Stoeger 3500 vs. Baikal 153

zeon said:
cabelas has the 3500 and can ship.. It's been out for awhile now. I would do a bit more research before buying it. I had bought my mossberg 930 combo just before the 3500 became available. Luckily my mossberg has been good so it hasn't been a regret.
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They have them on back order.This gun is different from the 2000.
 
Yes it is different than the 2000 that's for sure. Winnipeg Cabelas had 3500's in stock a few weeks ago. I haven't been looking specifically for it so can't say if they still have it.
 
I have a 3500 in black, 28 inch barrel. I'm a clean freak when it comes to my guns and usually give them a once over after each outing. The stoeger is extremely easy to clean up.

I have buddies that shoot the MP 153 and they love them. I see no real advantage for either. They both work. I think it comes down to personal preference.

Not sure how easy it is to adjust the stock on the Baikal but the Stoeger is a cinch. I wasn't shooting very good with mine at first, I adjusted the shims and it shoots right where it should now. Probably better than any gun I've ever had.

I leaned toward the stoeger simply because it is recoil and not gas. I've seen too many gas guns malfunction over the years and ruin someones only day of the week to hunt.

If your into 7/8 ounce loads you better get the Baikal. I only shoot clays once a year as a primer for the goose season and the stoeger had no trouble with the 1 ounce loads. The rest of the year will be 3" and 3 1/2" goose loads and I can't forsee having any trouble with them.

I think I would go with the camo next time. It doesn't seem to show wear and dirt as fast.
 
Just picked up a 3500. Put a couple boxes of 7.5 through it shooting some skeet. I had one fail to feed, it ejected but the bolt stayed open. It may have been me (first semi)
Other than that it worked great. Definatly a keeper especially for 670 beans. I looked on the net for reviews and I didn't find anything. One thing you have to do is not ride the bolt when chambering a round. It needs to slam shut so the bolt fully closes.
 
I did the first cleaning of the 3500 today and to me it looks very well built. Ya it has some plastic parts and I did some polishing on part of the hammer that holds it back while cycling (looked a little rough where it rubs on the trigger) with the trigger pulled but all and all it looks well built. I ran a mop down the barrel and gave it a good look man it must be chromed it is shinnnny.
 
sdeering said:
Just picked up a 3500. Put a couple boxes of 7.5 through it shooting some skeet. I had one fail to feed, it ejected but the bolt stayed open. It may have been me (first semi)
Other than that it worked great. Definatly a keeper especially for 670 beans. I looked on the net for reviews and I didn't find anything. One thing you have to do is not ride the bolt when chambering a round. It needs to slam shut so the bolt fully closes.
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sdeering said:
I did the first cleaning of the 3500 today and to me it looks very well built. Ya it has some plastic parts and I did some polishing on part of the hammer that holds it back while cycling (looked a little rough where it rubs on the trigger) with the trigger pulled but all and all it looks well built. I ran a mop down the barrel and gave it a good look man it must be chromed it is shinnnny.
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I got my 3500 at the end of last season and it has worked flawlessly since. You need to detail clean them (and any new gun) first to get out the storage oil/grease before firing. That may have added to your problem. The manual actually states that you are to fire a few boxes of 3" magnums through it to work in the inertia spring before trying trap/skeet loads. I bet now that you have cleaned it, put some 3" through it and you will be good to go for anything!

I really can't say enough about these. The simplicity of the design is amazing. The whole thing comes apart very easily. The bolt comes completely apart when you pull out one pin that is held in place by a fat o-ring. All of the shot/powder residue goes out the barrel like a bolt gun as there is no gas system! The internals of the reciever are very easy to get to as the trigger group is large and when removed, it opens the entire bottom of the receiver.

I detail cleaned my brother in law's Browning Maxus when he first got it and it was a real pain in the ass! That cleaning actually changed my mind from getting one of those (at the time I only had a 3" Stoeger M2000) to waiting for the new up coming Max4 Stoeger M3500. I am very glad that I did! I had not heard of the Baikal then, but I bet I would have been all over checking them out though.

These new M3500 models come with shims for drop, cast and length of pull, a recoil reducer weight to install in the stock if you are going to be blasting a lot with 3 1/2" BB's and it is drilled and tapped and comes with a scope/red dot rail. The trigger guard was expanded for use in late season with gloves on as well. Another huge thing to me is the customer service from Stoeger Canada. I lost a spring clip on the trigger group when it was removed for cleaning and accidentally released the hammer. I called right then and it was in the mail in 3 days -no charge- Had a good conversation on the phone with the guy about hunting to boot!

Reading about the Baikal sounds very good too though. This part really sounds great "All the gas exposed elements (bore, chamber, piston, gas chamber, external surface of magazine tube) are CHROME PLATED! Valve and piston rings are made of stainless steel." This will really help out the guys that aren't too fussy about cleaning their guns too much! A lot of very positive reviews and testimonials as well. I will be able to post more feedback on the Baikal 153 as I convinced my father in law to pick one up as they seem like they are now the king of "the most bang for your buck" gun out there at the moment! Gagnon Sports in Ottawa has the walnut version on sale right now for $499.00!!!!!!

Cheers,

Ian
 
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got my Stoeger 3500 a year and a half ago, zero problems, many broken clays and dozens of dead ducks and geese. I would buy it again in a heartbeat. APG camo, Stoeger's parent company is Benelli - so the same inertia system in your $700 Stoeger as the $1,900 parent.... and you're wondering if you should go with a "russian made, heavy, not pretty, work-horse" .... try the Stoeger, you won't regret it.
 
I have a Baikal Mp 153 and am extremely dissapointed at what a piece of Sh*t it is My buddy bought the Stoeger It never jams it doesn't fall apart the Machining appears a better quality Benelli Chokes fit it and its about the same price. My MP153 has lost the front site, the camo dip started to peel on the first hunt , it didn't have a plug. and I lost the cocking lever twice while turkey hunting and finally just epoxied it in. I am careful when cocking it as I have skinned my knukles twice on the sharp edges of the ejection port. It jams with frequency when waterfowling. All and all the claims on Utube etc appear false to me
 
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