My son wants to buy a winchester Super X3 12 ga. in a 3 1/2 inch in the black or dark color. Selling price $1000. What are the pros and cons on this pricey gun? How about compared to the Browning Gold?

he will use it for turkey, duck, goose and trap.

Thank you!

Belgian made just like the Gold and has a similiar operating system. I think rather then spend 1000 on one of them I would look at a Gold, Beretta 391

they are good guns. he will not be disappointed with it. few things to keep in mind, if he's going to do alot of clay bird shooting or light load ie doves then the 3.5" may not be a good choice because it won't cycle loads under 1 1/8oz 100% of the time. if the majority of his shooting it going to be heavy loads or 3", 3.5" then there's no problems. if he's not going to be using alot of 3.5" shells for the ocasional goose or turkey hunt they save yourself and get the 3" gun.
winchester lighened the x3 by alost a pound over the x2, so the x3 will kick more. they finally added the stock shims to customize the fit. the gas system is great, nice a simple, amost as good as a beretta.

i won't not spend the extra money on a gold. 1. the only things different is the gold a a mag cut off that you'd probably never use and a little different bolt lock.2. the gold is done with after this year. browning is rolling over to the silver which is a hybrid of the classic hunter and the x3. there are rebates out on golds right now for dealer who still have them on there shelves.

i like the x3. i have 2 x2's but the beretta is also good, IMHO a bit better.

For all around use a 3" mopdel is usually a better choice. The SX3 is one of the better 3 1/2" models for cycling lighter loads. The two SX2 3 1/2" models that one of my buddy has cycles 1oz target loads just fine which is the lightest that has been tried. The SX2 and SX3 are the same gun with different weights for the most part. Both of my Gold 3 1/2" guns will also cycle 1 oz target loads with my first one cycling 7/8oz HV loads every time I tried them.

The SX3 3 1/2" is lighter in weight than most 3" auto loaders.

In addition to the Gold have the magazine cutoff switch. They also have the speed load feature and a larger triangle safety button. The Golds also have a choice of receiver shapes like the angled Classic (FLD) models. The Gold has the action arm on the right side of the gas sleeve and the Winchesters and Browning Silver has it on the left side. The SX3 uses many of the Browning Gold Fusions parts to reduce it's weight over the SX2.