Trying to decide between the stoeger m3500 and franchi affinity. I like the weight and feel of the franchi but the price point and the ability to shoot 3.5 shells from the stoeger makes it a hard decision. Both inertia driven......any thoughts and recomendations. THANKS!
Stoeger m3500 vs franchi affinity
- Thread starter TeamD&S
- Start date
The Franchi is made on the same assembly line as Benelli, in Italy. Stoeger is made in Turkey, I believe.
Ask yourself as well, how often you shoot 3.5" ? There are 3" available for most applications and they perform well. I found after shooting a few 3.5" it was not an experience Id care to repeat.
Ask yourself as well, how often you shoot 3.5" ? There are 3" available for most applications and they perform well. I found after shooting a few 3.5" it was not an experience Id care to repeat.
+1 on what dzastins said.
Although I don't find 3 1/2" shells terribly objectionable. I personally like the Franchi's handling more then the Stoger m3500.
At a similar price point to the Franchi I'd look to the Winchester SX3 if you're really looking for 3 1/2" unless you've already handled it and don't like it. The SX3 is gas operated but that is no reason to shy away from it.
If you are willing to wait the Franchi Intensity should be hitting the market soon. It has 3 1/2" capability as well.
Although I don't find 3 1/2" shells terribly objectionable. I personally like the Franchi's handling more then the Stoger m3500.
At a similar price point to the Franchi I'd look to the Winchester SX3 if you're really looking for 3 1/2" unless you've already handled it and don't like it. The SX3 is gas operated but that is no reason to shy away from it.
If you are willing to wait the Franchi Intensity should be hitting the market soon. It has 3 1/2" capability as well.
1963beretta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vaughan, Ontario
I would definately give the Franchi Affinity an advantage over the Stoeger. If you compare the two guns side by side, you will notice the franchi has a better fit and finish. Another gun to consider alongside the Franchi is the Beretta A300 outlander. Its priced a little less than the Franchi, but its just as nice a gun. The A300 is an American made Beretta, but nonetheless, a Beretta is a Beretta! If you're truely interested in a 3.5" semi, and price is a concern, I would suggest having a look at the Mossberg 935. The Mossberg is a no frills workhorse that will pattern just as good, if not better then any gun you'll fire. And at around $700, you cant beat the price. As mentioned in an earlier post, Franchi will be coming out with their Intensity 3.5" semi....but if its like all the other Franchi's, you'll likely have a hard time finding one in a store!
1963beretta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vaughan, Ontario
Moral of the story is....you cant go wrong with a reliable $700 gun no matter what the brand is! So I guess what it comes down to is what gun fits best for the individual, and what do you plan on using the gun for. Funny I say that because when I purchased the Mossberg 935 at Bass Pro in 2009, I actually went to see the Stoeger 3500 that was on sale. I thought it was a logical option given that the Stoeger is part of the Beretta group and is a sister company to Benelli/Franchi/etc. And since I already owned an Inertia Driven Franchi and have had nothing but good things to say about the Franchi reliability, I figured it was a good option. I had all the 3" guns one could need, so I was in the market for only a 3.5" gun, dressed in camo and to be used strictly as a goose/turkey gun. The guy working behind the counter basically handed me every 3.5" camo gun on the shelf for me to see and feel, and then he handed me the Mossberg. As it turned out, the Mossberg the felt the best for me and it just so happened to be the cheapest (at the time, it was only $649). I figured that if I was going to leave with something other then the Stoeger, it would probably be a Benelli or Browning....but definately not a Mossberg.
Fast forward 4 years...Im still happy with the choice. The availability of extra parts for the Mossberg is plentiful and very economic. I have found numerous Hunter Specialies extended turkey chokes at Bass Pro on clearance for $10 (or less), a rifled cantilever slug barrel for $150, and recently picked up a pistol grip stock from Mystic Precision for $125 shipped.
Thats a lot of gun for around $900!
Fast forward 4 years...Im still happy with the choice. The availability of extra parts for the Mossberg is plentiful and very economic. I have found numerous Hunter Specialies extended turkey chokes at Bass Pro on clearance for $10 (or less), a rifled cantilever slug barrel for $150, and recently picked up a pistol grip stock from Mystic Precision for $125 shipped.
Thats a lot of gun for around $900!
personally i have a stoeger m2000 , after 1000-1500 round the firing pin was used enough that sometime at the bad moment you heard a clic instead of a bang , i send it to repair i buy a bennelli vinci after this , my father have a winchester sx3 chambered in 3.5 inch that gun is a lemon , sometime it wont cycle, eject , or it eject the ammo under when it load one in the chamber , i seem some very weird thing on that shotgun , the versa max dont touch to that , you can easily lose your charging handle and more , you can find some chip off metal from them too when you clean it ,
do what you want guys, but instead of buying a semi at 800 save more and go for the best you wont have any problem
do what you want guys, but instead of buying a semi at 800 save more and go for the best you wont have any problem
Ya it is a tough decision but I am leaning towards the Franchi, I think the overall build quality will be better overall and I really like how light weight it is. As mentioned above realistaically how often am I going to shoot 3.5 even for big canada's 3.5 are not required. Thanks for all the feedback everyone, safe hunting
1963beretta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vaughan, Ontario
You are making a wise choice with a Franchi. They are wonderful, lean and light weight guns. I personally own 2 Franchi's at this time, one is the 48 AL and has over 100 thousand shells through it...never a hiccup or a problem. The 48 AL is a long recoil gun built off the Browning A5 design, so its a different type of inertia gun then the Affinity, but Franchi has a solid reputation of building good long lasting and reliable guns. And there's is just something sweet about the slim lightweight designs....they just feel right. Just be aware that you will feel the recoil more on such a light gun....but it will not be unmanageable, and definately not as bad a most 3.5" guns.
And I agree with you...3.5" shells are over kill most often then not. You really dont need more then a 3" gun. My Franchi is a 2 3/4" gun, and it has killed more geese then you can imagine. If you can point that Affinity well, you will drop anything you pull the trigger at.
Now onto your next obstacle.....locating an Affinity at a store. I know BP had one in stock, but only in 20g. Franchi's (both Affinity and Instinct) seem to difficult to locate in 12g. Not sure why, but all the stores I've been too seem to have the same response...we have them on order, they are coming in shortly. I've been hearing the same thing for well over a year
And I agree with you...3.5" shells are over kill most often then not. You really dont need more then a 3" gun. My Franchi is a 2 3/4" gun, and it has killed more geese then you can imagine. If you can point that Affinity well, you will drop anything you pull the trigger at.
Now onto your next obstacle.....locating an Affinity at a store. I know BP had one in stock, but only in 20g. Franchi's (both Affinity and Instinct) seem to difficult to locate in 12g. Not sure why, but all the stores I've been too seem to have the same response...we have them on order, they are coming in shortly. I've been hearing the same thing for well over a year
I am in the same boat here and I am looking for a good 3" semi-auto. I am trying to decide between the Stoeger M3000 ($640) vs Beretta A300 Outlander ($850) vs Franchi Affinity ($950). Is the Franchi Affinity really worth the extra $300 over the Stoeger M3000? Will I notice alot of difference in fit/finish and reliability? How does the Beretta A300 Outlander fit into this comparo?
