SX2

[poutpro]

I was looking at getting a Winchester Super X2 in the near future and was wondering what experiences people have had with them. Also, what do people think of the Duratouch coating?

[Ben1022]

poutpro, I have two of them and both are in the Dura Touch finish. One is in the Greenhead color and the other in Shadow-Grass. Nothing but good to say about them.

I've dinged them pretty good and haven't had any peel off. The stuff is great for gripping, even w/gloves on.

This is the thrid season I'll have been using them and have no problems at all. However, I've probably only got six boxes thru the one and two thru the other, so I haven't had a ton of shots to even have a possible jam. I have had the one in 8 degree weather for four days of pheasant hunting and a couple boxes and no issues. That's the most either of them have experienced so far. I have a Super X1 that has had 10's of thousands of rounds thru and never had a jam, malfucntion or anything. That's what compelled me to get the Super X2's when I went to 3 1/2" chamber.

Another reason is that the drop at the comb on the Browning Gold is too much for me and there really wasn't another consideration of any of the others.

[poutpro]

whatd you pay for your gun w/ duratouch?

[chefjim]

This is my third year with my sx2 i love it cycles great and For the last two i have beat it up pretty good and looks new. I shoot 2 3/4 through it for trap and 3 1/2 through for goose and have no problem. I was trying to decide between that and Superblackeagle. Overall Great gun

[Ben1022]

I got them for $450. One place in the Cities had two of them marked down to $550 for some reason and the place I got them matched and beat the price by $50 and Winchester had a $50 rebate at the time. Actually, I think it's a $100 rebate going on now thru November on a new SX2.

I just got back from a duck hunt and I had so much cheese and gravy in the gun, I'm surprised it worked. That's what's nice about them, easily pulled apart and cleaned in a few minutes. Wipe the duratouch down w/a wet rag and it looks like new.

I will say one thing about them that bums me, is that the blueing on the barrel isn't the best. I have some spots, especially after this last hunt where the blueing is rubbed off and in some places scratched off from the gunnel of the boat. Other than that, they look great.

[poutpro]

Which gun would be a better gun, an SX2 or a Browning Gold?

[Rost]

They have been having problems with the Duratouch peeling off. My buddy returned his twice because of that. I talked to a gun smith and he said that some peel some don't.

[Ben1022]

I think you're splitting hair between the two. They are so closely manufactured it would be tough to say which is better. As mentioned before, the drop at the comb on the Browning Gold is too much for me. If I pull the Gold in tight and put my cheek on the stock, I can't see the bead, whereas the SX2 fits me perfectly. As far as the guts are concerned, they're very much the same. Easily pulled apart and cleaned.

I think the SX2 is a little heavier, too. By a few oz. but for me, I'd rather have a heavier gun. They swing better and something has to take some of the recoil. I think the hype in a really light gun is overrated. If you can't handle the extra weight, hike up your skirt and stay back at the truck!!! Just kidding, of course. If you like shooting the lighter guns and do it well, more power to you.

Grab both of the and see which one feels better to you. Now that it's cooler, it's nice to go in and throw them up w/some heavier clothing or your coat to get a real feel for which one(s) fit you the best.

[eyepatrol]

poutpro

My experience with my FORMER Super X2 is on the flip side of the coin. The barrel on my Super X2 (3 year old gun) buldged out right where the bottom of the choke screws into the barrel. Brought it in yesterday to a gun shop. They made some calls and was told that the warranty won't cover it and Winchester won't do anything about it. I was told I need to buy a new barrel which would cost $400. NO THANK YOU! That's more than half of what I paid for the gun! So, I bought a cheaper 3 1/2" gun to last me the rest of the year.

I, for one, will not buy another Winchester product. If they can't or won't back up their product after only 2 1/2 years of use, then they don't need my business anymore.

My next gun will either be a Browning or a Benelli, and I'm leaning to the Benelli. I always kept my Winchester cleaned and in good shape. I used the modified choke when shooting waterfowl and the improved cylinder when shooting slugs for deer. The shells I used were Winchester 3 1/2" No. 2's (for ducks) and 3 1/2" BBB (for geese).

I WAS in love with the gun, but with this experience, I won't get one again. I'm just glad the barrel didn't blow out on me. That could have been dangerous. Oh, and one more thing...the barrel was never plugged with dirt (because I was in a wooden blind), snow (because there was no snow), or any other object. In my opinion, it was a design failure since it happend where the bottom of the choke screws into the barrel.

Just my opinion, but thought I should put it on here.

[jdbigeye]

I've had my X2 four years now and it has been great. From every shot with lighter target load, to 3 1/2" turkey loads. I had no intentions of buying a Winchester at first. But after I bought a Benelli Nova that wouldn't eject any shells from 3" and up, I got frustrated. I did try getting it fixed, with no solution found.

I'll admit, I am pretty tough on the gun and it has seen every condition imaginable. Only problem came on a late season field goose hunt sometime in December when temps were sub-zero it wouldn't eject fully and caused it to jam. My buddy's Super Black Eagle was doing the same thing though.

I would buy another SX2 in a heart beat. This time it would be cammo rather than black. Doesn't shoot slugs too bad either. I recommend getting the 28" barrel for waterfowling. Swings like a gem. Cleaning is quick and easy. Definitely buy a sling right away, its not a light object to carry.

What are the average prices of a new SX2?

[snowgoose]

Basscatcher

I had the exact same thing happen to my X2 the 1st year I owned it. I sent it directly to Winchester and I recieved a new gun out of the deal. It took a bunch of phone calls and proding to get them to do anything. If you still have the X2 call the number on the back of your instruction manual and they should help you out.

I do agree with the customer service being horrible. I sent my barrel in in May of 03. I called and check on the progress of it twice. At that time the gun was so new every barrel coming off the assembly line was going on a new gun and being sent to the store. After 2 months I receive a letter telling me that they need the entire gun to see if I had mistreated the gun or if it was a defect. So I sent them the rest of the gun.

I had a big trip coming up to Canada. It is now the begining og September and I have not seen or heard from Winchester again.

I give them a call and try to push them a little letting them know that I needed the gun for a trip coming up in two weeks. The guy at Winchester tells me that a new gun is being shipped to me the next day.

UPS shows up at my door 3 days later. I am all excited to get a new gun and I will be on my way. I open the box to check it out and the (Contact US Regarding This Word) had sent me my old gun with the bulged barrel and all. The Pattern Master choke tube is still stuck in the barell. Now I have around 10 days before I leave for my trip and I am really getting steamed. I call Winchester again and put the guy I had been talking to thru the ringer. He could not believe that had happened.

Now he makes me send it back in to them and they will send me a new one. I went to the post office and paid ist day air frieght on the gun to send it to them again! They did end up sending me a brand new gun 3 days before I left for Canada.

I do like how my x2 handles but I will never buy anougher one.

I did learn a lesson about keeping the choke tubes tight in your gun. I mostly goose hunt so I use a pattern master. I also use choke tube lube to keep things from siezing up. After every box of shells or so I make sure the choke tube is still tight.

I hope this helps and you can get your gun fixed. If you have a hard time dealing with them let me know. I will look to see if I have any of the old paperwork. It may help your case against them.

Todd

[Rost]

Here is my buddy's SX2 story...

He bought the X2 in August of last year. Immediately, after shooting clay pigeons he noticed that the Duratouch was peeling off (similar to skin after a sunburn). He contacted Winchester. They allowed him to keep it for the hunting season, then send it back. So he sent it back in January. 4 months later he recieved a new gun in the mail. He then put it in his gun cabinet without even shooting it. In late August he dusted it off for early goose. After one use, he noticed the Duratouch was peeling again!! So he brought it back to the dealer...They contacted Winchester via phone. Winchester would not replace the gun since it has been over a year from the original purchase.

While the salesman was on the line with Winchester, he handed the gun over and said he was trading it in for a SBE. Now he's happy (Like I told him he would be)

[eyepatrol]

snowgoose

With it being the middle of the hunting season and needing a gun to shoot, I ended up trading the gun in and got a different one. Just didn't have the time to mess around with Winchester. Had it been the end of the season and my hunting over and done with, I would have went through the effort of giving them heck. Funny though....the gun I bought was $200 cheaper than the barrel replacement cost (after getting $100 for a trade-in value for parts). A new gun for 1/2 the price of a barrel...I can only laugh at that one. Not a high quality brand name gun, but I've shot it a few times and it works just fine. I'll be saving up for either a Browning or a Benelli next year and I'll keep the one I just bought as a back-up in case something happens again. Used to have a Browning before the Winchester. Don't know why I switched. Oh well, what's done is done.

Thanks for the info.

bc