Tried out the new SX2 today!

[300 RUM]

I went out today to try out my new gun. Actually with the intent to try to make the SX2 3.5" gun jam. Here was my plan, I started with the lightest load I had then worked to the heaviest.

I would shoot 3 slow timed shots then 3 as fast as I could then repeat this until I shot an entire box of shells.

#1- Winchester 2 3/4" - 7/8 oz - 7 1/2 shot
results: shot the entire box with no failures of any kind!

#2- Federal 2 3/4" - 7/8 oz - 8 shot
results: again shot the entire box with no failures of any kind

I then started shooting an assortment of old loose shells I had lying around. 23/4" lead and steel, 3" lead and steel, 3.5" BB and BBB steel, then some tungstem matrix 3.5" 2 shot, The gun cycles every thing flawlessly.
This was a very short test but so far I give a HUGE thumbs up to the the SX2 3.5"

I am going out again Saturday, I will try to find some light 7/8 oz trap loads and see if it will cycle them.

[300 RUM]

I went out today with some lighter loads. found a couple of boxes of Winchester AA 2 3/4" - 2.75 dr - 1 oz - 8 shot.

I have not cleaned the gun again since I started. My buddy came along today to try it too.

result: shot half the box with no problems, about half way thru the box the gun on the 3rd shot did not lock open. It did not jam but the action did not stay back. shot the rest of the box with no more problems.

That is about 7 boxes of shells with no cleaning or break in. I must say I am more than happy. As for my buddy he had his SBE 1 and it jammed 9 times before it shot 25 of the AA shells.

Sorry had to say that after all the crap he gave me for getting the SX2

So far still a big thumbs up to the SX2 3.5"

[M.T. Pockets]

Let us know when you find the lightest factory load yours will consistently cycle. I'm guessing it will be a 1 1/4 oz load. When you find it I'll try a box and if mine handles them too I'll buy a case.

I need some new hulls before I start reloading again so I'll shoot up a case, I plan on experimenting some til I find the lightest reload it will consistently handle.

Great gun. I think the new automatics are all a lot more versatile and overall better than a generation ago.

[fabsroman]

M.T.,

I agree with you that the new autos are a lot better than those from a generation ago.

As far as cycling is concerned, I think almost every 3.5" auto is different in that category, even within brand. As I said on a different post, my brother's SBE will cycle 1 oz. dove/quail loads and mine won't even consitantly cycle a 1 1/8 oz. reload at 1145 fps.

[ONEBADAPPLE]

i luv mine too
put a winchester invector plus extended extra full turkey choke in it and did fair at a 30 yard turkey shoot albe dammed its tuff to beat them old hillbillys with there old model 12 winchesters and model 29 remingtons with standard full chokes my dads old model 12 heavy duck with full choke even kicks my arse????
any ideas out there im tired of second places???
OBA

[fabsroman]

You need to get a gun set up specifically for turkey shoots.

Also, I don't know how they run them by you, but they give us factory loads to shoot. Find out what loads they usually use, buy some, and pattern them out of your gun with different choke tubes to see which patterns best. Also try them out of different guns.

[tjwatty]

This could get expensive. I have 3 after market turkey chokes laying around here somewhere for my Benelli. After shooting up a half dozen or so boxes of turkey loads mine likes the factory full choke the best. Go figure!!! For steel it likes the Briley waterfowl tube???????????? My best friend has an M1 90 also and his is completely different. So I guess you have to go out and buy about a thousand dollars worth of stuff and experiment. Won't that be fun????
The up side is that I can draw a pretty good turkey head on paper now, instead of buying. Ha!

[300 RUM]

I went and tried to pattern my SX2 with some Federal 3 dram - 11/8 oz, 7 1/2 shot.

I shot the modified first then the full. I saw almost no difference at 20 yards? So I went back to 30 yards with some larger pieces of cardboard and still did not see a very big difference?

So I shot the improved and saw a big difference at 20yards. All these were the factory invector plus chokes that came with the gun.

I had my Mossy 835 so I tried it with a full and modified. My new SX2 modified choke patterns right in between my Mossy Mod. and full, maybe a little closer to the full, its a pretty tight pattern. I will have to go out with some different ammo and try again.