Stoeger 3500 Shotgun

Back in the early days of Practical Shotgun (PSG) most guns were sporters and all we did was increase the magazine capacity by adding a mag tube; normally from Choate Machine & Tool in the USA. In truth they needed little else, though some controls were a tad small and we later saw extended and enlarged cocking handles, bolt releases and safety catches appearing.

IF IT AIN’T BROKE

Despite more exotic guns like the SPAS 12, Saiga 12 etc, tube magazine, sporting semi-autos are the mainstay of PSG. The rise of disciplines like NRA Target Shotgun, 3-Gun events and similar has created a demand for cost-effective Practical hardware. Benellis and Remington’s are nice but well over a grand and offer little more over the more budget brands that have appeared. In truth it’s the shooter and not the gun that wins the day in PSG!

Stoeger shotguns have been around for some time, as they offered a well-price, standard, gas/piston semi-auto. Made in Turkey but marketed in the USA they are now owned by Benelli who have pretty much cloned it into their recoil-operated system but at a much lower price. Riflecraft Ltd doubtless saw the chance of getting into this market and finding the Stoeger M3000 a good basic design set about practicalising it in-house to fit in with what we Brits wanted.

NUTS N BOLTS

For the money the build is good and typically there are is choice of barrel lengths along with a set of flush-fit multi-chokes, fitting key and butt shims. The Practical version comes as standard with a 24” tube with high ventilated rib, red bead front sight and a Nordic Components full-length mag extension. I was told that it can take 10 x 2 ¾” shells with one up the spout, which is a good capacity for PSG.

Essentially the M3000 is a Benelli with its alloy receiver (drilled and tapped for a scope base) and plastic furniture. Don’t expect the level of sophistication of say a Super 90 or M2 as the butt is a hollow moulding without their Comfortech recoil absorption system. What is identical is the working parts that makes Benelli stand out from the gas/piston semis.

It’s a simple design with a twin-lug, rotating bolt that is cammed in and out of battery by the bolt carrier moving backwards and forwards. Operation is simple as the gun fires the recoil forces push back on the bolt head, which is locked so cannot move. This energy then transfers to the carrier, which has a spring inside. Eventually the spring and inertia is overcome and the action opens up extracts and ejects, with a spring returning it to battery. This all takes a fraction of a second.

It’s a lot cleaner than a gas/piston system, however, it can suffer with very light loads so you do have to pick your ammo carefully. But, and like any semi-auto mech, get the right cartridges and it runs sweetly.

CONTROLS

Controls are few with a cross-bolt safety at the rear of the trigger guard that pushes right to left to FIRE. With the hammer down it also locks the bolt. The action automatically holds open after the last round has fired, to close the bolt there’s a release button on the right side just under the ejection port. A ‘big head’ extension has been added to facilitate operation. There is also the cartridge drop lever – forward/right of the trigger guard. The cocking handle looks a tad larger than on other semis I have used and there is enough to get hold!

All metal work is matte black as is the synthetic furniture, which has cast-in chequering panels on pistol grip and forend. A thick, ventilated recoil pad is included with an integral sling loop for an Uncle Mike’s gate-type swivel. The mag tube is after market and includes an end cap adaptor that the extension screws into, it’s stabilised by a Fig-8 clamp. Nordic Components have thought it out as the tube is slightly stepped-in 4” from the front, so keeping the clamp secure under recoil. A forward sling point would be good, as a strap on a PSG gun is useful.

The M3000 is a handy package at 46” long and weighing under 8lbs empty. It comes up fast and the low comb gets your head down and onto the barrel quickly. Two words sum it up: purposeful and practical! 

LOCK AND LOAD AND CUT!

To load open the bolt and it will lock to the rear. Drop a round into the ejection port and press the bolt release button to chamber it. This unlocks the slotted shell lifter so you fill the mag by pushing the shells down and forward into the tube. If you prefer you can load the mag first from a closed bolt. However to chamber the first round cycling the action will do nothing, instead you have to press the cartridge drop lever, which releases the first round onto the lifter. Now cycle the bolt to chamber it. The gun will eject and load automatically until it is empty.

Stoeger says that the gun might need a few boxes of ammo to run it in, and it did show a few hesitations given the ammo used. It was a bit unhappy about digesting some Winchester AA 7 ½, 28-gram shells, which did not surprise me, but after three boxes it slicked up no end! With slug recoil was more noticeable than with a Benelli with Comfort Tech stock. However, Stoeger offers a recoil reducer that fits in the butt and also a Weaver base for the receiver if you want to fit optics.

A LITTLE SNIP, OR TWO

Two aspects of the gun came to light – first the safety catch was really stiff to operate, but that too ran in inside 50-rounds. However it’s a bit small/short and extension here would not go amiss! The promised 10-round capacity with 2 ¾” shells did not happen; no wonder too, as the magazine spring is way over length!

It was becoming coil-bound and reduced the payload to 8, which is still most practical. This also makes reassembly awkward; as you pop off the extension tube, something akin to the length of an anaconda suddenly pops out. For the inexperienced it can be awkward if not impossible to get it back in. Whipping out my side-cutting pliers I lopped off about 8”, which upped it to 9, but I was not prepared to go any lower to make the double digits, as reliability is all with any semi-auto and with one up the pipe 10 is achievable.

This little circumcision also makes the gun less hassle to strip and assemble!

TAKE DOWN

On that point a recoil-operated gun certainly needs less cleaning than a gas/piston. But knowing how to keep your gun clean is an essential skill, so look in: remove the Fig-8 clamp and magazine tube/collar (watch out for that spring). Pull off the barrel/forend assembly and if you want to hinge down the forend and pull it off. In this condition you can see the return spring, bolt connecting rods and bush.

Push the bolt back into the receiver a tad and pull out the cocking handle, it was stiff and I had to get a screw driver to lever it out. With that removed the bolt and carrier along with the connecting rods pull forward and off, as it’s sprung keep it under control. That is really as far as you need to go as you can access the bolt. On the way back in the bolt handle did need tapping in with a plastic mallet.

You can also remove the trigger mech housing (TMH). It’s retained by a single cross pin in the receiver that pushes out from left to right, as it’s handed. On the way back in you will need to press in the shell stop.

Overall a great gun at the money, reliable and well suited to PSG-type use. Riflecraft will also bring in Section 2 (Shotgun) 2 + 1 guns as requested with longer barrel, these will have a restricted mag tube to suit.

FOR:Great price, ready to go from the box
AGAINST:A little stiff in some areas, Hi-vis mag follower would be good, Mag spring length needs sorting before sale
VERDICT:Looks good and shoots well, A 26” barrel would be better as it would make the gun more reliable, Well worth a look at the money