Stoeger 2000 vs. Benelli M1 and Montefeltro

[Frank B.]

I am about to purchase a used Montefeltro and started reading about the 2000. It appears it has the same inner workings of the Benelli but at half the cost. Only drawback for me is I am a lefty and the Stoeger is not.
Is the Stoeger as good as the Benelli and should it be a consideration before I make purchase of Benelli?

[bullethole]

It depends an your definition of "as good as". Having handled and shot my buddies Benelli M1 I can hit just as many targets with my 2000. However the Benelli is a higher quality gun materials-wise. You get what you pay for but 15 ft. away they look the same. I have had only three minor malfunctions and I think that was the ammo.
Probably no help on the "lefty" part as I don't think they make one. Where are you in North Cack-a-lacky? I bought my 2000 at the Gun Room in Mebane at a good price.

[birdkilr]

Frank,

Stoeger is owned by beretta/benelli, that is how the stoeger is the ONLY one that has a liscenced benelli revolving bolt besides beretta or benelli of course....... Like said before, the quality as far as the wood and finish is not as high as a benelli. they both look Identical and shoot the same as well....But, the 2000 is literally half the price.... take into consideration the modifications that you might want to make to the gun and weigh out the options......i did alot of work to my stoeger 2000 and it shoots better than anything else i have picked up 'cause it has been fitted and customized.... I do have about 800 bucks in it though.... So if you are a guy like me who can't leave well enough alone, I suggest the 2000. but if you are just tickled with a stock monte, then spend your money on what you want.... hope that i helped some!!! good luck!! jrs

[Frank B.]

Bullethole,
I am near Hyco Lake area NC.
I went to Gun Room last weekend and looked around but the prices went up. It is no longer the Gun Room either. They sold to another party and changed names.

[Chef]

Beretta/Benelli has liscened the rotating bolt to Tristar also, check out their Benelli clones. I have both a Montefeltro and a Model 2000. For twice the money you do get a nicer gun. They are not exactly alike, internally or externally. Buy which ever you wish they are both good guns, but not equal.

[bullethole]

Check out Dick's. They had the camo 12 ga. in their sale paper for $399.00 yesterday. I do not know if the other models are on sale.

[Drifty]

Just got a 2000 at Dicks 339 with slug barrel, gun is perfect for turkey by changing the choke to a full has rifled sights...now that the pro turkey hunters use rifle sights this gun is perfect for it...I now have a condor and a 2000, of course, I really didn't need either one with the variety I have but boys will be boys

[tmtilk]

birdklr,

You indicated you had your gun fitted. I've never done this and I should have with a previous gun I bought and sold because I just couldn't shoot it well. Some background: I had a Browning BPS wood stock, 26 in 12 ga. I shot it well. I traded it in for a 28 in synthetic BPS thinking I would shoot it as well. I didn't. Matter of fact, I sold the thing cause I couldn't hit birds on the wing with it. I know it just didn't fit the same as the previous BPS. The 2" barrel difference probably had some impact too.

Well, I couldn't resist the deal at Dick's and bought a Stoeger 2000 camo, 26" 12 ga. This time, if I don't shoot it well I will look into having it fitted. If you would, I'd like some insight into who I should see and what I should be aware of..

[EShoreMD.]

i too just purchased the 2000 in 12/26 from dicks. what all goes with having the gun fitted. this is my first shotgun. also the guy at dicks told me they dont make a rifled barrel. i want to do some deer hunting this year with it. with no rifled barrel what are my options?

[Drifty]

EShore MD.
I purchased one with a regular Deer Barrel, apparently they don't make a rifled barrel but a regular smooth bore barrel with a open choke works fine. Just use the rifled slugs and not the special copper and sabot slugs. I hae a Browning Barrel thats the sdame and it works great, I just wanted a semi-auto loader and got the stoegger 2000 with the Deer Barrel.

[EShoreMD.]

ok, does anyone know where i can purchase the slug barrel on line, in camo? thanks drifty.

[EShoreMD.]

i called bennelli and they gave me the # to mann&sons, called them and the price for the deer/slug barrel is $140. they recommended having my gun tapped for a scope and using the field barrel with an improved choke. does this sound right to you guys?

[Drifty]

EShore, is that a Deer Barrel field barrel . The choke sounds fine but taping the gun...need a good smith and do you really need a scope the rifle sights are different than the browning ... I can see the stoeger sight better than the browning. I would get the barrel if you are going to deer hunt alot with it. but the regular barrel will work with a open choke or improved cylinder.. Good luck.

[EShoreMD.]

thanks drifty, ill do some expiermenting with the rifled slugs and both open and improved cylinder chokes. can you recommend a good slug? what do you shoot? thanks for the help.

[Drifty]

I prefer winchester rifled slugs, they seem to shoot better than the remington or federal