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Winchester SX4 Upland 12ga | Shotgun Review

shotgun review Apr 15, 2021

To be totally transparent, I have been a fan of the Winchester Super X line since I purchased the Winchester SX2 when I was in college. A few years later I purchased the SX3 and as I pursued my dream of becoming a professional exhibition shooter, let's just say I became very familiar with the shotgun. After shooting 100's of thousands of rounds through the SX3, Winchester launched the SX4, and I began putting it to the test.

In this review, I take a look at the Winchester SX4 Upland 12 gauge. The Video includes the full review but below is a quick recap.

0:46 Quick Specs

  • 12 gauge (also available in 20ga)
  • 3" chamber
  • 28" Barrell (also available in 26")
  • 7.2lbs
  • Magazine Capacity = 4, 2 3/4" shells
  • Drop at Comb 1 3/4"
  • Drop at Heel 2"

1:58 Trigger 

  • Around 5.5lbs

My score 8/10

2:33 Ease of Breakdown

  • There are simpler guns with fewer parts but I may be biased on this one.

My Score 9/10

5:15 Ergonomics/Look & Feel

  • This somewhat comes down to personal preference but Winchester did a great job with the SX4 Upland. This shotgun looks and feels great.
  • Adjustable length of pull with spacers
  • Matte Nickel Reciever Finish
  • Satin Stock Finish
  • Matte Blued Barrel Finish
  • Easy to use cocking handle, bolt released, and reversible safety.

My Score 9/10

7:29 Recoil

  • What recoil? With the Active Valve System and the Inflex 2 Recoil pad, the recoil on this gun is very light, relative to other 12ga shotguns.

My Score 9/10

8:36 Quality of Build

  • I always look at the quality of the build relative to the price. There are a few tolerances I would like to see tightened up but for the money, this gun is hard to beat all the way around.
  • Chrome Plated Chamber and Bore
  • Aluminum Alloy Reciever
  • Wood Grade II/III

My Score 8.5/10

10:45 Reliability

  • Give this shotgun a proper cleaning and it will run a long time without issue. From light target loads to heavier game loads, the Active Valve System runs without issue.

My Score 9.5/10

11:49 Speed Shooting

  • I love to shoot fast and this gun does that very well. Between the fast cycle and the light recoil, this shot is potentially the fastest shotgun out there. Time will tell as I test and review more shotguns.

All around, the Winchester SX4 is a great gun for the money. I give it an overall score of 9/10.

Whether our targets in the field or our targets in life, we will only hit what we are focused on so live the #targetfocusedlife

Stay Target Focused,

Steve