What do you know, think or heard about Stoeger semi-auto shotguns?

[Opportunist]

I'm buying a shotgun for my 15 year old son. I'm trying to keep it under $500 and a semi-auto, being able to shoot 3 1/2" is not a must. What I've found is to step up to a 3 1/2" semi-auto it jumps up the price up to the $700 + range. Any insight or experience with Stoeger is appreciated. Stoeger is a subsidiary brand of Bennelle.

[h2ofowlr]

The stoegers are a decent shotgun for the price.  My buddy had a few issues with his on jamming.  After a good cleaning and shooting about a case a shells through it, it started cycling very well.  If your son can handle a pump it will save you money on shells.  You don't need the 3-1/2" shells if you can get the birds to decoy close.

[wrangler]

ok, first off i shoot higher end rifles and shotguns, i save up for the best and badest i can get. i shoot a winchester sx2 and a super black eagle. buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut i have to admit i bought a mossburg 930 for my girlfriend last year. granted it only shoots up to 3" shells but with faststeel and tungsten matrix and the like, the extra half inch doesn't justifly the the extra 400 dollars, for a beginner, imho. i got the 930 new for $435.... killer deal on a well put together peice, beautiful wood and it points and functions VERY well, never thought id say that about a mossburg.... but check em out. from a stubborn ass benneli/winchester super x fan, look at the 930's for your kid. also, fyi they do make a mag, it's the 935 but the price jumps up dramatically and i would go with another manufacturer for that price.

[Opportunist]

h2ofowlr, My son shot an 870 youth 20, which I will be selling soon and has been using my 870 12 gauge this season. We mainly field hunt geese out of ground blinds and shooting an auto on your butt for me is easier than with a pump. I really noticed a difference in my shooting when I switched over to my dad's Browning Auto-5 from my 870. My son and I tossed around an over/under but have decided on a semi-auto for less felt recoil. We have shot Kent Fasteel BB 1,550 fps for the last couple years but switched over to Black Cloud at the tail end of this season and am sold. We will shoot it exclusively next season. The 3" BB Black Cloud hammers the geese.

I spoke with a sales manager at Fishermans at the portland sportsman show and he had bought a stoeger for his daughter. He said it jammed a couple of times in the first few boxes but after burning 7-8 boxes at skeet it cycled without issue since. He was the third salesman I had spoken to that said for the money it was hard to beat.

wrangler, I'm not a fan of Mossberg myself, but your not the first I've heard that said to check out the 930, I'll check it out. Thanks

[h2ofowlr]

I do see a few guys shooting the Mossburg 930 with good luck.  I think the Stoeger is a little easier to maintain, especially if your hunting around water.  I know the guys up north in Skagit county have been purchasing the Stooeger if they aren't buying the Benelli Super Black Eagles.
I personally shoot the Benelli Super Black Eagle II.  I have 2 of them and they have worked out very well.  Had a few jams this year with the cold weather, but that was due to the dog shaking and getting some water into the action.  I did get a chance to shoot the new Browning Maxus semi-auto shotguns.  They were a very nice shotgun, fast and less recoil than my Benelli.  I ordered one to try out for the season in the Duck Blind Camo Pattern.

[Bird_Bagger]

het h2, who did you order you browning from? locally?

[ThePascoKid]

I've got the stoeger 2000 with a 26" barrel and I love it very light, keep it clean and you won't have any problems they also don't like cheap shells but what gun really does.  My buddy has a Remington I think it's called the 11-87 sportsman he has very good luck with and I think it was in that $500 price range.

[h2ofowlr]

Bird Bagger.  I am picking the Maxus up from a Browning rep.  I'm exchanging some G Loomis fishing rods and some cash for the Browning.  The Maxus should be on gun store shelves come June.