Stoeger M3500

[Cullstuff]

Mine is over 4 years old and will cycle light doves loads and everything else. Have had NO problems with it. My only dislike is it is a bigger/heavier gun(as most waterfowl guns are) and my wife could never enjoy shooting it. On that note I dont know many women that enjoy shooting a 12gauge !

[TacticalCowboy]

I've seen several m3000 guns that ran great. I have no experience with the 3500.

[AJMag]

Sold a lot of them when i worked at gander. I thought i remember people saying that changing ammo brand worked for the light dove loads. Either way I'm buying one this year for a coat trip, just not sure if it's worth getting the 3500 over the 3000. Not sure that I'll get to try any goose anytime soon, so probably just stick with the 3 inch

[Lungbustr]

It seems like the key to these shotguns is getting them through the break in period. After that they seem to get really good reviews.

It's the type of operating system. The sbe2 is the same way.

[stone386]

I love mine. it's a great waterfowl gun. I wish they made a lefty. After 3 seasons I upgraded to a lh sbe2 and I am not sure it was worth it. I always have the stoeger with me on a bird hunt.

[simsknives]

I say this to everyone buying an inertia semi auto shotgun. Everyone wants to shoot 3 1/2 but it doesn't have much use. If you dove hunt or clay shoot more than you goose hunt and this will be your primary shotgun then I would suggest the m3000 over the 3500. inertia systems arnt meant to operate over the full spectrum of shotgun shells. The amount of spring pressure needed to control a 3 1/2" shell is too heavy for light dove loads. Just like the info above sometimes you get one that cycles everything but most of the time you don't. This is the case with benellis, stoger, franchi etc with the inertia system. I own a m3000 and a benelli Vinci both cycle the cheapest dove/clay loads you can buy. You don't need 3 1/2 for geese... The extra size only makes your follow up shots worse and your shot string isn't very good compared to a 3" shell. I've had the m3000 as a loaner/backup gun for a few years now and it's never had fail to eject, fail to fire or a jam. Only thing I don't like about it is the balance of the gun sucks it's very front heavy thought about putting epoxy in the stock to Balance it out.

[Team Porkchop]

I say this to everyone buying an inertia semi auto shotgun. Everyone wants to shoot 3 1/2 but it doesn't have much use. If you dove hunt or clay shoot more than you goose hunt and this will be your primary shotgun then I would suggest the m3000 over the 3500. inertia systems arnt meant to operate over the full spectrum of shotgun shells. The amount of spring pressure needed to control a 3 1/2" shell is too heavy for light dove loads. Just like the info above sometimes you get one that cycles everything but most of the time you don't. This is the case with benellis, stoger, franchi etc with the inertia system. I own a m3000 and a benelli Vinci both cycle the cheapest dove/clay loads you can buy. You don't need 3 1/2 for geese... The extra size only makes your follow up shots worse and your shot string isn't very good compared to a 3" shell. I've had the m3000 as a loaner/backup gun for a few years now and it's never had fail to eject, fail to fire or a jam. Only thing I don't like about it is the balance of the gun sucks it's very front heavy thought about putting epoxy in the stock to Balance it out.

That's is some good info to ponder on. I have an 870 that if I have trouble with the 2 3/4 I can always use that.

[hoytassassin]

If you read the manual it clearly says field strip and clean before use and then to allow a break in period for light loads. My 3500 has seen it all and shot it all. Been dropped in the lake, mud,and in freezing rain and has never had a malfunction.

[K_Dawg4_1999]

I have the 3500. Shoots great. No cycling issues at all.

kt

[bboswell]

I say this to everyone buying an inertia semi auto shotgun. Everyone wants to shoot 3 1/2 but it doesn't have much use. If you dove hunt or clay shoot more than you goose hunt and this will be your primary shotgun then I would suggest the m3000 over the 3500. inertia systems arnt meant to operate over the full spectrum of shotgun shells. The amount of spring pressure needed to control a 3 1/2" shell is too heavy for light dove loads. Just like the info above sometimes you get one that cycles everything but most of the time you don't. This is the case with benellis, stoger, franchi etc with the inertia system. I own a m3000 and a benelli Vinci both cycle the cheapest dove/clay loads you can buy. You don't need 3 1/2 for geese... The extra size only makes your follow up shots worse and your shot string isn't very good compared to a 3" shell. I've had the m3000 as a loaner/backup gun for a few years now and it's never had fail to eject, fail to fire or a jam. Only thing I don't like about it is the balance of the gun sucks it's very front heavy thought about putting epoxy in the stock to Balance it out.

I concur.

When I got my SBE I was guiding duck and goose hunts near Winnie. I bought a case of 3-1/2's for goose hunting and as soon as that case was gone I fed it 3" BBB's and if anything got better results with the 3"