Winchester's Super X4 12 Gauge

The Winchester Super X3 Field model is one of the best looking and best performing autoloading shotguns in its class. It’s satin oil finish walnut stock and matte metal pieces give it a tasteful… no, make that elegant look. The suggestion that a synthetic stocked gun could be as aesthetically pleasing might be met with some skepticism, but I believe Winchester has done just that with the matte black on matte black Super X3 Shadow and now the Super X4 synthetic.

The Super X4 is a combination of retained leading Super X3 performance features and some notable refinements, presented below in no particular order:

The Super X4 has larger controls; safety, bolt handle and bolt release which makes for confident control even with gloved hands. Additionally, the safety is reversible.

The Super X4 recoil pad is internally ribbed to pull the gun’s comb away from the shooters face and increased in contact surface to take the edge off of even heavy 3 1/2″ magnum loads.

The Winchester Super X4 has been slimmed a bit at the pistol grip, dropping a couple of ounces of weight and shifting the balance slightly forward for improved tracking speed. Overall, the gripping surfaces are well contoured and patterned to provide good control, wet or dry, hot or cold.

Active Valve Gas System

The heart of the Winchester Super X4 is the very fast Active Valve Gas System that works reliably with everything from light 1 1/8 Oz, 2 3/4″ target loads to heavy 2 1/4 Oz, 3 1/2″ turkey loads. The system is not designed for very light 7/8 Oz or 1 Oz loads and they were not tried during live fire checkout. Of the five types of ammunition utilized, the SX4 function was 100%, with no incidences of failure to cycle or feed.

Gas is bled from the barrel, through the gas bracket, into the gas piston where pressure and gas flow is moderated by spring resistance within the piston. Excess pressure from heavy loads is bled off from the gas piston and vented through Quadra-Vent ports at the front of the forearm.

Pulling the forearm and checking the Active Gas Valve System periodically, it would seem the Winchester system is very clean running. Even after extended use, light residue wiped off easily.

Another contribution to ease of maintenance; pushing out two trigger group pins permits easy removal and servicing of the trigger group.

Odds and ends

The Winchester Super X4 utilizes the Winchester Invector-Plus flush fitting choke system, three are supplied with the SX4:Full, Modified and Improved Cylinder, along with a choke wrench. The choke tubes are notched to indicate degree of choke as well as use for lead or steel shot.

The Super X4 can be adjusted for pull length with the insertion of spacers between the butt stock and recoil pad. One 1/4″ spacer is included, more can be purchased as accessory pieces.

The end… roll credits please

Working with the Winchester Super X4 was a little vacation for me. The temperatures are finally above freezing, four foot deep snow fields are melting and receding and I got to shoot a good shotgun, which happens less frequently at Real Guns than I like.

The SX4 has good balance making it easy to track targets and hit as a routine. Is it soft shooting? Well, it’s a 12 gauge. 1 1/8″ Oz target loads are easy to manage, even when blasting away for an extended period of time. Recoil from 3 1/2″ 2 1/4″ turkey loads is… a bit more than brisk, but a good deal less than memorable perhaps. The recoil pad does a good job and perhaps the 3 1/2″ shell venting dampens some of the recoil energy.

Fit and finish is exceptional and the materials employed are durable. I suspect all attributes that will keep the Winchester Super X4 looking as good for many years. Nice shotgun.