Stoeger 2000

[blades67]

I was looking at some Benelli shotguns the other day when I came across a Stoeger 2000. It looks and feels just like the Benelli, though not as polished, and costs half as much. Have any of you seen one? Anybody shoot one? I will probably buy one next month just because they're less than $400 and I've been wanting to get a semi-auto shotgun for a while now. I'm just curious and thought I'd pick the collective braintrust here.

I'll write up a range report once I get one and get it out to the range.

 

[Kilroy]

Shoots like a Benelli.....very fast. Light and handy, recoil is there. Price is good for a knock around field gun.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I've had a B2000 for most of a year now. For more info on what I found out see the following posts

Initial impression

Follow-Up

..and some associated info on cartridges.

First piece of advice - heed the warning in the manual about using shells with 1oz of shot or more. I tried using some of the Winchester 7/8 oz stuff and had nothing but problems. The 1 oz white box seems to work fine, and the Estate brand 1 oz loads have been 100% reliable as well.

Good choice of working shotgun. I love mine and have had zero problems since switching to the proper loads.

Brad

 

[JohnMc]

I like mine. They might not be quite as polished as the Benelli, but they're produced according to the ISO standards, which means the factory has quality control.
I got mine at Dick's Sporting Goods. They regularly have the camo ones for $399.95 or some such.
JohnMc

 

[blades67]

I'll pick mine up on Tuesday!

 

[Brad Johnson]

Okay, it's Tuesday, so let's hear the news!!



Brad

 

[blades67]

I picked up the gun on Tuesday as planned. I took it home, took it apart, cleaned it, put it back together and put the left over parts in the shipping box. Well, truthfully there were no extra parts, but I didn't get to shoot it because I forgot to pick some 1oz loads to break it in with.:banghead: I'll pick some up on the way to the range next Tuesday, I won't have a day off before that between the hospital and the gun shop.

 

[blades67]

I made it out to the range to shoot my new Stoeger at last! I picked up three different loads, 7/8oz Federal, 1oz Estate and 1 1/8oz Winchester, to get the gun broken in. I had a total of 500 rounds and a practical pistol bay to myself. I had no stoppages with the 7/8oz load as Brad did. I like this gun, light, fast (very fast!) and easy to mount. I like the speed so much in fact that I bought one of the M1S90 that we had in the shop! The Boss Lady was not as excited about this as I was.

 

[LeonCarr]

From what I know, the Stoeger 2000 is a Benelli clone, made in Turkey, by a company owned by Beretta/Benelli. Also, from what I understand it uses the same interchangeable chokes as a Beretta/Benelli.

The $64,000 question is, will the Stoeger M2000 take a Benelli magazine extension?

Any information would be most appreciated .

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[seeker_two]

blades67: Any more news to report? I'm intrigued by these "bargain Benelli's" myself...

 

[MrAcheson]

I'm in the market for a shotgun and did some research on these.

It is my understanding that the similarities between the benelli and stoeger are superficial. They look similar. Their actions are similar. However no parts interchange between the two guns including magazine extensions.

I could be wrong about this since I have not done a full comparison myself, but such is the buzz on the net.

 

[JohnMc]

However no parts interchange between the two guns

That's probably true. I've got buddies with the genuine Benelli articles and some of the bolt parts might be the same, but that looks like it.
The important things for me were:
A) These are quality shotguns at 1/2 the price or less.
B) I can get a slug barrel for less than $200, while a barrel/upper receiver change on the Benelli is >$400
C) The action is the same as the Benelli, even if the parts aren't identical.
D) Fit and finish are good for the price.

JohnMc

PS: Props to my buddy Steve for pointing these fine shotguns out to me.