If you get a Gold, stay away from the 3.5" gun....they are too problematic.
On the other hand, my 3" Gold has given me 12 nearly flawless seasons and is my go-to duck gun. The few issues I've had with it were user-caused and I've long since learned how to keep it cycling perfectly. It fits me well, and the balance is so good that I bought a Gold Sporting Golden Clays as a Christmas gift to myself, to use as my sporting/skeet gun. Love those Golds.
Wish I could give you a comparison with the Maxus, but I've never shot one.

 

What issues did the 3.5 have? I very rarely shoot 3.5 shells, but I would the option too...

 

You have me scared now. I just bought a 3.5 gold off of gunbroker. I'll let you know how it turns out once it finally gets here

 

You have me scared now. I just bought a 3.5 gold off of gunbroker. I'll let you know how it turns out once it finally gets here

Keep me posted for sure. What exactly did you get and how much was it?

 

I have both the Gold in 3 1/2" 28" and a Maxus in 3" with the Carbon Fiber 30" barrel . All I can say is , I've been shooting the
Gold for 6 1/2 years , with NO problems . I've had it up in Canada in Cold Counrty and in the Mud along the river . By keeping
it clean and shooting Kent shells , I like the gun . The Maxus is differant , Lighter but , very fast opperating . I didn't care for
its weight so , I put 8 oz of sheet lead between the stock spacer and the stock nut . I've hunted with it and shot Sporting Clays
with success . Once I got it to fit me , I'm very comfortable with very little recoil and it's , eazier to clean than the Gold .

 

You have me scared now. I just bought a 3.5 gold off of gunbroker. I'll let you know how it turns out once it finally gets here

Keep me posted for sure. What exactly did you get and how much was it?

pm sent

 

i know of at least a half dozen gold 3.5s that run perfectly and none of them are kept all that clean(i know i periodically tear em down and clean them).

 

In 2001 me and 8 of my buddies bought 3.5" golds and as of today 2 of them are still in service. Mine and the other have been and still are torn down and cleaned after every use. The others were cleaned every so often. 3 of the broken ones the bolt wedged into the barrel and cracked it, the other three the receiver cracked and the bolt was ripped off the guide rails. Love mine very smooth but I also have a Maxxus and its my fav now. The gold is a tad more smoother because of the weight but not that noticeable.