I bought a used one last year. Although I didn't shoot it a great deal, I had NO problems with it when I did. I only shot 3.5" shells through it. Recoil isn't bad. It is a little heavy but it is supposed to be being a 3.5" gun. Mine has a 28" barrel. If I were buying it new, I would have gotten a 26". Basically it is the same gun as the Browning Gold but less expensive. It also doesn't have the magazine cut-off that the Browning has. But from what my gunsmith told me, people are having trouble with the Gold BECAUSE of the mag cut-off. The SX2s are more reliable because they DON'T have the mag cut-off. I think you will be pleased with it.