Game gun for serious work?

[Bix]

So, the SX2 practical seems quite popular with gamers and generally gets good reviews. However, I only hear about it in the competition context. Talk of fighting autoloaders always seems to deal with Benellis or Remingtons.

Is there any reason the SX2 practical would not make a good choice as a defensive weapon (putting aside everybody's favorite "pump-versus-auto" issue)? Is there something about the gun's competition-inspired design that makes it inappropriate for "serious work?

thanks

[clubsoda22]

no problem at all with using one for social work. They even make them in tactical black with an extended magazine tube for that purpose.

[natedog]

I was thinking that it would make an excellent HD gun too. It has a rail, ghost ring sights, extended mag, extended follower, "tactical" looks, and sling mounts. The 22" barrel seem a little long, though.

[sm]

SX2 's a great guns . I have used the stock SX2 "game gun" in blue and wood afield and in "real serious testing". I was told to run it hard and try to tear it up.
YEP, it will hold up. The owner bought a 2more stock guns nothing added As SD guns for home and business. The one I tested is currently felling ducks btw.

IME and running semi's hard to see what works for field, SD and HD the SX1 ( I'm biased) , SX2, Beretta 303 and 1100 works.

NO offense to 11-87 persons, I like the 1100 better, they IME hold up, work better than the 11-87. Running 11-87s in skeet my buddies always had problems, one went to a SX2, the other went back to his 1100.
I broke a 11-87 after 120 rds of varioust loads from skeet-buckshot-slugs.

Don't ask me how many of these loads I've run in My old SX1. A whole friggin bunch is all I know.

I ran out of ammo but ran a stock field 1100 700+ rds of mixed slugs and buckshot with no problems.

I ran the SX2 2k rds most of which was buckshot and slugs, I rode her hard -put her up wet and she begged for more.

No offense, Bennelis never held up for me, I've won two and traded the value amount on other stuff. Brand new guns and never even opened the box or as for the second ,even went to see it.

Now I know a lot of folks will disagree with me, but a bunch of folks "shoot one gun and know it". They have one shotgun they use for everything, birds, clays games, deer, HD. Most do not have a second bbl. These guns are stock. They fit the shooter and the shooter practices clays, hunts, etc.

Lots of folks don't have the monies to have more guns. They have to make do with what they have. They do know how to shoot.

I have always said the best kept secret is a 1100 20 ga.
...or a Beretta 20 ga, or now the SX2. NOt just for women either.

The 26" or 28" bbl though not idea will work. I've done it too many times in testing. " Run what you brung" and Beware the person with only one gun"...they Do know how to use it.

[Dave McCracken]

Everything I've heard about the X2 series has been good. As for defensive use, if it's reliable and effective in the owner's hands, why the heck not? This applies to any of the newer, "Practical" semi sutos. That includes the 1100 EBS and the Benellis.

sm nailed it. It's expertise,not accessories and flat black paint jobs that wins.

All new shotguns need a breakin period. For semis, I'd like to see 500 rounds through the thing before it's posted as a defensive tool, and at least the last 200 glitchfree.

The 22" barrel length bothers me little. My hunch is that 20-23" offers the best compromise between handling ease and low flash. Some ammo from 18" barrels is awe inspiring in low light.

sm's "One gun and know it" should be graven on a Tablet of Stone. I've multiples of the same model set up differently for commonality of controls. My "Chops" have to change little whether I'm swinging through a dove shot,busting a clay, squeezing off a slug at a whitetail, or defending my family and myself.

[sm]

Dave, I'm humbled -again.

Members, I want to clarify a couple of points. I'm not bashing the 11-87 or Benelli's. All I can do is share what experience I have and what worked or did not. I don't bash guns or another's choice in firearms.

I will express a "concern", whether it be a known recall, a person wanting a 2# trigger on a carry gun, "suggest" ( and I do strongly) try before they buy for themselves.

The reality is, what may work for me, may not work for you , as related to GUN FIT. The other reality is MURPHY. In firearms ( ammo, platforms, sights...etc) and anythng else ( cars, pc's, TV's , to anything else) Everyone , including me has tried a product and the darn thing will not work for me. I have given second chances, I really wanted something to work, but the powers that be/Murphy/ the alignment of stars and moon...whatever...would not work.

There are "known" concerns out there, example is another thread in regard to ammo and a member's gun. This is not the first report of incident, so FOR ME I've gone from yellow to Orange...actually Red...I won't buy this ammo, others have expressed the same concerns.

It's is all about safety and responsibility . I DO CARE about that for anyone. I take it serious, be it clays,or hunting. When it comes to person's life, and the safety and well being of family and others, I'm real friggin serious.

Many are more qualified than I , I'm the first to admit it. Dave, Denny, Correia, Jeff White, HSMITH...and many others.

IF any of these other persons makes a suggestion--listen. If their suggestions differ from mine--disregard mine and go with theirs.

Whatever you choose, try before YOU buy, BA/UU/R, make that choice an extension of you, Run it with the ammo at least 200 rds to know what the gun likes and reliable EVERY time in that gun.

Then people will say of you "Beware that person with that firearm--he knows that darn thing".

I won't aologize for being serious about some matters. I do have fun here on THR and rib and get ribbed.

I do apologize if I offended anyone , or mislead them in thinking I bashed their firearm choice.

Even it it were not of the Rules of Conduct here at THR, I would be responsible to fellow members in promoting "responsible firearms and gun ownership."

[Correia]

Agree in totality with sm. If your X2 is reliable then it should be a great HD gun. We have one local competitor with an X2 that has had some problems, but that is the only one I'm aware of, from what I've seen/hear they are a very reliable gun.

[sm]

Correia, thanks for the kind words.
Again many are more experience than I. I'm gonna say this anyway. IME, where I have seen guns fail falls into a couple of areas.

-The factory let one slip buy. Hey I had a buddy have sear break on a Kreigoff, freaky, would not expect it to happen, especially on a Kriegoff, but Murphy's everywhere. It happens.

-The gun has been "modified", "tweaked", or "changed" in a matter different than factory specs. This can and will often change the overall funtion and reliability in any firearm ( in anything). I know a shooter that has a Beretta 303 in 20 ga. Reliable as can be...well it was. AGAINST my ranting and warnings he opened the ports so a "lighter skeet" load would run the gun for a grandson. It is no longer reliable with that bbl with anything but "light loads" .

- Which brings me to my pet peeve , Ammo. I dunno why folks pay the dollars they do for a good quality gun, and buy "inexpensive" ammo, or insist on using ammo the gun is not DESIGNED to run with and then get upset.

I have seen two SX2 not run right. One we determined was bad factory ammo of good quality. I tried the ammo in 3 other guns that run with the same ammo. WE cut the ammo apart, appears ammo exposed to elements in warehouse, shipping...somewhere. The other gun "was tricked out to play the game" meaning he goofed up everthing, from ports , dwell, you nmae it. New bbl and back as origininal ( removing the bling bling and gadets) the gun is again 100 % reliable with quality ammo.

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Old man Bulova once said" I can teach a man to fix a watch, I can't teach him to QUIT fixing the darn thing!"

I used to race cars and such. My buddies teased me about driving a "land yacht"...well except when they needed a ride to pick up their only vehicle from a mechanic , a vehicle they both raced and depended on getting to and from work. Don't even mess with the wife's car...especially if a baby is in the house.

Gun fit to shooter and task is important. LOP shorter when using vests is fine. Getting smarter than the factory isn't always.

Adjust the seat back in the wife's car to fit your legs...but don't you dare raise the hood to "tweak it" with any intentions of improving what the factory built.

One learns by mistakes, it is less expensive and less painful if those lessons learned from mistakes of others.

I still get amazed at what my gunsmith buddy has to "unfix" at times.

[Mannlicher]

as long as it looks 'tactical' it will work. Same principle as a spoiler on a rice rocket.