Stoeger semi auto vs Benelli

[SofaGeorge]

I won't make bones about the fact that I love finding bargain guns... and I also actually like a lot of cheap guns. But I also deeply respect quality.

I know... all of the above contradicts.

I had an M1 Benelli that I sold years ago and have always planned to get another semi-auto. I'm looking at the Benelli M4, but I am curious to see who has experience with the Stoeger. Their advertising leans heavily on it using the Benelli system.

I hate some concepts that Soeger has introduced... like a single trigger double barrel shotgun... but I'm very interested to see what actually owners have to say about their semi-autos. Do they match Benelli reliability?

I'm alive today because of Benelli. My neighbor is alive because she had that same Benelli in her hands two weeks later. (Fluke and not related events.) Reliability in a firearm takes all priority in my buying decisions... because the real world happens.

Advertisers do a great job selling products. Owners do a great job telling you what guns they got rid of for being jam-o-matics.

[crob]

I own both a Stoeger M2000 and a Benelli M2. Both go bang every time. The Stoeger is a little harsher to shoot, but works. Maybe the Stoegers have changed since I bought mine a few years back, but the system is slightly different then on my Benelli. While both use the recoil of the gun to operate the action, the return spring on the Stoeger is on the magazine and not in the stock like the Benelli. So the bolt travels on long carrier arms that run from the receiver to the mag. Never had a problem with it, just pointing out a difference I noticed.

[Ledbetter]

I never had a problem with my Stoeger 2000 in two years. Went bang every time. Sold it to a mom I know so she could give it to her son as an Xmas gift. I had been taking him up to shoot trap and he got really good. He's seventeen. Oh, to have good eyesight and reflexes. That was a year ago and he has had no trouble with it.

Unbeatable for the money. Fit and finish maybe not as good as Benelli.