Winchester Sx4 vs Stoeger m3000

[Judas530]

I have been researching new shotguns for about 2 months and I had narrowed my choices down to a Beretta Ultima, Winchester Sx4, Franchi Affinity, and the Stoeger M3000.

I work at a Big Box store and get a decent discount on our guns, unfortunately the only one on this list with a 28 inch barrel is the Stoeger as we are are sold out of everything else unless I want to spend top dollar on the Franchi Elite. I'm more interested in the less expensive black synthetic models.

My question is, I can get a Stoeger for about $450 through work or go to a local shop and buy a SX4 for $750. Is the SX4 worth an extra $300?

My main uses will be Duck Hunting and a bit of Dove. My worries are that if I cheap out and get the Stoeger, that I will have issues with it with light loads. I am also hoping to get 3-5 seasons out of it before I get a Top Dollar gun. Will the Stoeger last that long without multiple trips back to the factory. I know alot of poeple love them but I've also heard alot of horror stories.

What do you guys think?

 

[jmr40]

I know nothing about the Winchester. But I had a Stoeger for about 2 years several years back. I never had an issue with it and liked it well enough. I used it about 1 year before running across a good deal on a Benelli M1. This was about the time they upgraded to the Benelli 2, 2005 IIRC. Someone wanted the newer M2 and sold me their older M1 at a good price.

The Stoeger is very similar in function to the Benelli. I kept both guns for another year, but always found myself reaching for the Benelli and when I had a chance to sell the Stoeger at a profit I let it go. If they are still making them as well as they did I'd highly recommend it. I can't say long term, but I did like the gun while I had it. But I like the Benelli better.

 

[Eagle103]

I own a couple SX3's and recently a couple M3000's.

The SX3's will start to give problems if they get dirty enough but so far nothing has broken on either of mine. I would expect the same out of an SX4. Trigger is better than the Stoeger. Recoil will be slightly less since it's a gas gun, unlike the Stoeger inertia, and that may be a factor for waterfowl hunting.

The M3000's have worked perfectly so far, even with light loads, but I can't say for long term. It sounds like some common issues they might eventually have involve the extractor and extractor spring. You can replace both of these items with Benelli parts (that's how similar the guns are) for less than $30. I also own an M2 which has been flawless. I really like the simplicity of the Benelli inertia design.

It's a tough choice but for $450 it would be hard for me to pass up on the Stoeger which would make for a great future backup gun.

 

[cdb1]

I owned a Stoeger M2000 way back and it functioned reliably with 1 and 1/8 oz loads, not so with 1 oz loads. Asking an entry level inertia 12 gauge to cycle one ounce loads is asking to much IMO and should not be an expectation so I was happy. From all accounts the M3000 is a better shotgun which I believe to be true. I own four SX3’S and believe they run great with a modicum of cleaning. To me the difference in felt recoil was pretty big. The shotguns both fit the same. My Franchi Affinity had less felt recoil than the Stoeger, about midway between the M2000 and SX3.

For me the choice would be easy with or without the barrel length issue-SX3.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

I vote Stoeger. It’s a Benelli copy, essentially, and shouldn’t need to go back to the factory much. Good value at $450 and if i could buy one at that price i surely would.

 

[Judas530]

Ty for your input, I decided to save some money and get a max 5 Stoeger with an extended warranty Incase I do have issues,at least I won't have to pay shipping back to the manufacturer.

I grabbed a limbsaver pad and an m2 extractor and spring combo since that is the weak spot on this gun and will still come out cheaper than the SX4. Think I should be happy, I've gotten alot if feedback from other hunters who really like theirs so hopefully it will be a good match for me. Thanks guys.

 

[Judas530]

Picked up the Stoeger last night, completely degreased it, lubed with CLP, changed the extractor and spring, and recoil spring with Benelli M2 parts, switched out the bead for a Hi Vis competition, and switch the hard stock recoil pad for a limbsaver and put a $20 Carlson LM flush choke in it.

Took it out today and shot two boxes of low base 2 3/4 dram 1 ounce target loads and a couple Winchester White Box #2 duck loads.

The gun performed excellent. I only had 1 FTF all day. I had expected alot more as those loads are lower than the recommended 3 dram 1 1/8 loads and this gun wasn't broken in yet. It pointed naturally and my busted clay percentage was way higher than last year.

Yes I did make alot of modifications but none were super expensive and I would have changed all that stuff anyway over the life of the gun except the M2 parts. I had read that the extractors and recoil springs were weak points on these guns and I wanted to head that off before they failed on me in the field.

All in all, I am really happy with it. I possibly would have chosen something else if I had it to do over again as changing out bolt parts right away was a bit annoying but it taught me alot about the gun and it all worked out. I am happy with my purchase and it should give me a couple seasons of hard duck hunting at a reasonable price.

 

[PapaG]

Fail to fire or fail to feed?

 

[Judas530]

My bad. Failure to feed. Shell got stuck midway through loading process.

 

[Roverguy]

Stoeger SxS are so bad they really ought not be allowed for sale. I own one. It’s rubbish. I have never met anyone who owns one who does not feel theirs is cheaply made, poorly regulated, and just not very good.

I have no experience with their semi autos but they do seem to be a different kettle of fish. Reviews of their semis seem much better. Hope it goes well for you.

 

[cdb1]

Stoeger SxS are so bad they really ought not be allowed for sale. I own one. It’s rubbish. I have never met anyone who owns one who does not feel theirs is cheaply made, poorly regulated, and just not very good.

I have no experience with their semi autos but they do seem to be a different kettle of fish. Reviews of their semis seem much better. Hope it goes well for you.

Unless something’s changed Stoeger SxS’s and O/U’s are made in Brazil and in the opinion of most, myself included they are a POS. There is one member on this website who will beg to differ but I haven’t seen a post from him in a long time.

Stoeger semi’s are a different story and as everyone knows are made in Turkey. I have experience with two, an M2000 I purchased around 2004 and my SIL’s M3500. Had the M2000 for around five years and no issues, sold it to a friend of my daughter who didn’t have much money. The M3500 was used hard for eight years in mud and rain and finally had a hiccup last fall. My SIL bought it when he first started hunting, with him not sure whether he would like hunting or not. I believe he got his money’s worth several times over.

Since he and my daughter do very well financially he purchased a Citori 20 gauge and a Maxus II over the winter and retired the M3500.

 

[Judas530]

Thanks Rover, I have 5 other shotguns so if it doesn't work out it's not a big loss. I got the camo version for $481 out the door and only plan on using it for 2-3 seasons before I buy a high dollar gun.

I just wanted a cheaper semi that I could abuse and would last me a couple seasons. I think that it will but if it doesn't, not the end of the world either. Just wanted to give the forum an update on it.

 

[d2wing]

Thanks for the report. The key is that it fits you and you shoot it well. That means more than anything to me.

 

[KsSkaEnthusiast]

So the comments (including me) side on the stoeger but the poll pulls toward winchester?

 

[Micro]

I'd go with the SX4 because for me, it's proven to be perfectly reliable with all manner of loads, but it appears you made your choice.

I own a Winchester SX4, a Browning Maxus II, and a Browning A5 - all made by Browning in their Portugal factory. The SX4 is about $700 less than the Maxus II but gives up very little. The SX4 doesn't have the "speed load" feature, which the Maxus II has, but I rarely use. And the SX4 doesn't havbe the magazine cutt-off that the Maxus II has, that allows you to change out shells in the chamber without cycling a new round in from the magazine. This is another feature I rarely use. But the gas system is essentiually the same, they're made from the same materials, with maybe a little more refinement of finish on internal parts for the Maxus. But in terms of function, they are identical. I principally use my SX4 with heavy 3.5" turkey anbd buckhot loads. But it functions fine with lighrt 2 3/4" 1oz target loads. The chamber and entire bore is chrome lined. I've never had a malfunction with my SX4. The SX4 is a great gun.

 

[Pete D.]

Micro: I like that Thoreau quote.