Mossberg 935 or Stoeger XT2000

the critter · 05-10-2009, 01:35 PM

I am between these two shotguns, what do you all think.

I am going to be using the gun to waterfowl and turkey hunt with, more than likely I will buy the gun with a longer barrel for duck hunting a shorter barrel for turkey hunting.

I like the stoeger for the sheer fact they are made by benelli and have a benelli action. But it is oonly a 3inch mag.

I like the 935 for the fact it is a 3.5 mag, and it is a mossberg, which I have had several 500's and 835 and had plenty of luck out of.

What do you all think?

stalkingbear · 05-10-2009, 02:47 PM

I can't speak for the Mossberg much, other than not liking light target loads, but I have a Stoeger 2000 and honestly feel it's 1 of the best 400$ I ever spent. I really like mine. It comes with 5 chokes, 1 being xtra full for turkey, but any Benelli choke tube fits.

driftrider · 05-10-2009, 07:26 PM

X2 on the Stoeger 2000. Great shotgun for the money. To correct you a little , though. The Stoeger is not made by Benelli. It's made in Turkey and the Inertia system is used under license from Benelli. Parts from other Inertia system guns like the Super Black Eagle are not interchangeable, but the action is essentially the same just adapted to the slightly different receiver. They do work the same, though.

One thing I really like about the Stoeger is that there is no gas system to get gummed up in damp environments, and the inertia action stays remarkably clean because the action actually locks up tighter at the beginning of the recoil pulse, ensuring a tight seal and affording enough time for the gas and fouling from the shot to leave the barrel before the action unlocks and cycles. This results in very little crud blowing back into the action. I was extremely surprised by how clean the action stayed even when shooting cheap (which usually means dirty) ammo. The action also cycles remarkably fast (at least I think so). I had anticipated a longer cycle time that would feel more like a Browning A-5, but in truth it was as fast as any gas operated shotgun I've ever shot and maybe a little faster. I've been extremely impressed with my Stoeger and it has to be one of the best value for the money guns available today. And it comes with everything you need to hunt anything with feathers right out of the box by virtue of having 5 included choke tubes (Cyl, IC, Mod, Full and XF Turkey). If you like aftermarket chokes, any Benelli choke tube will fit.

If you get one you I doubt you'll be disappointed. Just remember to shoot at least a box or two of 1 1/4 oz, 3 dram equivalent shells through it to break the action in. After you do that, it'll cycle anything. At least mine does.

Mike

gregrn43 · 05-11-2009, 01:41 AM

The 935 is not a bad shotgun, but they need to be kept pretty clean to function properly. Well at least mine does. Its not the same quality as my benelli is but its a fraction of the cost. I use mine mostly for turkey hunting, I tried it for goose hunting, but crawling through the muddy rice fields was a bit much for the mossberg.

the critter · 05-11-2009, 02:37 PM

Hey I appreciate the enlightenment and tips driftrider.

One question though...since Benelli doesn't own Stoeger. Why can only benelli dealers carry them now?

Is it that Benelli owns them, but just doesn't make them?

stalkingbear · 05-11-2009, 03:58 PM

That's exactly what it is. Stoegers are made in a (almost) new plant with new (since 2001 I think) tooling owned by Benelli.

peanutbunkerandjelly · 05-14-2009, 02:22 PM

Ive heard alot of negitive things about the stoeger. I was gun shopping back in january for a shotgun to duck/turkey hunt with. I held the stoeger at dicks and fell for it, it felt great in my hands, semi auto, 400$ couldnt ask for more. Just before I told the guy to get me one I called a buddy who I hunt with, he told me that his friend bought one and had a problem with it. I decided to wait, I came home and did ALOT of searching online and found many people who had problems...One of the most comon is that the fireing pin dosent hit the primeer on some shells hard enough to fire. I didnt buy the stoeger since then ive meet 2 people hunting that have had problems one had the fireing pin problem and the other had the whole trigger mechinisum fall out. On a tip I researched a russian 3.5 inch 12g made by baikal its imported and sold by remington under the Spartan SPR453. Every customer review was great for this gun so I bought it. Ive only had the gun for 5 months but have had no problems shoots everyhting I put in it from light 2/34inch to 31/2 turkey loads and slugs. Try going to a search and type stoeger2000 problems... thats what I did and thats when I decided to look else where. When I seached SPR453 problems I really couldnt find any! I bought mine in camo finsh with a 26inch barrel it came with 4 extened choke tubes inclueding x-full turkey I paid 479 online but I was back at dicks last weekend and the had it on the rack for 450. The do make a 28inch but that only comes in black. So far im a fan of the 26 was leery of it for duck hunting but after useing it... no difference and its more manageable in the woods for turkey.

Hurricanespg · 05-14-2009, 03:24 PM

Either one should work just fine for what you are intending to use them for. I say pick the one you like best.
The first and second generations of the Stoeger had problems, but it seems they have ironed them out quite well. It seems the same can be said of the 935, but the 935 will have trouble cycling lighter loads if you ever intend to shoot them.
Also the 935 will probably be easier to get an awesome turkey pattern from, although both will do quite well once you find the right combo for each.
Good luck.

stalkingbear · 05-15-2009, 09:47 AM

The current generation of Stoeger 2000s (what I've got) are GREAT for the price. The 1s like mine can easily be identified by the fiber optic front bead.

peanutbunkerandjelly · 05-15-2009, 10:01 AM

I guess they have made some iimprovements. I know for sure the ones made a few years ago were junk. If I were buying another shot gun I would give them a second lookits just hardto forget about the bad experiencesa few friends had with them. One guyIhunt with shoots the mossberg 835 and beats it to death... always shootsfor him the inside is more rust then anything cause he saltwater duck hunts and dosent belive inoil haha. Look in the spr453 before you buy I like mine.