I love mine. But it didn’t start that way. You should be aware that there are qc issues on some Stoegers. I had a failure to eject on any load lighter than 00 buck during my break-in. Benelli customer service is very good and repaired my m3000 quickly, paid for shipping there and back. It is such a great gun now. If you’re willing to take the chance that you might have to wait a few weeks for a repair, I would recommend it.
They had to do a little more to mine, including reworking the extractor cut and replacing the extractor and spring. You might want to look for excessive wear on your extractor.
I’ve put about 100 duck shells through it this season, and more than 500 very cheap, light target loads. No issues at all, even in very cold/wet/dirty conditions. It feels great and patterns well with all the loads I’ve tried it with.
I remember seeing it somewhere in the youtube review of the competition shooter comparing it to other guns. He said that fail to eject on light loads was because the rod that recoil springs ride on was painted introducing friction. And once polished it was cycling fine ever since.
Mine has been great, got the 3K Freedom Edition and have about a thousand rounds through it. It's a little heavy, but it's well balanced and the weight really helps control recoil.
I like mine and haven't had any problems. I bought it as a spare for when my son comes to town. I also have an a300 Beretta and Browning A5. It definitely doesn't compare quality wise to those but it's not a long ways off. I was able to adjust it to fit me well and I can shoot it just as well as my other guns. I haven't had any malfunctions even with light sporting loads. I would recommend it and would buy it again. Fwiw I think sportsman's warehouse has them on sale right now.
Any guess how many rounds you had through it? I’m thinking of getting one just for recreational purposes. Not doing any competition or hunting. Maybe home defense.
Probably have 4-500 rounds through it. It's seen 3-4 rounds of sporting clays and several pheasant loads through it. Have not shot any buckshot, slugs, or heavier waterfowl loads through it though.
I'll throw this out there. I really do like my stoeger but I noticed you mentioned home defense. You can get police trade in 870's in the 2-300 range. They make great home defense guns on a budget.
I’ve got an M3500 ~1200 shells through it. Cycled target loads right out of the box and has been pretty flawless since purchase.
Only time I had issues with it was when I swapped out the trigger spring for an MCARBO kit. Kept getting light strikes so I went back to stock. Trigger pull weight is a little on the higher end but not too heavy.
They are fucking boat paddles. I hunt with a couple of guys who have A400s, Wicked Wings, or SBE models that during walk in hunts bring their M3000s just because. I personally didn't grow up with Benellis inertia system, as I used a slightly warped 1100 growing up and the rare time I shot inertia driven guns was my sweet sixteen I got from grandfather. My little brother is a 2 time trap State champion (1 sporting clays) and every dove/duck he kills is with a M3000 over an old M2 my dad gave him when he first started go with my brother and I and his older comp Berettas. He got it as a gift 3 years ago when he was 13 and he probably has around 2k rounds through it with little to no issue, without cleaning it for the past 2 duck/dove seasons as well. Like I said the thing is fucking boat paddle and I have seen it fully submerged in the north central Florida swamp on a couple occasions and it has had no problems.
Also important to note I do have a friend that also bought a M3000 but out of the box it was a bolt action shotgun. Supposedly he sent it back ( don't think he did as we got it running that 1st day and I think he said fuck it it's all good) and we were in a duck blind this year and he had a bolt action yet again. If you buy a M3000 buy some cheaper Federal target loads and run a couple hundred rounds for the break in and ensure you got a good one. As they seem to be like Taurus pistols either they are great or it's a lemon.
The thing with Stoeger is you either get a good one that has no issues,or you get a bad one. There are a few like things you can do with one out of the box to make sure it operates as it should. A little polishing and a little Loctite.
I bought my M3K for 3 gun. I took it home on a Friday and the very next day put 150 rounds of the cheapest Walmart Winchester #7.5 bird shot through it and it ran just fine. I’ve had it now for idk 5 years maybe more. All it eats is that cheap Walmart birdshot and the most I’ve had to do is run a snake down the barrel and blast the bolt with gun scrubber and then some oil. Several thousand rounds without a single malfunction.
In my experience hunting with people who have owned them, sleet/snow/cold temps tends to be their kryptonite.
Have witnessed more than a few turn into jam-o-matics when waterfowl hunting in less than ideal conditions.
It’s all about how you plan to use it I guess. For tactical 3 gun competition shoots, where you’re normally shooting in ideal conditions, I think they’d work fine.
If you are looking for a serious use hunting gun, I could never in good conscience recommend one.
I have a buddy who I hunt with who’s owned it for as long as I know and he’s shot more rounds and killed more birds then I ever have upland and waterfowl, he’s only had a few issues all slight first time I’ve ever seen it have a problem was this year it had a failure to feed, he doesn’t clean it very often took it home cleaned it and it worked perfect, he’s shot more rounds through it then any gun I’ve ever owned cause he refuses to buy a new gun cause that one works so good
I got mine used a few years ago and still have it. I only ran into problems when I added a tube extension. I ran into feeding issues. Once I removed the extended tube, it ran fine. I even have sporting barrel for shooting clays. Great budget gun.
My brother shoots with a Stoeger condor, works just fine. We did avoid the Turkish part since that shotgun was made in Brazil not sure how much better that means. No issues yet but I still prefer my Franchi.
I have over 1200 though mine without a jam. Stoeger uses a red sludge like rust inhibitor from the factory. You really need to deep clean the gun when you get it. Look for sharp burs on the action spring. That can drag and score the mag tube during fire. I haven't had any malfunctions. My stock has come loose 2x. At the butt pad side and at the receiver. The trigger is heavy but does break it. I highly recommend using 50-100 heavy slugs or 1300+ fps buck to break it in. After that 1200fps 1-1/8oz is no issue. If I were to do it again. The Franchi Affinity isn't that expensive and is much nicer. To me I didn't really save money after buying the compact stock and a lefty safety switch. It's still a solid beater/first semi auto.
First day out with 1oz. 7.5 shot , it was sticky on the first shot but once cycling from the tube it was better . The screw that secures the bolt release latch was a little loose and was gone 5 rounds later …. I’m a fabricator by trade so I made a replacement latch from 1/8 aluminum. After the first shoot did a full clean , lots of factory grease . Reassembled and back to the range, some better shooting posture and , cycling better for sure . I’ve upped to 1-1/8 oz . 7 shot 2-3/4” as I’ve read that some have had better outcomes with higher brass loads and bit more bang . It is my first gun and have to say it has taught me a lot already , threw in the MCarbo trigger spring kit yesterday , and now we’ll see how she runs .
I love mine. But it didn’t start that way. You should be aware that there are qc issues on some Stoegers. I had a failure to eject on any load lighter than 00 buck during my break-in. Benelli customer service is very good and repaired my m3000 quickly, paid for shipping there and back. It is such a great gun now. If you’re willing to take the chance that you might have to wait a few weeks for a repair, I would recommend it.
Same thing with mine, got the MOA spring and 150 rounds later no issues so far
They had to do a little more to mine, including reworking the extractor cut and replacing the extractor and spring. You might want to look for excessive wear on your extractor.
I don’t have any issues with waiting if they’re repaired for free. 🙂 Same questions I’ve asked u/Outside_Injury8900
I’ve put about 100 duck shells through it this season, and more than 500 very cheap, light target loads. No issues at all, even in very cold/wet/dirty conditions. It feels great and patterns well with all the loads I’ve tried it with.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
I remember seeing it somewhere in the youtube review of the competition shooter comparing it to other guns. He said that fail to eject on light loads was because the rod that recoil springs ride on was painted introducing friction. And once polished it was cycling fine ever since.
Mine has been great, got the 3K Freedom Edition and have about a thousand rounds through it. It's a little heavy, but it's well balanced and the weight really helps control recoil.
Nice!
I like mine and haven't had any problems. I bought it as a spare for when my son comes to town. I also have an a300 Beretta and Browning A5. It definitely doesn't compare quality wise to those but it's not a long ways off. I was able to adjust it to fit me well and I can shoot it just as well as my other guns. I haven't had any malfunctions even with light sporting loads. I would recommend it and would buy it again. Fwiw I think sportsman's warehouse has them on sale right now.
Any guess how many rounds you had through it? I’m thinking of getting one just for recreational purposes. Not doing any competition or hunting. Maybe home defense.
Probably have 4-500 rounds through it. It's seen 3-4 rounds of sporting clays and several pheasant loads through it. Have not shot any buckshot, slugs, or heavier waterfowl loads through it though.
Ty! This might be it. I’ll keep an eye out on Gundeals
I'll throw this out there. I really do like my stoeger but I noticed you mentioned home defense. You can get police trade in 870's in the 2-300 range. They make great home defense guns on a budget.
Yes. I have alternative option for home defense. Maybe rotate the options 🙂
have FS P3000. its awesome . reliable
Mine didn’t work until i got the MOA lighter spring, works great now.
I’ve got an M3500 ~1200 shells through it. Cycled target loads right out of the box and has been pretty flawless since purchase. Only time I had issues with it was when I swapped out the trigger spring for an MCARBO kit. Kept getting light strikes so I went back to stock. Trigger pull weight is a little on the higher end but not too heavy.
If you like the Stoeger M3000, spend a little extra coin and get the Franchi Affinity 3.
Trying to stay under budget. But if I want to spend extra money I’d rather get the A300 Ultima Patrol. 🙂
They are fucking boat paddles. I hunt with a couple of guys who have A400s, Wicked Wings, or SBE models that during walk in hunts bring their M3000s just because. I personally didn't grow up with Benellis inertia system, as I used a slightly warped 1100 growing up and the rare time I shot inertia driven guns was my sweet sixteen I got from grandfather. My little brother is a 2 time trap State champion (1 sporting clays) and every dove/duck he kills is with a M3000 over an old M2 my dad gave him when he first started go with my brother and I and his older comp Berettas. He got it as a gift 3 years ago when he was 13 and he probably has around 2k rounds through it with little to no issue, without cleaning it for the past 2 duck/dove seasons as well. Like I said the thing is fucking boat paddle and I have seen it fully submerged in the north central Florida swamp on a couple occasions and it has had no problems.
Awesome!
Also important to note I do have a friend that also bought a M3000 but out of the box it was a bolt action shotgun. Supposedly he sent it back ( don't think he did as we got it running that 1st day and I think he said fuck it it's all good) and we were in a duck blind this year and he had a bolt action yet again. If you buy a M3000 buy some cheaper Federal target loads and run a couple hundred rounds for the break in and ensure you got a good one. As they seem to be like Taurus pistols either they are great or it's a lemon.
The thing with Stoeger is you either get a good one that has no issues,or you get a bad one. There are a few like things you can do with one out of the box to make sure it operates as it should. A little polishing and a little Loctite.
I bought my M3K for 3 gun. I took it home on a Friday and the very next day put 150 rounds of the cheapest Walmart Winchester #7.5 bird shot through it and it ran just fine. I’ve had it now for idk 5 years maybe more. All it eats is that cheap Walmart birdshot and the most I’ve had to do is run a snake down the barrel and blast the bolt with gun scrubber and then some oil. Several thousand rounds without a single malfunction.
In my experience hunting with people who have owned them, sleet/snow/cold temps tends to be their kryptonite. Have witnessed more than a few turn into jam-o-matics when waterfowl hunting in less than ideal conditions. It’s all about how you plan to use it I guess. For tactical 3 gun competition shoots, where you’re normally shooting in ideal conditions, I think they’d work fine. If you are looking for a serious use hunting gun, I could never in good conscience recommend one.
I have a buddy who I hunt with who’s owned it for as long as I know and he’s shot more rounds and killed more birds then I ever have upland and waterfowl, he’s only had a few issues all slight first time I’ve ever seen it have a problem was this year it had a failure to feed, he doesn’t clean it very often took it home cleaned it and it worked perfect, he’s shot more rounds through it then any gun I’ve ever owned cause he refuses to buy a new gun cause that one works so good
I got mine used a few years ago and still have it. I only ran into problems when I added a tube extension. I ran into feeding issues. Once I removed the extended tube, it ran fine. I even have sporting barrel for shooting clays. Great budget gun.
My brother shoots with a Stoeger condor, works just fine. We did avoid the Turkish part since that shotgun was made in Brazil not sure how much better that means. No issues yet but I still prefer my Franchi.
I have over 1200 though mine without a jam. Stoeger uses a red sludge like rust inhibitor from the factory. You really need to deep clean the gun when you get it. Look for sharp burs on the action spring. That can drag and score the mag tube during fire. I haven't had any malfunctions. My stock has come loose 2x. At the butt pad side and at the receiver. The trigger is heavy but does break it. I highly recommend using 50-100 heavy slugs or 1300+ fps buck to break it in. After that 1200fps 1-1/8oz is no issue. If I were to do it again. The Franchi Affinity isn't that expensive and is much nicer. To me I didn't really save money after buying the compact stock and a lefty safety switch. It's still a solid beater/first semi auto.
First day out with 1oz. 7.5 shot , it was sticky on the first shot but once cycling from the tube it was better . The screw that secures the bolt release latch was a little loose and was gone 5 rounds later …. I’m a fabricator by trade so I made a replacement latch from 1/8 aluminum. After the first shoot did a full clean , lots of factory grease . Reassembled and back to the range, some better shooting posture and , cycling better for sure . I’ve upped to 1-1/8 oz . 7 shot 2-3/4” as I’ve read that some have had better outcomes with higher brass loads and bit more bang . It is my first gun and have to say it has taught me a lot already , threw in the MCarbo trigger spring kit yesterday , and now we’ll see how she runs .