Browning Maxus
- Category
- Shotgun
- Barrel
- 711 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.17 kg
- Introduced
- 2009
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Browning Maxus is a 12-gauge gas-operated semi-automatic shotgun introduced in 2009 as Browning's flagship autoloader, and updated as the Maxus II in 2021. Despite the name's family resemblance to historic inertia-driven Browning shotguns, the Maxus is purely gas-operated, employing the proprietary Power Drive Gas System with an oversized exhaust port and gas piston designed to reliably cycle everything from light 2-3/4 inch target loads to heavy 3-1/2 inch waterfowl shells without adjustment. The Maxus is engineered for shooters who want a soft-recoiling, fast-cycling autoloader that handles the punishing 12/89 (3-1/2 inch) magnum loads favored by waterfowl hunters. Key features include the SpeedLoad Plus magazine system that automatically chambers the first shell loaded into the magazine tube, a SpeedLock forearm latch that allows tool-less takedown, a Lightning Trigger with a clean 3.75-pound break, and Invector-Plus choke tubes. Recoil management is handled by Browning's Inflex recoil pad and SoftFlex cheekpiece, which together cut felt recoil substantially. The Maxus II refresh added improved ergonomics, a new Cerakote Burnt Bronze finish option, an improved trigger guard, and updated stock geometry. Available in classic walnut, synthetic black, several Mossy Oak camouflage patterns, and a competition-focused Sporting Carbon Fiber model.
When Browning launched the Maxus in 2009 it claimed the Power Drive Gas System cut felt recoil by up to 18 percent over comparable autoloaders, a claim derived in part from running the system 1500 rounds without cleaning during development. The shotgun became a fixture in waterfowl blinds where the ability to digest 3-1/2 inch magnum loads while still cycling light dove loads is rare and prized.
The Maxus uses a true gas-piston operating system, not an inertia system. The Maxus II appeared at SHOT Show 2021 as the successor to the original Maxus while retaining the same Power Drive Gas System. Magazine capacity is 4+1 with 12/70 cartridges. Chamber options include 12/76 (3 inch) and 12/89 (3.5 inch). Manufactured at FN Herstal in Belgium for Browning, with assembly and final finishing depending on model.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Browning Arms Company
- Category
- Shotgun
- Country
- Belgium
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2009
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 711 mm
- Overall length
- 1200 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.17 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated short stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 4
- Magazine
- Tube
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Cerakote burnt bronze
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 396 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 2510 J
- Effective range
- 50 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
No load solved for this record yetThe flight path is computed from a cartridge and a bullet. This record has no ammunition filed against its chambering, so there is nothing to solve.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
- Power drive gas system
- Speed load plus
Speed lock forearm
Lightning trigger
Invector plus choke tubes
Softflex recoil pad
Inflex recoil system
Hammer forged chrome lined barrel
Nickel teflon bolt
Vented top rib
Ivory front bead
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 622 12 Gauge shotguns | 3.17 kg | 3.29 kg | Lighter than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 570 12 Gauge shotguns | 1200 mm | 1150 mm | Longer than about 70% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 650 12 Gauge shotguns | 711 mm | 711 mm | Longer than about 60% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 647 12 Gauge shotguns | 4 | 3 | Holds more rounds than about 60% |
Answers
Questions about the Browning Maxus
How much does the Browning Maxus weigh?
The Browning Maxus weighs 3.17 kg (7.00 lb) empty.
What caliber is the Browning Maxus?
The Browning Maxus is chambered in 12 Gauge.
How many rounds does the Browning Maxus hold?
The Browning Maxus holds 4 rounds, fed from a tube magazine.
How long is the Browning Maxus?
The Browning Maxus is 1200 mm (47.2 in) long overall, with a 711 mm (28.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the Browning Maxus?
The Browning Maxus is made by Browning Arms Company (United States).
When was the Browning Maxus introduced?
The Browning Maxus was introduced in 2009.
How does the Browning Maxus operate?
The Browning Maxus uses a gas operated short stroke action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Civilian Market
- 2009
Provenance
Confidence in this record
78%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/browning-maxus' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "browning-maxus", "name": "Browning Maxus", "manufacturer": { "id": "browning", "name": "Browning Arms Company", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 1878, "website": "https://www.browning.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:43:43", "version": "5d8cf4fb4b938ebaed9e76da3c57ad4cd9f27d22ee35d8b2265942435fbb875c" }, "category": { "id": "shotgun", "name": "Shotgun", "description": "Smoothbore firearms designed to fire shot or slugs" }, "country_of_origin": "BE", "year_introduced": 2009, "barrel_length_mm": 711, "weight_empty_g": 3175, "action_type": "gas_operated_short_stroke"}