Winchester has a long history making quality firearms. Throughout the first half of the 20th century Winchester produced some of the best firearms designs of all time. The Model 12, pre-64 Model 70, and the Model 94 were all fantastic Winchester designs. Winchester recently introduced a new shotgun for the 21st century with their Winchester SXP.
History
Originally introduced in 2005 under the name the Super X Pump, the Winchester SXP replaced the Winchester 1300 series of shotguns. SXP can trace its lineage from the Model 12, with the 1200 and 1300 as intermediary firearms. The SXP has quietly been Winchester’s flagship pump action shotgun since its introduction
Specifications
The Winchester SXP is available in 20 gauge and 12 gauge. It is a pump action shotgun with a 4 round tubular magazine. Similar to Remington’s shotguns, the shell lifter is in the down position and sits over the entrance to the magazine tube when the action is closed. The gun is made in a myriad of configurations with 26 and 28 inch barrels being common as well as 3 inch and 3 ½ inch chambers. Each barrel has a set of screw-in Winchester chokes that are swappable with a flat choke wrench. The furniture on the SXP is standard polymer which is durable and handles the wet weather of waterfowl hunting better than traditional wood.
The controls are reasonably ergonomic with nothing out of the ordinary. There is a cross-bolt safety at the front of the trigger guard which is reachable by extending the trigger finger. The slide release is located at the back of the trigger guard where it is easy to actuate, in the same location as the one found on a Mossberg 500. The shotgun weighs around 7lbs depending on the barrel and chamber lengths selected. Interestingly, unlike many other pump action designs the Winchester SXP utilizes a rotating bolt design. This should give the SXP a very strong action for the type.
Strengths
First of all, like most pump guns the Winchester SXP is unfailingly reliable. While the differences are mostly theoretical, the most common malfunction encountered with traditional pump guns is a failure to extract. This typically occurs with cheaper ammunition, potentially due to loose tolerances on the manufacture of the ammunition. Theoretically, the rotating bolt of the SXP should help eliminate these rare malfunctions because of the camming action of the rotation. While this is relatively difficult to prove, I can say that no malfunctions were experienced while testing the SXP.
Next, the SXP has an inertia assisted pump action. This means that the action automatically initiates the loading sequence when fired. This may seem a bit gimmicky initially, but it actually feels really good in the hand. The rotating bolt also gives the SXP an incredibly smooth action. The combination of the inertia assist feature and the rotating bolt make the SXP action much smoother than other popular pump action offerings from Mossberg and Remington.
Finally, the SXP balances fairly well for the weight. The SXP utilizes an aluminium receiver which helps it be slightly lighter than a lot of its competition. However, the receiver is still thick enough that it feels solid and the balance of the gun isn’t too far forward like it can be with other aluminium receiver shotguns. The brass bead at the end of the barrel is reasonably easy to pick up and makes the shotgun smooth swinging on birds and other game.
Weaknesses
There are a few complaints about the SXP. First of all is the follower. It is commonplace for shotguns to have the shell lifter sit in front of the magazine tube with a closed action. However, this is an annoyance when loading the firearm, potentially pinching the tips of the shooters fingers when wearing gloves. It is a wonder that the Mossberg is the only shotgun with a lifter in the upwards position when loading.
Next is the safety. Cross-bolt safeties as a general rule work fine and are simple to operate. The safety on the Winchester is located at the front of the trigger guard instead of the rear. This is harder to actuate from a firing grip. A cross-bolt safety at the rear of the trigger guard sits better under the finger and is easier to verify the condition of the firearm kinesthetically without having to move about to visually inspect the gun.
Competition
There are many options on the pump action shotgun market. The two industry giants of course are the Mossberg 500 and the Remington 870. Other potential candidates are the Browning BPS (a derivative of the famed Ithaca 37), and the Benelli Nova and Supernovas. The Benelli’s and Browning’s are well finished but cost a bit more than the SXP. An interesting note on the BPS is that it is a downward ejecting shotgun unlike the other competitors.
Compared to the Remington and the Mossberg offerings the SXP does quite well. The ergonomics are better than the Remington 870 with the slide release in a much more favourable location. The action of the SXP is smoother than either of the competitors. Reliability is one hundred percent for all of them in reasonable circumstances, but the camming action of the SXP might give it some slight theoretical advantage. The only drawback is the safety is in a better location on both the Mossberg and the Remington.
Closing Thoughts
Winchester has done an excellent job with the SXP. Not only have they designed a reliable and affordable firearm, they have innovated in a market that has been stagnant for years. The inertia-assisted design is a clever addition to the pump action system and offers something different to SXP owners. The SXP is every bit as good or better than the comparable giants in the pump action shotgun field. The SXP is an excellent choice for casual sporting clays or defensive use. Furthermore, it is well suited for any variety of shotgun hunting scenarios. In conclusion, the SXP is a fine all purpose shotgun and should not be overlooked.