Benelli vinci or browning maxus?

Curious: Why would you want either one for pheasants?

Both are new designs. I'm not one to volunteer to pay to be a test pilot, but word is that they're both good.

I just can't see either one as a gun specifically for pheasants, really. They're expensive, and for less money there are some other great options available that won't make you want to puke whenever you look at them.

These are definitely waterfowl guns, made to be used when it's kind of dark, and the gun is mostly hidden by a blind.

What will the Vinci do that well-proven and more attractive guns like the 391, M2 and Montefeltro won't do at least as well, for less money? Functionally, the Vinci is a Benelli like any other. It comes apart differently for cleaning, but it's not like pheasant hunting involves dropping the gun in a salt marsh, generally.

Between those two I'd go with the Browning. Gas operation is friendlier in my book. As noted, I don't think I would want either one for a pheasant gun either, but at 6 pounds and something the Browning should carry easy.

I believe gun weight specs as soon as I put the gun on my own scale.

I'm sure it's lighter than the Gold Stalker was, but hell, what isn't? And I dont recall Browning admitting it to be an 8 1/2 lb. gun, just as they claim lower weights for their BPS than they really weigh.

Well, the NRA weighed it when they tested it. I know they look at things thru 'somewhat' rose hued glasses, but I don't think they have started lying about weights. At least I hope not.

These are definitely waterfowl guns, made to be used when it's kind of dark, and the gun is mostly hidden by a blind.

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In that case I've romanced some waterfowl women on a few occasions.

The reviews on the Vinci are pretty impressive. It's supposed to be easier to clean than previous models, as well as mitigating recoil of hi power shells very well. It is very hard to look at though. If you had a spectrum, with one end being "tool" and the other being "art"....I'd say the Vinci is slammed to the tool side.

Just got done playing with a Vinci at the local fun shop. It does feel very well balanced and light. But there is a lot of plastic in critical areas. The most notable is where the reciever connects to the stock. There is a little plastic rod that is supposed to fit in a hole into the stock. I don't know what it's purpose is but I can see it breaking real easy.

Also, the trigger pack and reviever are all one piece. Like the Nova. I don't know if I'm right, but I can see that being a pain to fix.

It's supposed to be easier to clean than previous models, as well as mitigating recoil of hi power shells very well.

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A run-of-the-mill gas-operated 391 will shoot a few cases of shells between cleanings, and pheasants aren't geese.

Montana has a limit of 3 pheasants per day. The season is about 80 days long. So, in theory, you could go an entire season, hunting every single day, shoot a limit every day, and clean the gun at the end of the season -- even if you were a lousy shot.

1 1/4 oz. of shot is a heavy pheasant load. You get to bag 3 birds a day. There's no need to mitigate high recoil (not to mention that 1 oz. 20 Gauge pheasant loads drop the birds just fine).

Any Benelli doesn't get as dirty as, and is easier to clean than, a 391 -- it really doesn't need to get any easier.

That was why I asked, "Why for pheasant?" Whatever advantages the Vinci might have don't matter to a pheasant hunter.

No regrets

I recently faced the same question and went with the Maxus. I LOVE the Maxus and have no regrets regarding my choice! In fact, I have kept my O/U's in the safe for now and have been hitting very well on everything with my Maxus. So light, yet it can handle 1oz loads or 3.5's. I've been slamming geese with the 3.5's with ease and have had no problems with recoil.

How many 2.75" rounds does the Maxus hold? 5?

Four plus one.

If you are going in that price range for a Pheasnt gun, why not go with the Bennelli Ultralite in either 12 Ga or 20 Ga. Lighter and a heck of lot prettier to look at.

I have also taken several pheasants this year as well with the Maxus. I have always used my O/U before but heck, the Maxus is new and I wanted to play with it more! I have also appreciated the lighter weight!