Browning Cynergy Opinions?

T

Tom Roberts

Well-known member
I've got a slightly used (like new)12ga Browning Cynergy in shadow grass blades camo on order. I've always liked the looks of them even though some may not agree with me on their looks. I've used lots of different side by sides and over/unders over the years but never felt really comfortable subjecting them to the harshness of duck boats, duck blinds, and duck hunting. I've been using a new A5 that's real nice and fun to shoot but wanted to experience/relive the joy of hunting with a double gun. The Cynergy might fit the bill with its weather protective coating. Anybody using one or have any experience with one?
 
I enjoy mine a lot. It shoots well and I have no issues with recoil.

I also shoot a browning gold. I will say that I do miss the 3rd shot at times when using the cynergy. On the other hand I love going to the skeet field or shooting sporting clays and not worrying about cleaning my shotgun. The gold need cleaning every 200 rounds. The Cynergy can go until I shoot in the rain or snow.

Don't fool yourself about the weather protective coating. I coats much but not all of the gun. If you do not clean your gun after weather you will get rust. I would also say cleaning after exposure to salt water air.
 
I share David’s comments. Picked up a lightly used Cynergy in Realmax 5 this year because having 2 barrels that go bang when I pull the trigger is better than a 3 shot semi (Gold or SuperVinci) that may or may may not. Also since it has a protective coating I am using it for our weekly Skeet shoots during the winter without worrying about what snow will do to the finish.

I don’t plan on using 3 1/2” loads for geese through it very much because of the recoil. For those I will use the Gold, SuperVinci, or better yet switch to my Gold 10 ga.
 
The problem with over/unders is breaking it open to load, it needs a lot of room to drop down for access,
you don't want to be swinging it into the boat to open and load for safety reasons.

If you want a double a SXS takes much less to open and load it.
 
Thanks Geo......Do you have any recommendations on a modern sxs that doesn't cost an arm and leg and can shoot modern hot steel loads?
 
No Tom, I don't like SXS's myself,I could never get used to them.
Rich Gemenski should have a good idea what would be good for you,
There are some fairly cheap SXS out there if you look around.

good luck
 
Tom

I don't own one but while having my son's Citori worked on the gunsmith said he was glad it wasn't a Cynergy. He stated, and I've heard it from others as well, that they are a very difficult gun to service as the design makes unnecessarily hard to get to the firing mechanism. So with that said be aware servicing the gun may prove problematic.
 
Tom Roberts said:
Thanks Geo......Do you have any recommendations on a modern sxs that doesn't cost an arm and leg and can shoot modern hot steel loads?
Click to expand...

Stoeger makes a side by side (also over under) called the "longfowler". I have no experience with it or the brand though. I think they are about $500ish new.
 
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I have a 28 ga. That I use quite a bit upland hunting and it performs well,for the ocean I use model12's,101 Waterfowl 3" , model 97 winchester, Beretta 391 , mossberg 935 camo they all perform great,plenty of ZEP 45 or WD!
 
Tom,
I have shot a Cynergy for the last 8 seasons. It comes out of case before the hunt and back in case after the hunt, at the end of the season i clean barrels and lightly oil it before putting it into gun safe. Every time i pull the trigger it shoots. In 8 seasons if have had it cleaned/serviced once and it hasn't failed me yet. This season i picked up an A5 mainly because of the 3rd shot but still regularly shoot the double gun especially on wood duck shoots. When shooting magnum 3.5 in rounds recoil is noticeable but very tolerable. I have not had any issues/concerns with reloading safely in tight spaces, either in 2 man boats or tight bush blinds although i hunt with experienced/safety minded guys. I also love the ability to shoot 2 different chokes, Light modified first then Improved modified. It shows some wear and slight rust as to be expected with a dedicated duck gun but that is what it was bought for. I think you will be very satisfied. My only complaint is that it does not have anywhere to mount a sling so i carry it in a case with a sling. The fact of only having 2 shots will greatly improve your shot to kill ratio as you will take more time with the 2 shots you have. As stated before i think you will be very pleased with your purchase and happy gunning!
 
Thanks Daniel.......I haven't regularly shot an O/U since I use to shoot an Ithaca 500 mag. It was a nice gun but I bought it from a trap shooter who had shot thousands of rounds through it. When I retired it, it was getting a little loose in the action causing the ejectors to not work properly. My gunsmith thinks he can tighten it back up and if he does I might look around for a replacement stock. Anyway, I'm looking forward to using the Cynergy in addition to my A5. I may have a hard time not using the Cynergy all the time. I wish Browning would come out with a new SXS like the old BSS's that can handle modern loads. If so, I might end up selling the A5 and alternating O/U and SXS. Nothing like the feel and nostalgia of shooting/hunting with doubles!
 
I had one and with the heavy loads it takes to kill and ducks the recoil is pretty stiff !!
after a day of shooting you might think the waterfowl won the battle. LOL !!
 
Hi Dean.....I usually don't worry about recoil when duck hunting. I usually have layered clothing and jacket(s) that absorb most of the recoil. Now I do remember a time I use to use a Zoli 12g mag SXS with no recoil pad that would beat me up in the early part of the season when I was dressing lightly for warmer weather. I remember one season I always sat on the left side of the blind and the ducks would come in hard extreme left forcing me to contort myself and position my gun almost on my right bisep in order to get off a shot.It used to leave some hellacious bruises on my shoulder and upper arm! LOL [pirate]
 
I finally got in a couple of hunts with my Cynergy. WOW! I love the gun! It reminded me of when I had a Superpose Mag that I was afraid to use steel with but had a natural feel on the shoulder and natural sighting plane view as well. I shot a couple of doubles with it and knocked down several singles. The low profile of the receiver and rib has a very nice feel to it. If they made a 20 ga camo version of this gun I would pick one up for a companion to my 12ga.
 
Tom,

Thanks for the update. I have always liked the looks of the Cynergy, heard those who shoot it like. You just confirmed that. I am partial to shooting O/U's, so I may add one to the gun cabinet one day.

Tom
 
Tom

I heard nothing but good things about your gun. I've been a browning user most of my life (58 yrs old). I use a Browning gold 10 ga for ducks and geese. In colder weather I use my browning bps 10ga mag. I love the guns and enjoy Browning products. Its true they can be hard to work on. That is why when the time comes to have it worked on or fixed. Find a browning gunsmith. Or do as I have done in the pasted. Send it to Browning and they will take care of your gun the right way. To many times I have had my guns worked on by so called gunsmiths. When I finally got the gun back it was worse off then when I sent it in. All gunsmiths aren't the same. Do your homework and you'll have good luck with your gun.

Anthony
 
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