I've had a VersaMax for about 7 years now, and while there are good qualities about the gun, e.g., soft recoil, cycling various rounds without issue, it does have some aggravating issues. 1st would be the soft primer strike, where you get a "click" upon trigger pull. Look to find a dented shell primer, but no boom. Enraging. Second would be the forearm absolutely will not stay tight no matter how hard you push down on the barrel and screw on the end cap. Shoot a half box of 3" steel and its loose again. Lastly, was on a hunt last year and towards the end of the hunt, gathering up gear, the stock fell off when I went to pick up the gun off the hook where it was hanging. Fixed it later that day by tightening the bolt in the stock, but aggravating, nonetheless.
I'm wanting something that won't kick me like a rented mule, cycles reliably, and just goes boom when i pull the trigger. I primarily shoot 3" shells and likely wont ever have a use for 3.5". As such, i've narrowed my search to the Browning Maxus and the new A-5. I like the look and feel of the A-5, but want to know if anyone has had issues with this model (and if they've been resolved) in later models. I have an old 1956 12 ga standard model, and love the drop and feel of this gun.
I've read nothing but positive reviews on the Maxus, and like the idea of less felt recoil than with an inertia gun. Both the Maxus and A-5 shoulder well. Anyone had any experience comparing these guns? Primary use is duck/ goose hunting.

I have a wicked wing A5. In love with this one. Has eaten all the ammo I put through it. The difference between these two is really the Gas driven vs the Kinetic driven action and your preference of the two. I also prefer the "humpback" when shouldering. Different strokes for different folks but I'm impressed and give a recommendation for the A5 based on my personal preference.

I have a fancy wood Silver and a black synthetic A-5. I really like both guns. The Silver is such a soft shooter and a pleasure to use in the dove fields. The A-5 is my duck paddle gun. It's been abused and keeps shooting. It's probably about 4 or 5 years old now and I'm finally getting some of the dreaded dura-touch stock peeling issues. I think I'll send it in to Browning after this duck season.

If you know you like the humpback, you'll love the new A-5. All your little gripes about the VersaMax should go away. The build quality of my A-5 is the best of any shotgun I've owned.

Now if I was choosing to only have one shotgun, I'd pick a Maxus under the following assumptions: I assume the fit and finish would equal my new A-5, and I assume the recoil and cycling would equal my Silver.

Buddy has a maxus and has always liked it but it has clicked on him before. I started on the old A5 and can almost hit as consistently with the new ones as the old. The drop is nice for sure. Mine has clicked on me more than once and my dads has clicked on him more than once. Same as an SBE, etc. Any of the inertia guns will do it if they get dirty enough. I stick with it because of 1. light weight. 2. low recoil. 3. I hit well with it. If you clean it really well after every hunt you wont have a problem but we all know that's not happening when you are tired after a few days of hunting. Ive been very tempted to just get a 3" old school A5, treat it as a beater, and call it good. You can find them in pretty good shape for under $700 and your kids will still be using it. The new guns have made strides in weight and recoil but they are junk overall.

CS78 said:

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The new guns have made strides in weight and recoil but they are junk overall.

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You serious? I've easily got 15,000+ rounds through my A400. I may clean it every thousand or so (except duck hunting it gets cleaned right away). I've never had a single failure to fire or eject. My inherited A5 couldn't get close to that on its best day

FIDO*98* said:

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CS78 said:

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The new guns have made strides in weight and recoil but they are junk overall.

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You serious? I've easily got 15,000+ rounds through my A400. I may clean it every thousand or so (except duck hunting it gets cleaned right away). I've never had a single failure to fire or eject. My inherited A5 couldn't get close to that on its best day

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Ill admit Ive never owned a beretta shotgun. Buddy in college got one when they were just getting popular and had a ton of issues so I wrote them off. Ive broken a ton of parts on newer brownings, benellis, remingtons, franchis.

What gave out on your old A5? The only time ive seen them give issues is if they got dunked and not cleaned or the occasional safety spring breaking.

My last three shotguns have all been Berettas and I will probably not buy another brand.

Gas autos are super reliable and I have never had any issue because of build up. I also don't clean my A400 unless I dunk it or it gets super muddy or it's the end of duck season. That thing just keeps chugging along.

I have had my Browning Maxus in the 3" version for around 6 years now. Love the gun and it has never let me down.

My hunting buddy (who is a "pro staff" type hunter) had the new A5, and had a terrible experience with it. It was returned under warranty, and Browning didn't make a fuss about it -- basically saying they knew the model had issues. That was an early gun -- newer ones may be better. He's got a A400 now and really likes it.

I've got a benelli SBE -- to me it sets up something like an A5.

The inertia system isn't as soft shooting as gas, but has a lot less to go wrong, and has been bulletproof in the 15 years I've been shooting it: 3.5 steel to light 2.75 all work fine.

I've got an A-5. It's 4-5 years old now, was the first year they released the A5. 3 inch chamber. 12 ga synthetic stock. My duck/goose gun. Love it. It gets abused and just keeps on ticking. It's easier on the shoulder than an OU but not super soft shooting when shooting 3 inch shells. It cycles everything though.

I have old A-5's and the new wicked wing, and I love it. Go A-5, you wont be disappointed!

arrow said:

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I have a fancy wood Silver and a black synthetic A-5. I really like both guns. The Silver is such a soft shooter and a pleasure to use in the dove fields. The A-5 is my duck paddle gun.

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I've wondered about the Silver. Seems like it would be a nice hybrid of the Maxus gas operated and the A5 with its semi humpback. I personally dont know anyone that owns one, but its looks remind of the much maligned A-500, so I havent really looked into a Silver much, but probably should.
I have to say, i agree that most guns nowadays dont seem to be built las well as guns from the 60's -late 90's. My old 870 works every single time, same for the old A5, wife's 1973 model 1100, & all my brothers' old Remingtons and Brownings. They just work. That said, i still want a new one though.

The Silver is a Browning Gold with a humpback receiver. The Maxus is a slightly upgraded Browning Gold. I owned a Browning Silver in 20 gauge for a long time and it never gave me any trouble. They are all good guns. In 12 gauge the Silver lacks the speed load feature and magazine cut-off of the Maxus/Gold.

Based on what you described above (low recoil, humpback) I would strongly recommend the Silver. Coming from an 8 lb VersaMax to a sub 7lb Inertia A5 you are going to notice the recoil. If you really want the hump and you want a magazine cutoff/speed load search around gunbroker for a something like a Browning Gold Superlight. It has a hump, speedload, and magazine cutoff. They made several different versions over the years. My father has an FLD similar to the one below and it is very nice.
https://www.browning.com/products/firearms/shotguns/gold-shotguns/Discontinued/gold-superlite-fld-hunter.html

If the humpback receiver is not a must have I would recommend the Maxus. I have had mine for 10 years and, save a recent problem with the DuraTouch coating, it has been an outstanding performer.

In terms of new vs old I suppose if you just focus on build quality or "craftsmanship" the old guns are better. However, if you look at actual use, most modern 12 gauge semi-autos from a major manufacture will cycle any reasonable load with no adjustment, are softer recoiling, have changeable chokes, can be adjusted to fit you with just a socket or two, are much easier to clean, much easier to disassemble, are generally more reliable, and are light enough to carry all day in a pheasant field without fatigue. This combination in one gun is a pretty recent development. I have (and love) both old and new but, saving brief moments of nostalgia, when it comes to killing, I will grab the new one every single time.

I've got a Browning Maxus Hunter and I've had no issues with it at all.