New SX3 20ga

[XVIga_Rob]

After many months of looking at various 20ga guns, finally bought one for my daughter. 20ga. Winchester SX3 Field Compact. We pick it up on Monday, after school!

I'm curious if anyone with experience with the 20ga SX3, knows if it will cycle the Win AA 7/8oz #8 (980's)?

I'll run a few boxes of standard 7/8oz & 1oz loads to ensure it functions correctly. After that, I'd like to minimize the felt recoil for her, for a little while, if possible.

[Thefeeder]

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I never tried the 980's in the SX3 ...so I can't say for sure. But I'd bet it will. An alternative is the Fiocchi 3/4oz loads.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1836961884/fiocchi-exacta-low-recoil-target-ammunition-20-gauge-2-3-4-3-4-oz-7-1-2-shot

You can also tune the stock for minimal felt recoil

[Ducky's Dad]

I recently bought a new SX3 20ga/28" to use until I get my right rotator cuff repaired. Wanted the softest shooting 20ga/28"/3"chamber/composite stocked gun I could find and this seemed like the ticket. I shot the whole dove season with it (six days, six limits, plus a bunch of Euros), and I really like the gun (although I am not a fan of semi-autos). I tried to shoot Clever Mirage FeatherLite 20ga-3/4oz loads and they would not cycle it consistently. Sometimes the hulls would hang up on the feed ramp, sometimes the empty would jamb in the ejection port. Gun worked fine with WalMart promo loads, so I started loading those as the first shot, with the Mirage FeatherLites in the magazine. Sometimes the gun would cycle all three shells, sometimes it would hang after the second shot. I carefully lubed the gun, also tried shooting it wet like an 1100, and it seemed to loosen up as the hunts progressed. Total round count so far is about 200, and it will probably be fine after it is fully broken in. But I hope by then I won't need it. The Mirage shells are probably a little hotter than the AA/980s or the Fiocchi mentioned above, since they are 3/4oz at 1200fps. I have no idea what their chamber pressure is.

The recoil with the Win and Fed 7/8oz promo loads was not too bad, and I even fired three rounds of 3" Kent Fasteel 7/8oz duck loads just to see if I could hunt ducks this season. Not bad, as long the gun is mounted properly. Your daughter should be OK with this gun.

[XVIga_Rob]