Mossberg 930 vs Stoger M3000

[gfl216 226]

I've been looking at the Mossberg 930 and the Stoeger M3000 and can't decide which I may want to buy. They seem to be fairly compatible in price with the Mossberg being a little less. From watching Youtube and talking to people, I still can't come up with a clear winner. I like that the Mossberg comes with a ported barrel and has tons of readily available accessories and configurations but I'm really drawn to the inertia driven action of the Stoeger and a Benelli is beyond my budget.

 

Given the choice of the two which would you buy and why?

[AdamM 42]

If you do competition (eg 3-gun) consider the Stoger M3K instead. It is the M3000, but worked over for competition.

[ronhonda 86]

Stoger and if you can find the 3gun model you are in good shape.

Stoger has been known as the 'poor man's" Benelli.

[Vlad G 345]

M3000 (or M3K) by a LONG shot.

 

1) accessories on shotguns are a lot less important and a lot of them already exist for both guns. Rib mounted sites, scope bases, etc, all those things work on lots of guns. I'm not sure what accessories you plan to put on gun and what you plan to use it for but don't worry about accessories because ..

 

2) I have seen lots of 930 and increasing numbers of M3000's in 3gun competition. I've RO'ed at some major matches. 3Gun may not be why you are buying the gun, but it is a good example of how crucible of sport shows weaknesses in design.  In my experience 930 are NOT reliable under any kind of significant stress.  I'm not saying some aren't or can't be made to work, but when the guns of the Mossberg sponsored shooters shit the bed you can be pretty sure their guns are as good as they can be. On the other hand inertia guns seem to be boringly reliable, Including the M3000.  Full disclosure, I've been shooting an M3000 for the last year and change, I've shot probably about 2500-3000 rounds of bird shot through it, and about 200 slugs and maybe 50 buck. I have had exactly 3 failures of any sort. Failure 1, really low recoil B&P slugs don't cycle the gun. Failure 2. a failure to feed out of the tube when I had a chunk of tree bark in the action. Failure 3, I had a round fail to feed from the tube, that one currently blaming on a out of spec ammo rim.   I call that stupidly reliable.  If this is a hunting gun, it doesn't matter. If it is a competition (of any sort) or defense gun I'd take the more reliable one.

 

3) shotgun porting is useless as far as I'm concerned. Unless you use one of those monster comps, I don't think they reduce recoil and the barrel doesn't rise that much that it needs to be held down.

 

4) The M3000 has some features people are not aware of. First it is lighter then the 930. If you are overly recoil sensitive that might matter, but I think I like a lighter gun that swings faster. Inertia guns are stupid clean and require very little maintenance. The inside of the barrel is chromed. Like the Benelli M2 and the Beretta 1301, it feeds a shell not based on the operation of the gun, but based on trigger pulls, what that means is that the next shell feeds from the tube on the lifter when you pull the trigger, not when the action moves which means it has a lot more time to travel from the tube and reduce the risk of the action overrunning the feed system. Like the 1301, it has a hinged shell latch system, which some people like and some don't but one huge advantage is that you can empty the tube without cycling the action or any of the rounds through the chamber. Some of the internal parts are compatible with the Benelli parts. For example I've replaced my extractor with a M2 one, drop in part. It wasn't that I felt that the original extractor was bad, but it was $7 part and I could so I did. Unlike the M2, the M3000 has the recoil springs round the magazine tube, not in the stock. That means you cut and shape as much of the stock as you want for your fitting needs without having to worry about action parts inside of it. 

 

 

So yeah, I'd buy another M3000 or M3k in a flash. I wouldn't spend any of my money on a 930. That said, they are both cheaper guns which means neither is perfect. While my M3000 has been perfect, some people have been running into small issues, like having to debur the extractor channel, or polish the outside of the mag tube. A lot of the earlier issues were addressed by the manufacturer and are now standard in the M3K model (which comes with polished mag tubes I think)

 

Oh and a last thing, Stoegers are sold in the US by the Berretta/Benelli people and serviced by the same, and Benelli has a stellar reputation for support. 

[louu 399]

Yes Vlad the new M3K's do have a super slick mag tube so no need to polish it anymore. 

 

Gfl,  the Cabelas in Delaware usually has the M3K in stock. I know it's a little far for you but it's an easy drive. The other nice thing about buying a gun in Delaware is there is no tax, no hidden fees and no NICS. The price on the tag is the price you pay. It's $629.99 out the door. Could be less if you have a coupon. Just call first and make sure they have some because they move them all the time. 

[mikeyjones 88]

Just went through the same choice a few months ago. Ended up with the m3k. Couldn't be happier with it.

 

Sent from my Z812 using Tapatalk

[djg0770 481]

Yes Vlad the new M3K's do have a super slick mag tube so no need to polish it anymore. 

 

Gfl,  the Cabelas in Delaware usually has the M3K in stock. I know it's a little far for you but it's an easy drive. The other nice thing about buying a gun in Delaware is there is no tax, no hidden fees and no NICS. The price on the tag is the price you pay. It's $629.99 out the door. Could be less if you have a coupon. Just call first and make sure they have some because they move them all the time. 

 

I think you mean there's no CHARGE for NICS, not that NICS isn't performed...

[gfl216 226]

I guess I should have put in the original post that the gun would be used mostly for clay shooting. I'm not a hunter and have never shot a 3 gun match (not that I would be opposed to either).

[Ricky_Bobby 130]

Yes Vlad the new M3K's do have a super slick mag tube so no need to polish it anymore. 

 

Gfl,  the Cabelas in Delaware usually has the M3K in stock. I know it's a little far for you but it's an easy drive. The other nice thing about buying a gun in Delaware is there is no tax, no hidden fees and no NICS. The price on the tag is the price you pay. It's $629.99 out the door. Could be less if you have a coupon. Just call first and make sure they have some because they move them all the time. 

 

^But wouldn't you still have to pay transfer fee to FFL in NJ plus their NICS check when you picked it up and wouldn't they charge NJ sales tax on the paid price at pickup since its technically a sale (transfer) in the state of NJ?

 

Pardon me if I sound like an idiot but I've never purchased a firearm from out of state before - however I'm going down to NC in August so if its easy I may make a pit stop at Cabelas and go shopping LOL

[Krdshrk 3,877]

I have a 930 JM Pro - after many thousands of rounds through it, the safety latch (plastic piece inside) broke.  I got an aftermarket safety to replace it with.  Just keep the gas system clean and you'll be fine.

 

Other than that, no issues.  It's a clay buster but with a 24" barrel it's not great for longer shots.  I know some with the 28" ported barrel - theirs are reliable too.

[T Bill 649]

You can buy a long gun out of state as long as you meet the requirements of both states (federal rules). For NJ, COE and it must be NJ legal. Delaware Fed 4473 and NICS.  All things OK, out the door in Delaware you go with your new long arm.  Slap a string or tape around/over the edge of the box you have a secure package, toss it in the trunk, your ready to go.  No NJ FFL required.  About the sales tax, up to you to declare on your NJ1040 taxes at year end.  Delaware has no obligation to collect NJ sales taxes.

 

Under Federal Laws, only handguns must be transferred in state of residence.  Now some states have laws restricting long gun sales to adjacent states and the like, well that's another can of worms. So what NC laws are as to a NJ person purchase I do not know.  They can refuse even if no NC laws stop purchase.  No person to person sale of any firearm across state lines, either. Federal Law.

[Ricky_Bobby 130]

You can buy a long gun out of state as long as you meet the requirements of both states (federal rules). For NJ, COE and it must be NJ legal. Delaware Fed 4473 and NICS.  All things OK, out the door in Delaware you go with your new long arm.  Slap a string or tape around/over the edge of the box you have a secure package, toss it in the trunk, your ready to go.  No NJ FFL required.  About the sales tax, up to you to declare on your NJ1040 taxes at year end.  Delaware has no obligation to collect NJ sales taxes.

 

Under Federal Laws, only handguns must be transferred in state of residence.  Now some states have laws restricting long gun sales to adjacent states and the like, well that's another can of worms. So what NC laws are as to a NJ person purchase I do not know.  They can refuse even if no NC laws stop purchase.  No person to person sale of any firearm across state lines, either. Federal Law.

 

^Good info and I knew about handgun transfers and P2P has to be done within state of residence for both parties - thanks for the info on long guns in DE, without having sales tax which I knew about that is great - maybe I'll go shotgun shopping in Cabela's next time I'm heading down south and see if I can get a good deal or just check the selection - since I'm moving I'm holding off on buying anything that is "NJ Compliant" as I'll just buy non-neutered AR style rifles and other long arms without restrictions when I move.

[raz-0 1,259]

I have a mossberg 930, I'm going to switch to the stoeger m3k. 

 

Especially for 3gun, It's just a no brainer, and the cheaper thing to do. I'll put up my reasoning, and you can determine if they apply to you.

 

Given they are priced similarly the following are what I think matters in terms of comparing. I will note things that only really matter to 3 gun with (3g) and things that matter to more than 3 gun but not necessarily to all uses with *.

 

Things you need to fix on an out of the box mossberg:

 

1) new STEEL safety. best bang for the buck winds up being about $20+s/h. The plastic one WILL break on you if you do any serious quantity of shooting or even just banging it around in the safe.  

2) New bolt handle * (JM pro is sufficient). 

3) new mag tube *  (For NJ this applies to all. In free america, the nordic on the JM pro is GTG). 

4) Better follower * (if going with a +2 mag tube, you likely need something other than stock, no idea if the JM pro comes with the nrodic follower). 

5) OR3GUN marine spacer tube * (May not need this with the JM pro, or if you are a low volume shooter who detail cleans the gas system EVERY time). 

6) OR3gun forearm retainer (3g) 

7) Tweak the gas/recoil system * (the 930 built an early reputation for reliable operation with a wide range of shells. IMO, this is mostly highlander 3 effect where it looks good because those that came before it sucked so bad. IMO for anything where you want to cycle a high volume of light bird shot, you are going to have to take steps to either decrease the spring rate via OR3GUN CSP/ASR system, or slicking up the gas system via the JM pro models chrome or the OR3GUN marine tube, or a combination. Some combination of the above should get you reasonably reliable operation with anything 2 3/4", but I'd stay away form teh 3" stuff after messing with the spring rates). 

8) sights * (JM pro may be sufficient and is certainly on par with the m3k in thsi department, but for both you will likely want some form of rear). 

9) Extended choke tubes of the right variety * (for 3 gun you can try limping by with using modified for everything, but at some point you will likely need at least one more, and then you will want extended). 

10) Sling mounts (JM pro at least gives you the nordic clamp with it)

11) loading port work (3g)

12) Some form of match saver

 

What you'll need to fix on the stoeger:

 

1) rear sight. *

2) sling mounts * (only if you want a QD sling to work and if you are altering capacity, If 4 rounds and sling studs work, it's GTG).

3) 922r compliant tube of appropriate lengths. 

4) An improved follower if you replace the tube

5) possibly need to drop in a benelli extractor 

6) Some form of match saver

 

Money wise, if you want a functioning 3g setup, I think the stoeger will cost you less since it comes with extended choke tubes appropriate to 3 gun. If you don't want DIY loading port work done, it'll cost you a lot less. 

 

Something to consider for someone not me. If you need a short length of pull, teh stoeger recoil system is not in the stock, you can shorten it up with some custom hacking a lot more than a benelli, 930, beretta, etc. 

 

Qualitatively:

 

I have a 930 with a shortened barrel, with an extended forcing cone, and a heavy railed forearm. It is soft shooting, but not enough to matter unless you are shooting rested in a port (in which case the mossberg is kind, and the stoeger kind of punches you in the face a bit) and the stoeger transitions better. There's also match saver style loading via the ejection port. Short version is the stoeger does this better and more reliably. The long verison is that the stoeger doesn't release a shell from the tube until you press that little silver tab by the trigger, or pull the trigger. The 930 releases it at some other point in the firing cycle. The upshot is that if you are a bit over-exuberant with your match saver load on the stoeger, you push teh lifter a bit, but it loads. If you are with the 930, you can trigger a round to come out of the mag tube and wind up with a double feed situation that's not good when you are on the clock. If you do that AND find you had a FTE because the clearances on the stock spacer tube suck and drag on fouling or too much lube, you wind up with a jem of a failure condition that truly sucks. The flip side of that is the 930 manual of arms is simpler. 

 

Then there's the cleaning. The stoeger has a chrome lined barrel and no gas system. Guys with several cases down the pipe since the last cleaning have m3ks that look as clean as my 930 did out of the box. 

 

The 930 has or3gun, nordic, southern kentucky tactical, GG&G and mesa tactical support for accessories and bits, as well as some other odds and ends. 

 

The m3k  has MOA precision, the benelli parts bin, and some aftermarket stuff that interchanges between the benellis and the stoeger, and nordic for aftermarket options. 

[Krdshrk 3,877]

1) new STEEL safety. best bang for the buck winds up being about $20+s/h. The plastic one WILL break on you if you do any serious quantity of shooting or even just banging it around in the safe.  

2) New bolt handle * (JM pro is sufficient). 

3) new mag tube *  (For NJ this applies to all. In free america, the nordic on the JM pro is GTG). 

4) Better follower * (if going with a +2 mag tube, you likely need something other than stock, no idea if the JM pro comes with the nrodic follower). 

5) OR3GUN marine spacer tube * (May not need this with the JM pro, or if you are a low volume shooter who detail cleans the gas system EVERY time). 

6) OR3gun forearm retainer (3g) 

7) Tweak the gas/recoil system * (the 930 built an early reputation for reliable operation with a wide range of shells. IMO, this is mostly highlander 3 effect where it looks good because those that came before it sucked so bad. IMO for anything where you want to cycle a high volume of light bird shot, you are going to have to take steps to either decrease the spring rate via OR3GUN CSP/ASR system, or slicking up the gas system via the JM pro models chrome or the OR3GUN marine tube, or a combination. Some combination of the above should get you reasonably reliable operation with anything 2 3/4", but I'd stay away form teh 3" stuff after messing with the spring rates). 

8) sights * (JM pro may be sufficient and is certainly on par with the m3k in thsi department, but for both you will likely want some form of rear). 

9) Extended choke tubes of the right variety * (for 3 gun you can try limping by with using modified for everything, but at some point you will likely need at least one more, and then you will want extended). 

10) Sling mounts (JM pro at least gives you the nordic clamp with it)

11) loading port work (3g)

12) Some form of match saver

 

Safety is exactly what went on my 930 JM.  I put on the +2 Mag tube and got the Nordic Follower - Feeds reliably.  I'll look at the OR3GUN MST and Forearm Retainers though!

[Danno 127]

For Sale: Remington 11-87 Premier semi-auto shotgun (2_3/4" or 3") Remington Arms Ilion, NY

 

This is in the Marketplace forum right now. Just sayin'

 

Oh. I've bought 3 guns at the Cabela's in Del. in the last 3 months. great store and easy to get to. 

[gfl216 226]

Okay new question. What after market barrel lengths are available for the Stoeger MK3? If I was to buy a MK3 with the 24" barrel will it accept the 28" field barrel or is it a dedicated 3 gun model? 

[Vlad G 345]

Any of the barrels will fit, the 3gun specific mods are basically extended controls and a enlarged loading gate (and some internal polishing). I guess and extended chokes. Any of the M3000 barrels will work.

 

Personally I feel like 24" is the perfect barrel length for most things, but I don't hunt. I can do everything I want to the pattern with chokes, and I guess I'm not a good enough shotgun shooter to tell the difference in sight radius. Maybe if I shot a lot of clays I'd feel different.

 

BTW, there is nothing wrong with just buying the M3000 with the barrel you want. The extended controls and port opening are not important if you are just shooting clays so why spend the extra money, the spare barrels are not cheap, they are like half the cost of the gun.

[Ricky_Bobby 130]

So I looked up the M3K today and the 930 and noted this thread and the differences between both -

 

I'm not looking to do 3-gun or hunting with it, would like a shorter barrel if possible, target shooting and home defense - Can you use a shorter barrel with the M3K and which one? 

 

I like that the 930 has the cool looking "breacher" barrel on their tactical models, price is pretty much in line - probably with a few of the aftermarket upgrades it would be good for my needs, no?  I'll do more research in the meantime.  The M3K does look pretty nice -

[MK25 V 3]

Last year I went to my LGS and seen a M3K on the rack and asked about it also doing research about it later on. After getting some data on it I decided to buy it for competition use. After taking it out to Lehigh Vally to do some clay shooting I was having a lot of failure to eject using just regular clay target shells. Probably had a total of 225 shells through the long gun. Months later I took it to my first 3 gun event and had about 10 FTE's. Following 3 gun event about 3FTE's then the last one I been to it ran flawless. Guess there was a break in period that I just ignored and someone mentioned about running 100- 3dram loads through it first to loosen it up a bit.

 

I would recommend this shotgun to anyone looking for anything from sporting, competition, & home defense.

[Vlad G 345]

All inertia guns prefer slightly heavier loads, specially doing break in periods. Mine runs with everything down to 2 3/4 dram loads, but a have more then a few cases through it.

[Ricky_Bobby 130]

I think what I'm gathering is most semi auto shotguns have a bit of a break in after initial cleaning.

 

Would love a Beretta 1301 Tactical but just having trouble finding the coin for one now