The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

The first of the Stoeger M3000 Semi-Auto shotguns arrived on Friday and I rather like it.

The M3000 is an inertia driven semi auto so it should run cleaner and has a rotating bolt head for aa solid lock-up. The M3000 is chambered for 2-3/4 inch and 3 inch cartridges and you can swap from one to the other with no changes, it also comes with a couple of spare chokes (Beretta/Benelli pattern by the look of it) and what looked like some stock adapters, any more I cannot say as it came in and was gone in under three hours however I did have a bit of a look.

The version that came in was the 28 inch barrel version 5 shot and at 3.4kgs/7.5 Lbs it felt well balanced and solidly built. The load port will probably benefit from being opened up slightly and it is screaming out for a few after market items such as an extended magazine release and oversized bolt handle. Also a longer magazine tube and clamp is going to be a must for competition use and we will be bringing a few such items for customers.

I have since read that the receiver comes pre-drilled for a weaver type rail however I must admit I did not spot this when I was giving it a look over.

First impressions? Well it looks and feels good and has a reputation for reliability so at around GBP520 plus some RFD transfer fees if necessary it makes for a good cost effective alternative to some of the other options available.

Would I have one? Absolutely!

I thought they'd stopped making them, couldn't find one when I was looking!

They are certainly available now

Looks tasty ! At £250 it seems pretty good value too - how might it stack up against a Baikal ?

Do they do a Section 2 version?

The Section 2 version is around the GBP400 mark.

400 for section 1? Crikey! How much for you to fettle the loading port?

That was a typo, the price is as the very first post, around GBP520.00 for Section 1 and around GBP400 for Section 2 and yes I can do the load port as well if required.

If you could get a price with loading port, extension, bolt release etc I think you could do well!

I've had mine about a year now. Performed really well with slug and shot. Can be fussy over cartridge length and needs to be kept reasonably clean, once every couple of hundred rounds usually does.

Rails available from EGW. A SHED bolt handle would be nice

I am tempted to make a few bolt release catches, bolt handles and maybe some tubes if there is enough demand for them.