Stoeger 3020

[Cvans]

Couple of weeks ago I purchased a new Stoeger 3020 with the walnut stock and 28" barrel. It's my first semi-auto shotgun and to be honest the gun looks nice but I wasn't happy with the firing cycle or the front sight. Looking through 70 year old eyes at red clay's with a red front sight just didn't work. There is a slam factor involved with the inertia system as the bolt is sent back in the receiver and again when it drives home the next round. After doing two simple changes the gun is much more pleasant to shoot and it's a keeper.

First thing was to add a different front sight. An M-series HiVis front sight. This made a huge difference in acquiring the front sight. Looks like it's lit up by an LED bulb. So far I love it and it's incredibly easy to install. You don't even have to remove the original sight. Comes with 4 different inserts.


The second thing was to install a Limb Saver grind to fit recoil pad. After watching their video on fitting one of these pads, one was ordered. Don't be afraid to install one of these on your gun it's not hard and makes a Huge difference in shooting the gun. I happened to have a Harbor Freight 1 inch belt sander and it worked just fine. Didn't use the WD-40 shown in the video and it turned out good. All it took was a little hand sanding with some fine emery cloth at the end it came out nice enough for me. This addition made the gun a real pleasure to shoot.

I am in no way associated with either of these manufacturers. Just happy with their products and will report back after using both items for a while.

 

[kudu]

I can get behind the recoil pad, good upgrade, but I hate seeing the brite glow sights on shotguns unless it's going to be used only for slugs or turkey hunting where you use it like a rifle. For me and most target and wingshooters the glowing sight distracts from focusing on the target. I would prefer no front bead to a glow type. I use a simple Bradley type white front bead. You know it's there, but it isn't really enough to distract from focusing on a target or flying critter. If the gun fits right I am automatically lined up with the barrel and/or rib without doing any adjustment of the gun, so really the bead is not doing anything for me and a couple of my shotguns actually have no bead, and yet they still break clays and kill birds.

I understand aging eyes, but if the focus is on the front sight it really isn't on the target.

 

[Cvans]

I understand aging eyes, but if the focus is on the front sight it really isn't on the target.

True enough. None of my other guns have ever had fiber optics on them but this one came that way. And for $16.00 I figured I'd see if there was a combination that works. If not then it will be back to a bead with which I've had good luck with.

 

[cdb1]

I can get behind the recoil pad, good upgrade, but I hate seeing the brite glow sights on shotguns unless it's going to be used only for slugs or turkey hunting where you use it like a rifle. For me and most target and wingshooters the glowing sight distracts from focusing on the target. I would prefer no front bead to a glow type. I use a simple Bradley type white front bead. You know it's there, but it isn't really enough to distract from focusing on a target or flying critter. If the gun fits right I am automatically lined up with the barrel and/or rib without doing any adjustment of the gun, so really the bead is not doing anything for me and a couple of my shotguns actually have no bead, and yet they still break clays and kill birds.

I understand aging eyes, but if the focus is on the front sight it really isn't on the target.

I believe the same. If anything a big green front bead would be a hindrance when wing shooting for me.

 

[Cvans]

Tonight the Stoeger fired off 200 rounds without a hitch except for two grandsons who soft shouldered the gun. Failed to eject twice but after telling them to hold the gun to their shoulder no more problems. The Limb saver grind to fit pad is amazing and made the gun totally pleasant to shoot. The Hiviz front sight worked out very good and everyone liked the green sight with the red center dot. Worked well in the high and low light conditions. Keeping my eyes on the clay pigeon was easy with no tendency to keep looking at the sight.
The gun now is a keeper for sure.