Crow Busters Forum

Mark · Guru

Maxus ( Soft fire / soft strike) 2nd time

Bob · Guru

RE: Maxus ( questions and help)

Mark · Guru

Bob,

It,s just the last shell of the 4 or the 4th is really hard to get in.. Rediculously hard, from the very first time I tried.. I figured it was just the way the Maxus is.. I measure the shelsl and they measure 59.5mm or 2.34" so the legenth is not an issue.

I've never tried to remove the spring.. I'll give it a try..

Thanks for your help.

Mark · Guru

Bob,

I just put a used / spent hull in my gun and put a cut out piece of a aluminum can on the face of the shell, fired the gun and the firing pin dented the aluminum really nice..

Mark · Guru

Tried to remove the magazine tube spring and could lot figure out how to remove the nut at the end of the tube.. It has a very small pin keeping it from unscrewing. Owners manual does not provide any info..Any suggestions?

chip · Guru

Mark,,,,,,, As soon as I read your post I went to the basement and had my plug out of my MAXUS in about five seconds biggrin I put 4 shells in the tube and noticed that the 4th shell was rather tough going in. We cant use an unplugged gun in this state unfortunately it is an act of terrorism. I gave it an extra shove and it clicked and stayed in. All 4 shells cycled fine thru the chamber. I repeated the same action and the shell was hard to go in but it went in and cycled fine again. I think it is probably the gun, I have shot at least 7 or 8 cases thru my maxus and have yet to have a burp. Not even a fart. It has performed perfectly. I am not one to clean a gun either. I have never had the spring out of the tube and have yet to remove my bolt. I will tell you this, I have shot the absolute hell out of that gun and it has worked. I have ran across hard primers over the years. It does happen but a person has to shoot a ton for a lot of years to have that happen. The average shooter will never have it happen, or will not notice when it does. Dont pay any attention to Shane when he talks about any other shotgun other than a Benelli.!!! Truth be known the poor guy is really jelous of any MAXUS owner,,, You see he wants one so bad he can taste it, But his wife won't let him have one biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

Big Honkers · Guru

I knew Chip was going to reply to this one...it was only a matter of time!

Mark · Guru

Chip,

Thanks for doing that. I really like the Maxus and the way it shoots. I shot it the weekend before on a dove field and did not have any issues. It's a great gun! I do shoot a lot of rounds and it's possible it could be a "hard primer." When the malfuncition happened I cycled the action and ejected the shells and left them lying where they fell. When we were cleaning up I found two and gave them to my shooting partner.. I will see about getting them back and see if I can fire them again.. Appreciate the help!!

Mike27 · Senior Member

Mark,

Unplugged is a dirty word in NJ accept the last couple of years for the early resident goose season. Up to 7 shells in the gun. I mainly use my 10 ga. with 5 shells and no problems. Last year I tried to put 4 up the mag. in my 11-87 and had to try way to hard to get in the 4th. My thinking was, there must be enough push on the spring to get the last shell out. So on the reverse, 4 in is fully depressed and a bear to force in. Could just be my spring.

Mike

SHANEDOG · Guru

chip wrote:
Mark,,,,,,, As soon as I read your post I went to the basement and had my plug out of my MAXUS in about five seconds I put 4 shells in the tube and noticed that the 4th shell was rather tough going in. We cant use an unplugged gun in this state unfortunately it is an act of terrorism. I gave it an extra shove and it clicked and stayed in. All 4 shells cycled fine thru the chamber. I repeated the same action and the shell was hard to go in but it went in and cycled fine again. I think it is probably the gun, I have shot at least 7 or 8 cases thru my maxus and have yet to have a burp. Not even a fart. It has performed perfectly. I am not one to clean a gun either. I have never had the spring out of the tube and have yet to remove my bolt. I will tell you this, I have shot the absolute hell out of that gun and it has worked. I have ran across hard primers over the years. It does happen but a person has to shoot a ton for a lot of years to have that happen. The average shooter will never have it happen, or will not notice when it does. Dont pay any attention to Shane when he talks about any other shotgun other than a Benelli.!!! Truth be known the poor guy is really jelous of any MAXUS owner,,, You see he wants one so bad he can taste it, But his wife won't let him have one

It seems Chip has bumped his head on one of his crow outings,it has left him spinning yarns of conjecture and phantasy. biggrin

P.S.You forgot to mention my other ITALIAN shotgun that preforms tough work,my FRANCHI 20 gauge auto.

And by the way my dad highjacked my Benelli M-2,so I was forced to use my 11-87 on an early goose hunting outing,my calling did the trick,put seven geese right in front of me,I dropped one,they banked I got on the call and they swung around right back in front of me,well I pulled the trigger and nothing,the REMINGTON jambed,I cleared the jamb and dropped the last goose,I should have had two,three shells,three geese,but the 11-87 let me down. I believe Chip is also a REMINGTON man. biggrin

-- Edited by SHANEDOG on Monday 19th of September 2011 01:47:57 PM

Skip · Guru

Mark: I shoot the Maxus exclusively at crows and no plug is required here. I have about 2500 rounds though the gun and the first several boxes I did notice the 4th shell was more difficult to load..but that issue is gone now. Just push a little harder.. no damage will be done and I suspect you will notice it less and less. Nothing like 5 shots, quick load feature and almost no barrel jump.... characteristics of the Max! Fine crow machine for sure.

Skip

chip · Guru

I remember the year the 11-87 came out,,,, every remington man in the country had to have one cry My road dog bought one and brought it by. The first thing I thought was, this thing weighs a ton!!! I figured it was an 1100 on steroids. I never owned one cause I had 3 1100's and they either jammed or would not cycle below 25 degrees. I shot an 870 for 40 years. You have all heard or read my story about my 870 being on the bottom of a swamp for three days and still working when I dug her out biggrin I'm sure you all realize and can appreciate the fact that if it weren't for Mr. Browning we would all be speaking fluent Japanese and German biggrin biggrin Lots of guys I know shoot the SBE's, hell everybody has them. It is a good firearm. I was raised by a WW II vet that hated anything foriegn made. Now I know it's been a long time but I still don't like the way the Italians kissed hitlers ass. The only Italian firearm I own is the .380 my dad cut off a dead Italian officers belt. Not saying they are junk, I Just like american enginuity and dependability. My MAXUS has had thousands of rounds thru it and has yet to fail me. My Dad Hated Italians and everything they made. I know some people think that he was not politicaly correct, He always told me that he earned that right when he invaded Cicily. If I would buy a SBE it would fail me all the time cause his ghost would see to it biggrin biggrin HE HE HE So Shanedog and all you Benelli fans keep supporting them Italians, They need the money!!!! We dont need american dollars spent here!!! HE HE HE, Now how do you like them Apples. LOL That there is funny I don't care who you are biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin Dam I wish my season would come in so we wouldn't have to argue about "Ignurnt" stuff like this,,,, even tho you know Im right biggrin biggrin biggrin

SHANEDOG · Guru

Okay,Chip,you made your point,but lets look at some more history,The Italians supported us in World War 1. Not all Italians fought for the Germans,My uncle Victor Galvagni, his brother Ceaser,and another brother all fought threw the Cicilan and Italian campaign. Uncle Vic was also wounded at the Battle Of The Bulge later.At least the Italians dont hate us for liberating them,like the French do!

On Sept 1st 1939 when the Germans attacked my Polish cousins,Stalin also attacked Poland,most people dont talk about that,he also shot the whole Polish officer core,in the Katin Forest then tried blaming the Germans.My point is we supported Stalin because we had to at the time,I hate Hitler but I hate Stalin more,Hitler was a school boy compared to Joe Stalin.Stalin starved and murdered millions of my Ukranian cousins,Belo Russians,Lapvians,etc. May that man be burning in hell!!

-- Edited by SHANEDOG on Wednesday 21st of September 2011 12:17:43 AM

chip · Guru

OMG,,,,, ,Ok Shane I should have known better to even bring up any military history and try to top you. Dumb on my part............UNCLE disbelief Ok I said it!!!!! Still love my MAXUS Though. Still if we would have been born a little earlier in time, I would have loved to have been your spotter in the bush in Nam, we would have been a hell of a team biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

jonthepain · Guru

My dad served in WWII at Pearl. He was a codebreaker.

Never would buy anything Japanese.

chip · Guru

My hats off to your dad Jon smile What a way to help win a world war!!!! Now the truth comes out,,,,,,,,We all know where you got your brains biggrin Man would I love to have been able to sit down with your dad and and have a conversation with him....That is absolutely amazing. Those guys were far and very few between........Very cool!!!!! What a Generation eh!!!!!

chip · Guru

Jon I had a very close friend whom I lost to lung cancer in 2002. He used to take me rabbitt hunting when I was a pup. When I grew up and married and started having kids I bought a house next door to him. I started taking him fishing to pay him back for the time he had spent with me. He was first wave at Iwo Jima. He told me some things after he got sick that he had never told anyone else. I guess he wanted to either get it off his chest, or maybe just talk about it. I won't say much about it out of respect for him, but 2 things he did say that I feel I can share is the way the Japanese soldiers fought to the death. He said he lost 3 young men that were carrying flame throwers in his squad. He said he had to strap it on and use it. He said they would fire up every crevace or cave in the rocks. He said the Jap soldiers would come out fully engulfed in flames still firing their weapons. He also witnessed the civilian women and children jumping off the cliff at the end of the island. He said he had never felt so helpless. I remember him saying that if we would have invaded Japan we would have lost over a million men. I really dont see how American men at that age could do the things they did. Some of the things he told me just do not seem possible to be done by American men. He lucky strike non filters, smoked up til the end. He also would go in his basement on every 4th of July, he could not stand the big booms of the firework displays

-- Edited by chip on Wednesday 21st of September 2011 02:56:20 AM

SHANEDOG · Guru

Dont get me going again Chip!! biggrin In keeping with the theme of your Italian post,I have changed my avatar in your honor, Chip,enjoy!!

-- Edited by SHANEDOG on Thursday 22nd of September 2011 12:47:08 AM

-- Edited by SHANEDOG on Thursday 22nd of September 2011 12:47:47 AM

8fishermen · Guru

SHANEDOG wrote:
Dont get me going again Chip!! In keeping with the theme of your Italian post,I have changed my avatar in your honor, Chip,enjoy!!

-- Edited by SHANEDOG on Thursday 22nd of September 2011 12:47:08 AM

-- Edited by SHANEDOG on Thursday 22nd of September 2011 12:47:47 AM

It's like he can smell America's defeat and collapse in the air!

chip · Guru

Absolutely friggin awesome Avatar!!!!!!!!!! Tell us how you really feel Shane Don't hold back anything!!! LOL,LOL!!!!! biggrin biggrin

Mark · Guru

Well it happened again. The issue with the "soft" striking of the firing pin happened again today. I cleaned the Maxus on Friday morning and shot 1.5 boxes thru it on Friday afternoon ( number 8's Federal Brand) at a dove field and had no problems. This morning I was on a crow shoot and the issue reoccurred ( number 6's Remington Heavy dove). I picked up 3 of the unfired shells and have provided a picture below. The picture is of 3 "soft struck" primers on the left side and two fired empty hulls on the right. One can clearly see the difference in the depth of penetration on the primer surface. I can't imagine the "hard" primers issue as I purchased new shells. This is really a problem. Any suggestions? ( AND, YES the Benelli finished the shoot with out any issues)

-- Edited by Mark on Saturday 24th of September 2011 08:50:30 PM

Bob · Guru

Mark,

If it were me I would put in a brand new hammer spring. That will solve your problem, sometimes even with a new gun you can have a bad part.

Bob A.

Mark · Guru

Bob, Thank you very much for your information. I'm not a gunn expert but took apart the trigger assembly and the trigger spring is really strong in compression.. I wouldn't think that would be it.

-- Edited by Mark on Saturday 24th of September 2011 11:48:36 PM

chip · Guru

Mark give Browning a call,,,,,,,,, I bet they take care of you!!!! Remington bent over backwards for me when I had my problem. The MAXUS being new on the hunting seen,they are not gonna want any bad press and I think they are kinda proud of it. They should be eager to help you. Do you shoot a lot of the Sure shots?? Its a pretty good upgrade from game loads. I would think if it was a bad batch of hard primers you would have more lite hits in a row. The bolt assembly on that gun is a snap to take apart. I had mine apart the other night and cleaned before I finished a bud lite. Keep us posted on the problem and let us know what Browning sais.....................

SHANEDOG · Guru

The Benelli did what???

8fishermen · Guru

SHANEDOG wrote:
The Benelli did what???

Just ain't a lot of moving parts in a 'nelli that can wrong. Not as soft shooting as a gas but very reliable if you clean it on occasion.

Did you try to fire any of those shells again? No problems with the same shells in the Benelli?

SHANEDOG · Guru

Well in all fairness,this is the first time I have heard of anyone having a problem with the the Maxus,it has to be to stiff a spring or the firing pin is out of tolerance. My buddies Benelli Super 90 makes small firing pin marks like those also,but seems to be enough to fire the primer. smile

jonthepain · Guru

chip wrote:
Jon I had a very close friend ...

Our country is not the same, as these men are becoming fewer and fewer.

Chip, sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who has lived in the shadow of the greatest generation, that heard their stories directly from them, still remember their stories and recognize their unselfish love of our country. Then I run into someone like yourself and I feel like I am not alone. Thank you.

One of my best friend's dad was in the first wave at Omaha. I can't even write that without choking up because of some of the things that his dad has shared with me over the years.

While I did not get along well with my stepfather, I always listened with respect when he recounted his years with the mighty 8th Air Force, over Europe in a B17.

I had unmeasureable love and respect for my father. He went from Wharton into the USNR as a lieutenant, and then to Pearl. But what he did there I did not know until I was in college, when they declassified that material.

I was watching Dan Rather or some talking head, and he said that the goverment had just declassified some WWII material, and they followed up with a story about Rochefort and the men in the bunker that broke the Japanese code, leading to the victory at Midway, arguably the turning point in the war.

Well the only thing that Dad ever said about his service in WWII was that he worked in a bunker at Pearl. So I put 2 and 2 together and watched this news story with my mouth wide open. dang.

As soon as the report was over, I called dad, and he said, so you were watching the news, huh? Yes, Chip, very smart guy. If I had a tenth of his brains I wouldn't be the perenially struggling washup that I am.

Anyway, he told me that it was ok to talk about it now. He had given his word as an Officer and a Gentleman never to discuss what he did in the war until it was declassified, and I'm sure it never even crossed his mind to say anything about it, even to his wife and kids, for all those years. I think it was around 1980 that I saw that news story on TV.

Typically, though, he said that all they did was run the machines, but he was a very modest fellow, and it took extraordinary intelligence to do what they did down there, not to mention putting it all together into something that the brass could swallow.

Amazing story, the story of Midway. Incredible bravery, skill, and luck, if you believe in luck.

I've seen a photo of all the guys that worked down in that bunker, all tanned and smiling, but I can't quite pick out which one is my dad, cuz they all look pretty much alike; they look like dedicated young Americans, there to do their job for their families and their country that they love.

I miss my dad. Thank God for his generation.

Sorry for the hijack, guys. Guess I got carried away.

chip · Guru

Yep gotta be somethin simple, I would get on it ASAP Frost is commin biggrin ,Aint like you dont have a back up shot gun............

Mark · Guru

I would assume it's something simple. The hammer seems to strike the firing pin off center judging by the wear marks on the hammer.. It really seem strange that I shot a box and one half of Federal ( el cheapo form WalMart) through it and it didn't have any issues. Then I switch to Remington and have these issues.. I have less than one case of rounds through this gun..

Bob · Guru

Mark,

Either take it to a good gunsmith or send it back to Browning, if you can't depend on your equipment then get it fixed or trade it for another shotgun. I wouldn't put up with that, it's a brand new shotgun!

Bob A.

chip · Guru

Jon in the late 90's we were loosing those heroes at a rate of 1000 per day,,,, I'm sure that by now they are almost all gone. When my boys were young I tried very hard to instill in them a form of respect that really can't be taught. I would take them to military funerals of desert storm and Iraqi freedom. These kids nowadays don't even put their hands on their heart for the national anthem. Half of them wont even remove their head gear. I really struggle with the reasons why it is like that. My oldest boy never met his grandfather, who was a part of it. He will do his part tho the best he can. I am not likely to let my youngest one follow him. I can't bare to have both boy's involved. I know it may sound selfish but that is how I feel. Maybe a change in commander in chief will motivate me. I saw an old man with a hat on the other day(Korean War Vet) I shook his hand, gave him a hug and thanked him for his service. That is all we can do for now. Honestly tho that is quite enough believe it or not........

-- Edited by chip on Sunday 25th of September 2011 03:25:40 PM

Mark · Guru

Bob, I will contact Browning tomorrow. You are correct; if you can't depend on your equipment, it's worthless.. I lost a few birds last week due to this problem and again this week. Nothing is more frustrating when birds are in range and "click." I'm glad no trees were close by; the gun would have a "new shape" if you know what I mean..

-- Edited by Mark on Sunday 25th of September 2011 04:45:08 PM

Mark · Guru

I took apart the gun again to see if I could see anything this morning. One thing I did noticed with the firing pin assembly. If you push the firing pin upwards and move the firing pin forward toward the "shell" / the "shoulder" (the part of the firing pin that holds the perpendicular retainer pin) stops about 2/3 of the way forward. I'm thinking that it could be the axial load produced from the hammer that pushes the firing pin upwards and forward and the shoulder gets hung up on the firing pin bore.

Would any of you Maxus guys check and see if you can reproduce this?

-- Edited by Mark on Sunday 25th of September 2011 04:46:19 PM

Mark · Guru

Got the customer service letter written and Maxus boxed up. Has anyone checked their Maxus about the firing pin?

Lone Star Phil · Senior Member

Jon:

Enjoyed your retelling of your conversation with your Dad.

Forty or so years ago I met Ensign George Gay, the sole survivor of Torpedo Squadron Eight at Midway at a non-descript veterans table at an air show at the old Millington Naval Air Station near Memphis. I knew about the role he played at Midway - the nadir of American military might in the Second World War. What a wonderful, unassuming and modest man. We spent about twenty minutes talking about his experiences that led to the death of all his squadron mates on a beautiful summer afternoon in the northern Pacific. I have his autograph.

About ten years ago I took the famility to a Military Vehicles Show here in Dallas and talked to a WWII veteran gentlemen at a non-descrpt table who was the navigator on the B-29 "Bockscar" that delivered the second atom bomb. A gentleman who clearly understood what he did and why it was necessary. It was a month before I finally figured out what was bugging me. I had just met one of the crew of the plane that represented the height of American military might in the Second World War. It was as stunning a revelation as I have ever experienced. And you couldn't have seen the difference in either man. They looked and behaved like every older gentleman.

About five years ago, Gadget Bob and I were coursing through a fine Dallas gun show when I met James Megellas, the most decorated paratrooper of the the 82nd Airborne Division in the Second World War. I had just finished reading a tome the night before about his exploits. He participated in the daylight boat assault of the Waal river at Nijmegen. This elegant, smaller-than-me, gray haired gentleman had jumped into Holland as a lieutenant with a 1911A1, a Thompson and a Springfield A4 because his MOS was 'killing Germans'. He lives here in north Texas and I'll bet you can hear them clack together when he walks!

George Gay died in the 1980's. I don't know about the navigator but I saw a picture of Megellas in a Veteran's event last Memorial Day. They're all around us but vanishing quickly.

jonthepain · Guru

Lone Star Phil wrote:
Forty or so years ago I met Ensign George Gay

I kept a newspaper clipping on my wall next to the door in my office about Ensign Gay and his story for many years. I always knew the people I would get along well with, if they stopped to read the whole thing when leaving my office

- the nadir of American military might in the Second World War.

yes, until our dive bombers showed up!

I would have loved to have met those men.

-- Edited by jonthepain on Monday 26th of September 2011 02:56:37 AM

8fishermen · Guru

My wife's grandfather was at The Battle of the Bulge. If memory serves me, he was one of 6 from his company of around 100 to make it back. Not very good odds in those times. As a Navy vet, I go out of my way to thank anyone in uniform for their service. I don't care who it is. If they are in uniform, they get a "thank you for you service". I have even started including local law enforcement, game wardens, firemen, and EMS folks. A ton of those guys are ex military and deserve a thank you also.

I will also buy their lunch if I can get away with it without them knowing who did it. smile

Thank you Chip for your service and you son as well.

Thank you to everyone on this site who has ever dawned a uniform.

Mark · Guru

I got my Maxus back from Browning on Wednesday evening..( 3 week turn around) They did not send any info on repairs, etc... They did include some info on lubrication. It appears they replaced the hammer.. I shot it three times Thursday evening and no problems.. I'm hunting crows in the morning and hope she does well..

Mark · Guru

Here's a picture of some ammo from this weekend when this problem really became evident. 4 of the shells are the Winchester 100 round "Value Pack" from Walmart number 8's. The single shell is a Remington ShurShot Heavy Field Load number 6.. None of these rounds "fired." You can see some have very slight indentations from the firing pin..

-- Edited by Mark on Tuesday 20th of November 2012 01:58:56 PM

Mark · Guru

The problem I had last year with the "soft fire / soft strike" on the firing pin is occuring again. I took the gun apart last night and it was very dirty. I had only put 250 rds thru it before it had been cleaned... I don't see anything obvious, but I'm not an expert either.. I wrote the Browning customer service department an email about this but have not received anything back yet.. This problem has costs me a lot of birds in the last two shoots.. Any of you Maxus shooters have this problem or suggestions?

Crowtec · Veteran Member

RE: Maxus ( Soft fire / soft strike) 2nd time

Mark · Guru

Crowtec, Bob A suggested the same thing last time this happened.. I would tend to say no because I can take all the unfired shells load them in my M2 Benelli and they will fire. When this event happens I can hear the hammer strike the pin with a very slight "ding" It almost sounds like the firing pin is bound up or something and not a pronouced strike one can hear when "dry fired." I did take the gun completley apart and cleaned it. It was very dirty. I had been spraying "Rem Oil" in the action and trigger group. I will reassemble it and see how it does.. I really don't like the fact I have to clean it (assuming this fixes the problem) after each shoot as I only put 7-10 boxes thru it at a time... I'm now using Winchester Brand CLR..

Redditch · Guru

I've had it happen where the primer has been indented, but not fired, or fired a second or so later.these shells always fire with a second strike. But it seemed to be restricted to two cases of No6 shot 32 gram of Spanish GB cartridges, the one case was fibre, the other plastic wadded.
I have the same make of cartridges in no4 36 gram, and never had a problem, so I take it it is just these particular batches.

Glen · Senior Member

Load 4 rds into the mag & put the gun back in the safe. Keep it this way for a few months to compress the spring a little bit. This will NOT hurt the gun or the spring. It will just break in the spring a little sooner is all. My CZ 12ga, 870 20ga & 2 Ruger semi autos were all treated this way & they have never failed me. The new gun is just tight. HTH

wingmaster · Senior Member

Just take any pump gun and be done with it lol.