Winchester SX4: A Shotgun For Everyone

Pump-action shotguns aren’t for everyone. As reliable and functional as our prized SXP models are, many shotgunners prefer semi-automatic scatterguns.

The excellent thing about a semi-automatic is its self-reloading design. All the shooter has to do is stay in the gun, swing through targets, and pull the trigger. Each time the trigger is pulled, the Active Valve Gas System, in the case of the SX4, automatically self-adjusts the exact gas pressure necessary to cycle a wide range of loads. When the shotgun thunders, the Active Valve Gas System pushes the bolt backward, ejecting the spent shotshell and grabbing the next as it moves back into its forward position.

Those who shoulder the SX4 for upland, waterfowl, turkey, deer, clay busting, etc., know the effectiveness of the Active Valve Gas System.

Sometimes called the Super X4, the SX4 and its 25 variations are coveted by the shotgun-loving masses. Winchester Repeating Arms’ 4th SX Generation model, the SX4, was officially launched at the 2017 SHOT Show. Since that launch, the legacy of the SX4 continues to grow. 

If you’re in the market for a reliable semi-automatic shotgun that doesn’t break the bank, the SX4 is for you. The only question you need to ask is: What SX4 model is right for me?

Here we go!

Available in left- and right-handed makes, in 20- and 12-gauge models, in barrel lengths of 24, 26, and 28 inches, Winchester Repeating Arms’ SX4 Universal Hunter could be the last semi-automatic shotgun you’ll ever need. The drilled and tapped alloy receiver with Picatinny rail makes optic mounting a breeze if longbeards are the to-hunt list, and if not, remove the optic and the rail and use the LPA fiber-optic front sight to fill limits of everything from doves to ducks to hard-flushing roosters.

The SX4 Universal Hunter models come cloaked in Mossy Oak® Bottomland® camo. Included spacers allow easy length-of-pull adjustment. The shotgun comes with Extra Full, Full, Modified, and Improved Cylinder Invector-Plus chokes for added hunt versatility. The Drop-Out Trigger Group makes these shotguns a breeze to clean. Sporting improved ergonomics that include a rounded radius grip and textured gripping surfaces, the Universal Hunter is ready when you are.

Made for hellish days afield in the mud, muck, and cold, Winchester Repeating Arms’ SX4 Waterfowl Hunter Compact, Waterfowl Hunter, and Left-Hand Waterfowl Hunter give you fowl-dominating options.

The SX4 Waterfowl Hunter Compact is ideal for smaller-framed shooters. The shortened synthetic stock features a 13-inch length of pull, and the Pachmayr® Decelerator® recoil pad soaks up recoil like sponge. The SX4 Waterfowl Hunter Compact is available in 20- and 12-gauge models in barrel lengths of 24, 26, and 28 inches.

Winchester Repeating Arms’ Waterfowl Hunter and Left Hand Waterfowl Hunter use the tried-and-true Active Valve Gas Operating System, which has undergone many tweaks and improvements over the years to ensure no-jamming, fast-action shooting. The TRUGLO® fiber-optic sight stands out in low light, and the Inflex Technology recoil pad works in harmony with the Active Valve system to reduce recoil, even when you’re loading the SX4 Waterfowl Hunter 12 with 3-1/2-inch goose killers.

Successful upland hunting is all about getting the shotgun to the shoulder quickly and cleanly, so you can acquire the fast-flushing target and swing to and through that target. Good news: That’s precisely what Winchester Repeating Arms designed the SX4 Upland Field to do. With improved ergonomics and larger operating controls, this stylish matte nickel-plated receiver with engraved upland scene 12-gauge 3-inch chamber shotgun features a satin varnish finish Grade II/III walnut stock. The SX4 Upland Field comes with three Invector-Plus chokes and a TRUGLO fiber-optic sight atop a ventilated rib.

The SX4 Field and SX4 Field Left-Hand showcase a nostalgic satin oil finish walnut stock with classic cut checkering that makes both models jump off the shelf. The matte black receiver reduces shine, and the lightweight aluminum alloy reduces carry weight for those long days afield when its miles, not yards, between birds. Like the SX4 Upland Field, Field models include larger operating controls, a spring-loaded ejector, and reversible crossbolt safety.

Featuring a short 13-inch length of pull, the SX4 Compact with TRUGLO front sight and larger safety button, bolt handle, and bolt release button is the perfect all-around choice for smaller-framed shooters.

The SX4 is a best seller with a black synthetic stock with Inflex recoil pad and TRUGLO front sight won’t win any beauty contests, but it will dominate the fields and waters. Available in Right- and Left-Hand models, the SX4’s all-black exterior reduces shine and hides nicks, dings, and scratches that are sure to occur when you put these shotguns to what Winchester Repeating Arms designed them for, WORK!

Like all SX4 models, these feature the self-adjusting Active Valve system, hardened chamber and bore, drop-out trigger group, and reversible crossbolt safety.

Engineered to jelly heads, the SX4 Long Beard wears a pistol-grip stock with interchangeable high and low combs, so regardless of whether you add an optic to the Weaver-style cantilever rail optics mount or stay with the TRUGLO fiber-optic front sight with adjustable rear sight, your eye-to-sight alignment will be exact. Quadra-Vent ports expel excess gases for cleaner operation, and the Invector-Plus Extra-Full Extended Turkey choke tube will help you reach out and touch a hung-up tom.

An extremely versatile shotgun, Winchester's SX4 Defender comes in a 12-gauge, 18-1/2-inch barrel 3-inch chamber option to ensure maximum control and handling in tight spaces. Whether you’re running a 3-gun course, working to bust a longbeard, or focused on home defense, this LPA front sight and rear ghost sight ring shotgun with Picatinny optics rail checks all the boxes.

Available in multiple camo options and basic black, the SX4 Hybrid Hunter comes in 20- and 12-gauge makes. Crafted by Winchester Repeating Arms to conquer any hunting environment imaginable, the metal bits receive a Cerakote Flat Dark Earth (FDE) finish that prevents shine and damage from the elements. Several camo finish options are offered for the stock to fit into your hunting environment. 

Don’t worry, we didn’t forget all you whitetail hunters out there. Our SX4 Cantilever Buck, available in 20- and 12-gauge models with a 3-inch chamber and 22-inch barrel, is a dedicated slug gun. The all-black synthetic stock with improved ergonomics and lightweight matte black receiver makes the SX4 Cantilever Buck a joy to shoot and tote. A Weaver-style cantilever rail makes optic attachment a breeze, and the self-adjusting Active Valve system will cycle a wide variety of loads while reducing felt recoil.

Don’t take our word for it. Head to your local Winchester Repeating Arms dealer to view, hold, shoulder, etc., the Winchester SX4 model you feel is right for you. Honestly, you can’t go wrong, and chances are good that once you invest in an SX4, you will grow the family with another. Enjoy, we built them for YOU!