If you were going to buy a Browning semi-auto A5, Maxus, or Silver for birds and some casual clay shooting which would you buy and why?

The A5 is recoil operated and the other two are gas operated.

Maxus

I bought a silver hunter and love it.

I'm also a fan of the A-5

For a dove/quail/clay gun I would go with a silver hunter in 20 gauge for a do-all shotgun any of them will work.

I don't think it ultimately matters between the silver hunter and maxus. That said I love how easy the maxus is the operate and disassemble. Not the biggest advantage but much cooler feature than I have it credit for before purchasing one.

I bought an A5 about a month ago and have shot 750 shells through it so far. Best pointing shotgun I have ever shot. Have not had any issues with it so far shooting 1 1/4 oz 8 shot. I took off the white center bead, but that's just a personal preference thing.

The Maxus is a beautiful gun, but personally I like the way the Silver Hunter looks and feels. I like the cheek weld and sharper transition at the top of the receiver. In general, gas guns will recoil less as well.

I bought the Silver "Micro Midas" 20ga for my son and I love to shoot it! Eventually will get the standard length stock when he is bigger. Then again I have not tried the other ones you mention so I don't have a comparison point.

I've got the silver hunter and new A5.

Silver for dove and A5 for ducks.

I've had the silver for probably over 10 years and couldn't tell you how many shells I've put down it. The sucker is flat out reliable and shoots any shell I've put down it flawlessly.

I got the A5 last year and really like the way it feels. It shoulders great and I love the crisp shooting feel of the inertia/kinetic action. Time will tell if it's as reliable as my silver.

The Maxus, silver and SX3 are pretty much the same gun with small differences and cosmetic differences.

I like my A5. Has performed well with no malfunctions. Also very easy to take apart and clean. It really boils down to which one fits you.

The A5 is not recoil operated. It looks like the auto 5 and points like it but does not kick like it even with heavy steel loads. Love mine.

The fake A5 is a recoil/inertia action.. Basic clone of benelli

Original real A5 is a long recoil... Barrel moves

It is recoil operated. I notice a difference in recoil vs gas operated guns. The extra kick does not bother me though.

One of the guys I hunt with regularly has the Beretta A400 Xtreme. I've shot it a bunch and the recoil is substantially lighter but I don't like the feel of it. I don't mind the little punch in the shoulder of the A5 because it's feels fast and crisp when shooting it.

All 3 are quality guns, the silver and A-5 fit me a little better.

I have a Maxus and an SX3, used to own a Silver. Quality wise it is a wash. I shoot the SX3 because it fits me better than my Maxus, so my son shoots the Maxus. In my experience the new A5 recoils considerably more than the others so isn't a consideration for me. I would purchase the one that fits the best, you will be more accurate with it.

A5! It will get the job done come hell or high water. I have the 3" hunter version and hope to buy a 3.5" camo model before duck season.