Shotgun recommendation please!! Stoeger, Benelli, other?

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dferr

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Hey everyone.

I am going to be upgrading my 12 gauge soon. currently have a basic Mossberg Maverick 88 pump and looking to get into the semi-auto world. I foresee it being used most for 3-gun type of events at my range and murdering clays :shotgun: However I would also like something with the versatility to use for waterfowl hunting, as I want to try that this year.
I have my eyes on the Stoeger M3X which is basically a Stoeger M3000 with a few 3-gun orientated upgrades. with an 800$ price tag, it's hard to ignore compared to the rest of the semi-auto market. Does anyone have feedback on this platform? Reliability is big for me.

Is it more worth it to save up for a Benelli, or will I be happy with the Stoeger? With the price difference, I could buy a whole lot of ammo along with the Stoeger and still pay less. But if it's worth it, I am all about spending a bit more on quality items. Any other platform suggestions are very welcome! I do not know semi-auto shotguns well.

Also, what is the deal with magazine tube extensions for semi-auto shotguns in Canada? Been finding mixed information on this, and no one seems to sell any that I can find. At least not for the Stoeger.

Thanks in advance guys.
 
I was in the same boat a few weeks ago. Fit is the most important thing when it comes to shotguns. Yes, you can get used to anything and make it work.... that depends on how your personality is, if your happy with what you get and committed to make it work, it will work, if you are not able to commit to that it could be a problem down the road.

I went in and handled quite a few guns, and walked out with something completely differently than I expected.

Ended up with a Beretta A300
 
Free advice from an unreliable stranger (and worth every penny):

If you stick with a mature model from a NA/European manufacturer you'll have a much better change of getting manuals/parts/support than with a Turkish import. Google "Stoeger M3000 feed problem" then google "11-87 feed problem" and note the difference in the number/depth of responses. Its not reliable if you can't get parts or documentation.

A heavier gun kicks less. A lighter gun is easier to carry.

Gun down. Eyes open and looking at target. Close eyes. Bring gun up to where you think the target is and settle it into comfortable position. Open eyes. If you're looking through the sights that's a good sign.

Semi shotguns are reported as "picky". Not because they actually are picky, but because people expect them to cycle correctly over an unreasonable range of projectile mass and muzzle velocity. In reality, if it cycles 7/8 Oz skeet correctly it'll be way over-gassed with a slug, and if it cycles correctly with a slug it'll be under-gassed with a smaller load.
 
It seems to me that a lot of 3 gun people run a Remington versa max which can also be a decent hunting gun.

Is 3 gun even a thing anymore BTW? Honest question...what happened to the AR part of the 3 guns?
 
Mossberg 930 or 940 "JM Pro" (Jerry Miculek). I've got the 930 as my general purpose duck/turkey/slug gun. It's designed for 3-gun and has nice ergonomics with a big safety and charging handle, and nice smooth loading port. I don't do 3-gun but I like the handy size and ergonomics. It functions flawlessly with everything from target loads to heavy slugs. From what I've read, they're known for being reliable. One potential drawback with the 930 is that the gas piston needs to be kept clean for this reliability to hold up, but I think that's measured in the hundreds of rounds, so that's not a problem for me. Anyway, for a competitor doing high volume shooting, the 940 apparently runs cleaner and lets you go longer without having to clean the gas piston.
 
dilly said:
It seems to me that a lot of 3 gun people run a Remington versa max which can also be a decent hunting gun.

Is 3 gun even a thing anymore BTW? Honest question...what happened to the AR part of the 3 guns?
Click to expand...

Honestly, I am not sure about actual 3 gun events. I have only just booked my black badge course, haven't even looked at what 3-gun events are going on. But a few guys I have talked to at gun shops over the wintertime when I was first getting into shooting said they still do it in the summers. And when I said 3-gun type of events I meant stuff my private range does from time to time, dynamic courses etc. I just figured 3-gun would be the best way to describe it! Thanks for the suggestion by the way
 
Bittereinder said:
Mossberg 930 or 940 "JM Pro" (Jerry Miculek). I've got the 930 as my general purpose duck/turkey/slug gun. It's designed for 3-gun and has nice ergonomics with a big safety and charging handle, and nice smooth loading port. I don't do 3-gun but I like the handy size and ergonomics. It functions flawlessly with everything from target loads to heavy slugs. From what I've read, they're known for being reliable. One potential drawback with the 930 is that the gas piston needs to be kept clean for this reliability to hold up, but I think that's measured in the hundreds of rounds, so that's not a problem for me. Anyway, for a competitor doing high volume shooting, the 940 apparently runs cleaner and lets you go longer without having to clean the gas piston.
Click to expand...

Thanks very much, I know Mossberg is a great brand. I am pretty meticulous and religious with my cleaning so I think this might be a great option for me.
May I ask how much you paid for yours, and how long you've owned it for?
 
Really 3 gun and clays gun fit would not be a problem because it would be impossible to use the same gun for both games .
When shooting at Clays you don’t look down the bbl at beads you look into the sky your eyes se the bird your reaction is to swing the gun through the bird and pull the trigger there is no other way .
If you wish to see how it is done google Olympic skeet or trap shooting that should be a eye opener
 
dferr said:
Thanks very much, I know Mossberg is a great brand. I am pretty meticulous and religious with my cleaning so I think this might be a great option for me.
May I ask how much you paid for yours, and how long you've owned it for?
Click to expand...

I got mine 2 years ago for about 800 I think. Like pretty much anything they've gone up. Out of curiosity I looked this afternoon and saw it out of stock but listed at 1050 at Wolverine Supplies. But they have another version of the Mossberg 930 for $780.
 
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