Stoeger 3500 for 3 Gun

H

Happypillz

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
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Its a nice looking shotty for the price. I'd love to get a Versa Max but 1800 bucks is a bit much.
Any one have experience with it?
 
We've already established that its some sort of rottweiler hybrid.
Already committed to memory, too late to change it.
 
I have no comment on hybrid legless dogs, but I did sleep in a Holiday Inn.

I also used my barely broken in Stoeger M3500 at the Redneck 3gun in Lone Butte this weekend, and it ran very well, considering the barely-broken-in part. Got the gun from Wanstalls, great to deal with as always. The first thing I did was disassemble it and dump boiling water all over it to rid it of the cosmo-like grease it ships with (Turkey grease?). Second was polish the mag tube where the recoil spring rides, first with 400 grit, then 600, then crocus cloth to smooth out the very slight chatter on the tube; helps the action run easier, and quieter. Next I attacked the loading port as it's rather sharp edged (lots of videos on Utube, Jesse Tischauser has a good trilogy). I skipped the paltry dremel and went right to my belt sander, but I'm very used to running one, not recommended by anyone to try this at home.
The safety is ridiculously stiff. The internet is never wrong, so I chopped two coils off the safety spring, and now it's perfect. Getting the spring back in is an exercise in patience though.
With a Nordic extension, I can fit 8+1 (+1 if you wish) 2 3/4 shells in...but this gets a little weird. Took the original mag plug, and cut it down inside the Nordic tube until I could fit 5.9 3 1/2" Winchester cheapies into it...basically having the brass of the hull hanging out the mag tube. Good start, yes? Yes! I could now fit eight 1 ounce Challenger shells into it, with a 1/4" of wiggle room. Perfect. Off to the range. Shot off about 50 of the things, no problems. Try low recoil slugs...oops, single shot shotgun. OK, full power slugs no problem, but they're longer than the Challenger shells, so only seven in the tube. No biggy, I am now ready for te 3gunz.

Off to Lone Butte (amazing match as always, thank you to the sponsors, the Brians, the Fire Department, the ROs...trying to get a video together.).
First stage, my rotty-shotty shih-tzus the bed. Not ejecting. Assuming underpowered rounds for a basically brand new inertia gun with monster springs, I was lucky enough to have a friend get ahold of Lone Butte Sporting Goods and secured a case of 3 dram equivalent Federal rounds. Great! Moar power! Not so great, slightly longer shell means she's now a 7+1. Grrr. Ah well, can't really blame the gun.

Rest of the match she ran fine, very soft shooter, points very well for me. Fibre optic bead is kinda pooh, doesn't gather much light, going to replace methinks. Also going to grind 1/2 a coil off the (very stout) hammer spring, as I'm never going to fire full boat turkey loads through this thing, and that should fix the "problem" of not being 100% with the lightest 2 3/4 loads I could find:). Hopefully will allow me to fire low recoil slugs as well.

Oh, talking to other Stoeger shooters at the match (there were several), they all(?) run Score brand shells without a problem, but I was too stupid to ask for one to compare lengths.

Hope this helps!
 
smelly pete said:
I have no comment on hybrid legless dogs, but I did sleep in a Holiday Inn.

I also used my barely broken in Stoeger M3500 at the Redneck 3gun in Lone Butte this weekend, and it ran very well, considering the barely-broken-in part. Got the gun from Wanstalls, great to deal with as always. The first thing I did was disassemble it and dump boiling water all over it to rid it of the cosmo-like grease it ships with (Turkey grease?). Second was polish the mag tube where the recoil spring rides, first with 400 grit, then 600, then crocus cloth to smooth out the very slight chatter on the tube; helps the action run easier, and quieter. Next I attacked the loading port as it's rather sharp edged (lots of videos on Utube, Jesse Tischauser has a good trilogy). I skipped the paltry dremel and went right to my belt sander, but I'm very used to running one, not recommended by anyone to try this at home.
The safety is ridiculously stiff. The internet is never wrong, so I chopped two coils off the safety spring, and now it's perfect. Getting the spring back in is an exercise in patience though.
With a Nordic extension, I can fit 8+1 (+1 if you wish) 2 3/4 shells in...but this gets a little weird. Took the original mag plug, and cut it down inside the Nordic tube until I could fit 5.9 3 1/2" Winchester cheapies into it...basically having the brass of the hull hanging out the mag tube. Good start, yes? Yes! I could now fit eight 1 ounce Challenger shells into it, with a 1/4" of wiggle room. Perfect. Off to the range. Shot off about 50 of the things, no problems. Try low recoil slugs...oops, single shot shotgun. OK, full power slugs no problem, but they're longer than the Challenger shells, so only seven in the tube. No biggy, I am now ready for te 3gunz.

Off to Lone Butte (amazing match as always, thank you to the sponsors, the Brians, the Fire Department, the ROs...trying to get a video together.).
First stage, my rotty-shotty shih-tzus the bed. Not ejecting. Assuming underpowered rounds for a basically brand new inertia gun with monster springs, I was lucky enough to have a friend get ahold of Lone Butte Sporting Goods and secured a case of 3 dram equivalent Federal rounds. Great! Moar power! Not so great, slightly longer shell means she's now a 7+1. Grrr. Ah well, can't really blame the gun.

Rest of the match she ran fine, very soft shooter, points very well for me. Fibre optic bead is kinda pooh, doesn't gather much light, going to replace methinks. Also going to grind 1/2 a coil off the (very stout) hammer spring, as I'm never going to fire full boat turkey loads through this thing, and that should fix the "problem" of not being 100% with the lightest 2 3/4 loads I could find:). Hopefully will allow me to fire low recoil slugs as well.

Oh, talking to other Stoeger shooters at the match (there were several), they all(?) run Score brand shells without a problem, but I was too stupid to ask for one to compare lengths.

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...

Thanks for this review, I am seriously looking at getting an M3500 for 3-gun and like to hear reviews from guys using it for the same thing I want to.
 
What does the stoeger hold for shells by default is it 3.5" is it 3+1. What Nordic extension tube version do you use the 3 or 4?
 
Cheapest and most reliable way is probably get a 590 with a plus 4 tube. U get 12 rounds in the tube and pump gun reliability . I ran that for couple of years and it kept up with semi auto guys. Like someone mentioned already it's all about reloading speed . I can pump and shoot almost as fast as semi auto but with the 12 rounds in the tube I actually have advantage thru out the course .
 
^This is very true, I didn't feel a huge disadvantage using my 870 as far as shot speed went, and it is all about the loading. I'd even give my pump the nod on the manual of arms, running a semi dry sucks:). There was a wonderful lady on our Lone Butte squad that had a 13+1 870, neat to watch her stuff it full of shells after the beep.
 
Well Cabelas was having the Versa Max Sportman for sale 1099 so Picked that up instead of the Stoeger. Happy with my purchase.
Just got to find a Nordic tube that will give me 5 3.5" shells in the tube.
 
smelly pete said:
^This is very true, I didn't feel a huge disadvantage using my 870 as far as shot speed went, and it is all about the loading. I'd even give my pump the nod on the manual of arms, running a semi dry sucks:). There was a wonderful lady on our Lone Butte squad that had a 13+1 870, neat to watch her stuff it full of shells after the beep.
Click to expand...

I would counter your opinion by point out that running a pump is worse than a semi because with a pump you don't know it is dry until it goes 'click.' Then you have to load from the bottom, pump, fire (at least I think that is the operation, I'm not a pump guy). Whereas a semi you know it by feel and can quickly pop in a matchsaver, press release button, and then either take one shot to finish the shotgun portion or load more in the tube then shoot.
 
Any words on what Score shotshells will run in a Stoeger M3500?

I have a Stoeger which seems to work with Federal 7.5 1 1/8 oz 3 dram @ 1200 fps. Not sure what the equivalent would be with Score shotshells (Gold? Bronze? Silver?). but would be interested in trying.

smelly pete said:
I have no comment on hybrid legless dogs, but I did sleep in a Holiday Inn.

I also used my barely broken in Stoeger M3500 at the Redneck 3gun in Lone Butte this weekend, and it ran very well, considering the barely-broken-in part. Got the gun from Wanstalls, great to deal with as always. The first thing I did was disassemble it and dump boiling water all over it to rid it of the cosmo-like grease it ships with (Turkey grease?). Second was polish the mag tube where the recoil spring rides, first with 400 grit, then 600, then crocus cloth to smooth out the very slight chatter on the tube; helps the action run easier, and quieter. Next I attacked the loading port as it's rather sharp edged (lots of videos on Utube, Jesse Tischauser has a good trilogy). I skipped the paltry dremel and went right to my belt sander, but I'm very used to running one, not recommended by anyone to try this at home.
The safety is ridiculously stiff. The internet is never wrong, so I chopped two coils off the safety spring, and now it's perfect. Getting the spring back in is an exercise in patience though.
With a Nordic extension, I can fit 8+1 (+1 if you wish) 2 3/4 shells in...but this gets a little weird. Took the original mag plug, and cut it down inside the Nordic tube until I could fit 5.9 3 1/2" Winchester cheapies into it...basically having the brass of the hull hanging out the mag tube. Good start, yes? Yes! I could now fit eight 1 ounce Challenger shells into it, with a 1/4" of wiggle room. Perfect. Off to the range. Shot off about 50 of the things, no problems. Try low recoil slugs...oops, single shot shotgun. OK, full power slugs no problem, but they're longer than the Challenger shells, so only seven in the tube. No biggy, I am now ready for te 3gunz.

Off to Lone Butte (amazing match as always, thank you to the sponsors, the Brians, the Fire Department, the ROs...trying to get a video together.).
First stage, my rotty-shotty shih-tzus the bed. Not ejecting. Assuming underpowered rounds for a basically brand new inertia gun with monster springs, I was lucky enough to have a friend get ahold of Lone Butte Sporting Goods and secured a case of 3 dram equivalent Federal rounds. Great! Moar power! Not so great, slightly longer shell means she's now a 7+1. Grrr. Ah well, can't really blame the gun.

Rest of the match she ran fine, very soft shooter, points very well for me. Fibre optic bead is kinda pooh, doesn't gather much light, going to replace methinks. Also going to grind 1/2 a coil off the (very stout) hammer spring, as I'm never going to fire full boat turkey loads through this thing, and that should fix the "problem" of not being 100% with the lightest 2 3/4 loads I could find:). Hopefully will allow me to fire low recoil slugs as well.

Oh, talking to other Stoeger shooters at the match (there were several), they all(?) run Score brand shells without a problem, but I was too stupid to ask for one to compare lengths.

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...
 
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