New Security Shotgun from Savage / Stevens

[bigthaiboy]

The Stevens 350 is going to be available in about a month. Priced at around $240 to $280 MSRP, they should be hitting the stores at around $225. The 350 appears to be a copy of the Ithaca 37, and will also be available in a Field version.

The 350 looks almost identical to the Ithaca 37 riot gun clones made in China, and imported by Interstate (IAC) until about two years ago.

I for one, will be keen to check out the new Stevens 350 with the ghost sights:

http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/models/

[BigDogatPlay]

Looks promising... do we know if these are the Chinese made clones of the Ithaca, or US made?

[ZombieTactics]

Not really a fan of the ejection port design.

[1 SIG fan]

Not really a fan of the ejection port design.

good point... So, where is the eject port? left side?

[GSequoia]

good point... So, where is the eject port? left side?

Underside, same hole as the loading port.

[double_action]

The port's on the bottom.

[bigthaiboy]

Looks promising... do we know if these are the Chinese made clones of the Ithaca, or US made?

At that price point, it's highly likely to be the Chinese clone. In fact, I am almost certain it is a re-branded shotgun for Stevens, which was previously imported by IAC, as the Interstate Arms Corp Model 371. If that is the case, it is most likely produced in the same factory as the current Interstate Hawk 982.

Not really a fan of the ejection port design.

It's a tried and trusted design which has been around for 73 years, and in service with CHP/ LAPD for many years. I think it's kind of cool to have a shotgun that feeds and poops out of the same hole.


PS: Double action. I like your avatar. I have the exact same photo on a T-shirt.

[mothermopar]

Like the look of the weapon, and the price is good. The bottom port is more aesthetic than anything... the Ithaca is as good a pump shotgun as any, so hopefully, this weapon will function just as well.

Personally... I'd spend the extra money for an American weapon (Itaca). Smaller American company still making an excellent shotgun. Plus, the resale value of an Ithaca is going to be more in the long run. More heirloom appropriate, so to speak.

***Don't get me wrong, that Savage does look great and it is tempting.

[bigthaiboy]

Like the look of the weapon, and the price is good. The bottom port is more aesthetic than anything... the Ithaca is as good a pump shotgun as any, so hopefully, this weapon will function just as well.

Personally... I'd spend the extra money for an American weapon (Itaca). Smaller American company still making an excellent shotgun. Plus, the resale value of an Ithaca is going to be more in the long run. More heirloom appropriate, so to speak.

***Don't get me wrong, that Savage does look great and it is tempting.

The current production Ithaca 37 Defense shotguns are double the price of a Stevens 350, at $499 MSRP, for the synthetic model. Even a used Ithaca 18" bbl riot guns regularly go for $450+. Ithaca have a loyal following, but you must want an Ithaca, to spend the money on one, when a Mossberg/ Remington is substantially less in price.

[BigDogatPlay]

Like the look of the weapon, and the price is good. The bottom port is more aesthetic than anything... the Ithaca is as good a pump shotgun as any, so hopefully, this weapon will function just as well.

The bottom eject is quite functional in that a lefty or a righty can shoot it equally without ever worrying about getting a face full of hot brass. That John Browning designed pretty much all the machine guns he did, up to and including Ma Duece, to shuck empties out the bottom says something about the concept and that there is some efficiency to it, IMO.

I also agree with you that a well made Ithaca 37 is something that would be preferable. I just don't have that kind of scratch.

[Noxx]

Looks serviceable, but I'll stick to my dogs and my Win 1300D.

[GrimLock]

Lol I always wondered where the shells would eject from. Now I know!

LASD used the Ithaca's for years only recently have they moved over to the 870. Hell I still don't know if all the cars have 870's in them.

Anybody who knows the LASD know that the department is slow on updating.

*cough* MDT's from the 80's *cough*

Well I will no longer wonder about Ithacas and think that the ejection port must be on the left.

[-hanko]

Ithaca have a loyal following, but you must want an Ithaca, to spend the money on one, when a Mossberg/ Remington is substantially less in price.

...and substantially less smooth and more mechanically complex.

-hanko

[MAX100]

Just got in a Stevens 350 HD with ghost ring sights. It says on the barrel it's made by SUN City Machinery in the P.R.C. Imported by Savage Arms

Made of all steel head to toe
Nice fit & finish with a matte blue finish
Nice heavy duty stock
Recoil pad is hard & similar in style to the new 870 Express pad.
Very nice GRS with a green fiber optic front, LPA style but made of steel
Steel trigger guard assembly
Dual action bars
Sling stud front and rear
Action is smooth as "silk" like it's well broke in I found this be very surprising
Stock drop is just right
Stamped steel follower
Mag tube spring is weak & needs to be changed out
The last shell, 5th one, was hard to insert into the mag tube but got it in.
Trigger is very heavy
I fired a few shells through it and it ran flawless
Retail for one with GRS is $230-$250

It looks to be one heck of a deal, a step above the Hawk 982 shotguns and backed by Savage's excellent Warranty. It will post more on it with pictures later on.

GC

[Mug]

FWIW, I believe the bottom ejection port SG's were dropped by the LAPD (and other LEO's) due to the possibility of a jam when using a car or fence as cover.