlodged pits I do waterfowling in. I put to much time worrying about the upland guns in the pit. I sit hear admiring a straight stocked, marble-caked, american walnut beauty shinning in the sunlight. Only thing I would add, being 59, "light" weight, and a 20/28 gauge.
 
I use floor wax on my guns for foul weather, a trick that an old Newfoundlander taught me, and those fellas LIVE in the salt chuck and foul weather!:eek:
All my guns are wood, and I've never had an issue with rusting of the barrels nor swelling of the wood
DT
 
Thrasher said:
I am looking into buying a new gun and am leaning towards the Browning Maxus. I would like to hear some of your thoughts. I like the wood with the nickel finish, but might like to use it for waterfowl as well. If I get the black synthetic stalk I would probably go with the 3 1/2 inch chamber. I have a 11-87 in 3 inch that I can use for ducks and geese. It is wood and matte black.

Does anyone carry a synthetic stalked shotgun for pheasant? Is there any real advantage to a 3 1/2 inch shell for waterfowl?

Thanks for your input.
Click to expand...

I use a stalker Maxus that shoots 3 1/2 shells. It works just fine on pheasant , skeet, trap and deer. It has killed its fair share of geese and ducks. As far as shooting 3 1/2 inchers it does a good job at it ,but I am getting a little older and opt for 3 inch for ducks geese and deer
 
For me its camo synthetic for waterfowl, and wood w/ blued steel for pheasants. Both guns are beretta silver mallards. Its nice having the same gun configured both ways since it fits me good.
 
Byrdoglvr said:
My bro in law bought the wood version. It's very nice looking but the dumb **s bought a 30" barrel for upland hunting.
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Only down side to the 30" is the added weight he has to carry.


You know what they say...once you got to a black stock you won't go back ;)
 
Finally made the decision yesterday and went out and bought the gun. I ended up with the Maxus hunter (wood and nickle). Nice gun. I was going to choose the 3 inch gun, but talked myself into the 3 1/2 for "just in case I need it sometime". I plan to shot a round or two of trap this week and then dove season starts.
 
Took the new gun out last thursday and shot two rounds of trap. The gun shot the low-based 8's perfectly. It handles well and I shot it as well as the remington 11-87 I have been shooting. Two rounds of 21/25.
 
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