3 Gun shotgun recommendations?
- Thread starter LowLead
- Start date
Why would anyone pick an M2 over a SBE II? I also can't figure out, Why it's deemed that it has to be a compromise for someone to use a hunting gun for 3 gun?
I've seen both of these things written multiple times and I can't wrap my head around it for the life of me.
I've seen both of these things written multiple times and I can't wrap my head around it for the life of me.
Rickster66
Regular
- Location
- Montreal, Quebec
I'd recommend the Stoeger M3K as a good starter semi-auto. Already has a lot of the mods 3-gunners want - larger port, larger charging handle and larger bolt release. It also comes pre-threaded with 3 chokes. Retails for around $750-$800. I bought one recently after looking at the Versamax tactical, Beretta 1301 and Moss 930. It had the most features I wanted at a reasonable cost. The others may be better but at my stage of skills, I don't think I'd be able to tell. Prior to going semi auto I used a Mossberg 590A1 20" with 9-shot tube capacity - solidly built and reliable. The only think I had to do was to have the barrel threaded for chokes.
Ontario Action Shooting
Member
- Location
- Southern Ontario
You can use a hunting gun for 3 gun. You just won't be as competitive. The modifications that are required (and sooner or later you will want to do) to make it a good gun for 3 gun are not the best for the field.
prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
versamax. simply for the reliability and utter lack of recoil that the inertia guns cant touch.
Being close to upgrading my 3-gun shotgun, and narrowing the possibilities to semi auto that are stamped for 3.5 inch that can have an extension added to get to the 7+1 or 8+1 x 2 3/4, what is the list that offers this?
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sly mantis
CGN Regular
Remington Versamax
Stoeger M3500
Benelli SBEII
I think there is a version of the Browning A5 stalker with a 3.5" chamber as well.
It also depends on the division you want to run in. Practical division has no mags for SG. Loading from a mag will put you in open/unlimited division. Which by itself does not mean a lot. But in Canada, you can have 10 round+ mags for pump SG's. At a match last weekend, given our course of fire, feeding a 10 shot mag through a pump shaved off 10+ seconds when compared to quad-loading semi with a tube. So, there is one more thing to consider. For 3g especially, I would advocate for chokes. Sometimes the steel is very stubborn and does not want to fall. Switching chokes, or going with heavy field loads (#4 hi-brass) or both, will knock stubborn steel down. You can't switch chokes mid-way through a stage (well, you could but there goes your time), but it is nice to not go first and watch and learn how the targets are reacting to other's equipment.
I love my versamax. I had a 930. It was great. It did not like steel ammo when I took it to the duck ponds. There is a company in Oregon that has a fix for the fussy cycling that a 930 can have. But either way, I'd say stick with mossberg for shotguns, with the tang safety, or remington's/benelli's/fn etc with the trigger guard safety. I'd say do not mix tang safety's and trigger safety's. My pump is a 590, and it is weird when I go from the VM to the 590 when it comes to operating the safety.
For a long time I had been wanting the VersaMax but recently I have changed and am now leaning towards the Stoeger m3500.
Anyone have experience running an m3500 in competition?
What would the pos/cons of the versamax vs m3500??
jay, there are multiple m3500's around here. None work properly. One doesn't cycle light slugs (which is what we want to shoot b/c cheap and low recoil) and also its hammer follows; the rest don't cycle target loads. Everyone that bought one has either replaced with with something else or is shopping for something else.
The VersaMax is nice. Very happy with mine.
I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think you can get 8x 2.75" shells and be legal on not holding 6x 3.5". Personally mine is set for 7x 2.75". Plus ghost and chamber for 9 max start.
The VersaMax is nice. Very happy with mine.
I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think you can get 8x 2.75" shells and be legal on not holding 6x 3.5". Personally mine is set for 7x 2.75". Plus ghost and chamber for 9 max start.
Pretty much impossible to switch chokes mid stage without being DQ'd for sweeping yourself.
Horse, can you describe the shotgun portion of that stage? I think you might be underestimating how quickly quad loads done well and shooting a semi can be. Sounds like a challenge!
This suprises me.......Other than the price difference the reason I was leaning towards the m3500 was that I have been reading a lot of reviews and watching reviews of the m3500 and they have been overwhelmingly positive when the owner has stripped the gun after purchase gave it a thorough cleaning and lubrication and then broke it in properly by running a few boxes of 3 or 3.5 inch through before trying 2.75 (and not shooting the wall-mart Winchester).
The m2000 on the other-hand seemed to be a huge disappointment.
mebiuspower
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Morontario
I keep reading this but these Russians don't have problem with theirs...
I suppose they're like 1911 race guns... you need to find the right gunsmith to tune them.
My experience has been positive. All it needs is to open up the loading port (not difficult, plenty of how-to video's on youtube) and a magazine extension (now widely available, S&J has one, mine is Nordic) and you are good to go, don't need a welded up lifter or anything else. After break-in is has been very reliable with 1 1/8 oz shells and I don't use reduced power slugs (never tried it, accurate with full power slugs and wasn't worth experimenting for the few slug shots in a match).
I am not sure that it offers anything that a pricier shotgun doesn't, except less $$$. If you are filing out your own loading port, it is less money if you screw up which was my main motivation. If you swap out the magazine extension for the regular magazine end cap (and 2 round blocking stick), you can take it out to the field as a regular shotgun and it doesn't look weird.
- Location
- Republic of Alberta
Which Crappy Tire was this?
Cold Lake, Alberta.
However, an update to the barrel. I shipped Tac Ord the barrel and they could not cut it down because the barrel was to thin to thread for new chokes.
So, now I just run it with the 28" barrel. I am still happy with it and will just run it this way.
Contact Select Shooting Supplies to see if he has any of the Stoeger M3K left.
Other than adding an extension tube, they are pretty much ready to go having an opened loading port, and all the oversize controls from the factory.
I think they are 24" barrels
Other than adding an extension tube, they are pretty much ready to go having an opened loading port, and all the oversize controls from the factory.
I think they are 24" barrels
3.5" X 5= 17.5"....plus another 3.25 " In the tube (so as to load 5, but not quite 6 of 3.5")..= 20.75" tube space...SO,,,8 x 2.75" = 22",..NO GO..... ...2.75X 7= 19.25" ..good to go.
I have a versamax tactical chambered in 3"...I can hold 6 X 2.75 in tube...but not quite 7. I blocked it to hold 5 of 3'' + about 2.5" gives me enough room to hold 6 x 2.75". + ghost load + 1 chambered to start with 8rds. I won't shoot much 3 gun..so it was a good deal as CT in riverview had them at $1130 taxes in for the tactical. (they were at 25% off the lowest price). 22" barrel.
I know..>I am 1 rd short to compete with the 3.5" chambered units...but this tactical was good to go out of box with all the cool stuff...(needed a new tube as the other was trash).
