The Firearm Blog

Earlier this month Browning announced, to much fanfare, a new 12 gauge autoloader shotgun called the “Browning Maxus” at the annual sales meeting. Browning have really hyped this shotgun and have called it “The Most Reliable Autoloading Shotgun the World Has Ever Known.”.

The Browning Maxus Stalker model

The Browning Maxus Mossy Oak Duck Blind model

Browning claim the shotgun generates 18% less felt recoil, 44% less muzzle jump, 19% faster bolt speed and 24% faster locktime. The shotgun has a variety of improvements that make this performance increase possible:

* A new gas system called the “Power Drive Gas System” which is cleaner and more reliable with light loads.

* A new trigger called the “Lightning Trigger System” which has an average lock time of .0052 seconds.

* A new recoil pad called the “Inflex Technology Recoil Pad” which claims to decrease muzzle rise (I recently bought a grind-to-fit Limbsaver recoil pad recently that claimed the same thing).

It also has some nice magazine improvements. A feed system called “Speed Load Plus” allows the first shell inserted into the magazine to go directly into the chamber without cycling the action! Don’t ask me how this works but I look forward to examining the magazine system when it makes its way into the gun shops.

Browning have also introduced an improved magazine plug that can be inserted and removed in seconds using a car key.

The shotgun will be offered in two models (see above photos) and each model will be available in either a 3″ chamber or 3 1/2″ chamber and a 26″ barrel or 28″ barrel. Depending on the configuration the price will range from $1,199 - $1,499. It will be available sometime next year (2009).

Photo from Browning.com. An apparent reference
to the fictional Gladiator Maximus Decimus Meridius

As part of the launch Browning released a video on youtube. It has some very impressive videography. If you are not interested in the shotgun itself skip to the middle to watch the shooting.

Browning will be releasing a line of A-Bolt Target rifles.

The rifle will come in three calibers: .223 Rem., .308 Win. and .300 Win. Mag. It is a pity they are not offering more exotic calibers. The stainless model will cost $1489 for .223 and .308 while the .300 will cost $1519.

More info @ Accurate Shooter

Gunner’s Journal has a very in depth post about the Hi Power pistol. Highly recommended.

Browning Hi Power Mk III

As much I as I like these handsome pistols for informal target work, small game hunting, or just knocking around in the woods, their original purpose was for “serious” matters in one area of the self-defense arena, military service. Like its Browning-born predecessor, the 1911, the single-action Hi Power’s initial reason for existence was as a military sidearm and not individual civilian self-protection. It is nice that both readily lend themselves to this, however.

Read it here.

Filed under “guns I cannot afford”: Browning has a new trap shotgun. It comes in 32″ or 30″ models.

Price: $4,942.00

The press release is after the jump.

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