Stevens or Stoeger

[JosERW]

So I am in the market for a 20 gauge side by side. I was invited to go small game hunting and this gives me an excuse to buy a side by side. I might also use it for turkey and maybe even use it when my son gets older enough to come shooting with me. Here's my question, I am looking at a Stevens 311 H (3" chambers, 28" barrels, fixed M/F chokes) on Gunbroker for under $300. The gun is in good condition except the stock which would need to be refinished at some point. Or a Stoeger Uplander (3" chamber, 26 or 28" barrels and screw in chokes).

I'd rather have the older American gun, but the Stoeger fits everything I need at it's under $500. The only thing is I've heard Stoeger's QC is sub standard and the metal/wood leaves much to be desired. That being said, it would be a beater gun anyway.

Would I be stupid to buy the Stevens knowing I am going to eventually have to invest another $300 into the stock? I think fixed M/F is fine but I would prefer screw in chokes which can also be added for an additional $200. Is it worth it to have a more quality American made firearm?

 

[MoMan]

I had a Stoeger 20ga, SS Coach Gun. I loved that little shotty. I say "loved" because I was silly enough to let it go to a Buddy of mine who wanted it for his young Son who would be hunting soon. I wished I had not let that one get out of the stable. I guess if I see a good used one out there, I'll probably buy it.

 

[ArmedCorgi]

I used to have a 20ga Stoeger coach gun. Sweet little shot gun. I traded it towards a 12ga Stoeger coach and love that more!

 

[JosERW]

You were pleased with the fit and finish on the Stoeger? Was it made in Brazil?

 

[meketrefe]

I don't know the coach guns but this is the thing with Stoeger.
The barrels seem pretty nice. the gun itself is well made.
the only problem are the trigger groups. They will not stand the rigors of use and might fail after a few thousand loads.
In the clays club whenever there is someone with a stoppage there have been many instances the stoegers are the norm.
These can be fixed by a gunsmith that most likely will replace the firing pins and whole group with a mechanical reset.
Some people buy them for the kids (great value) to start them in clays competition and take them to the gunsmith right
away for a retrofit. Retrofits are not expensive. They should be done by a good reputable shotgun smith though.
After that has been fixed then they become great guns.
Brazilians make nice alloys and guns for the money but for whatever reason they cannot get the trigger groups right in
many firearms. I am not going to say this is the general rule but it shows more often than it should imo.
I think if someone does a trigger group retrofit it increases the value of the gun.
IMO the the over and under are easier to become good with them. The coach guns are too short to be the most effective
in field hunting but sure they are fun.
Of course there are others that are great choices in the value segment.

I hope this helps.

 

[JosERW]

Thank you for such a detailed response. If I may, can I ask a few follow up questions?

1) What is this "retrofit" you're talking about? Is it aftermarket parts or a modification to the stock parts?
2) What size barrel do you think would be appropriate, 26" or 28"? For now the gun will be used by me for small game hunting, maybe some upland and a tower shoot here or there, perhaps even a turkey if I want to leave the 12GA at home. But I'd also like to give this to my son one day (who is just an infant now) as his "first shotgun." I wouldn't care if it gets beat up, I'd just like something that he can do everything from clays to small game to ducks in the marsh with (does the extra 2" of a 28" make that much of difference when being handled by a youngster?).
3) Do you recommend the single or double trigger?

 

[meketrefe]

If you have a double trigger the chances are you will not see the above problem or any other problems or a least too soon.
but I am not aware of one with the double trigger of the ones I have seen like the 2000.
With the single trigger What they do is they replace the sear and pins with a mechanical.
I don't know the details but you can also wait until it fails and then decide.
the mechanical is a lot better because it doesn't rely on the recoil to reset.
I would say 24" minimum. 26" or 28" would be perfect.
Shotgun barrels are a lot lighter than a rifle so the extra speed and accuracy is
a welcome w/o much extra weight.
Kids can start with 12ga with mild loads. A nice pad in the back and they will grown into them in no time.
Check the Russian made too. A bit spartan but built like tanks. Those triggers last a lot longer into the tens of thousands of shells.
Remingotn used to sell a russian made by Baikal called spartan. They just put the name on it.
The Baikal are good. The action and steel are very strong.
Personally I would take a step above but I know you are on a budget.

 

[JosERW]

Okay so I think the Uplander it will be. But now I'm having a serious problem deciding between the 26" and 28".

The gun will be used for small game and maybe a turkey here and there, but I'd also like to be able to use it for waterfowl and pheasants. Like a loaner gun I can give to a buddy. However, I'm thinking this would be a great gun for my son to eventually learn on too.

26" is good for small game but might be harder to swing for birds, but is 28" going to be too long for small game? Will that be harder for a child to use vs a 26"?

Ahhhh!

 

[ArmedCorgi]

Okay so I think the Uplander it will be. But now I'm having a serious problem deciding between the 26" and 28".

The gun will be used for small game and maybe a turkey here and there, but I'd also like to be able to use it for waterfowl and pheasants. Like a loaner gun I can give to a buddy. However, I'm thinking this would be a great gun for my son to eventually learn on too.

26" is good for small game but might be harder to swing for birds, but is 28" going to be too long for small game? Will that be harder for a child to use vs a 26"?

Ahhhh!

Talk about getting hung up over two inches...lol. I mean, if you were debating between a 20" coach gun for reasons and a 28" uplander for reasons, you'd really need to look at your reasons for wanting the gun. Honestly, I would go with the 28" mostly because I don't think the extra two inches can do you wrong either way for small game or birds. Maybe I'm wrong but you want decent range with a good pattern. Birds will likely be further away from you by the time you pull the trigger and with small game, if they are closer to you, you don't want too much spread that would ruin the meat.

 

[Saltwater60]

Id do the shorter gun since it's easy to swing and lighter. I'm deciding on the same thing myself. My friend had a shorty coach gun back in the day and we loved bird hunting with that thing.

 

[meketrefe]

26" is fine to take advantage of most loads and to be effective.
Actually a longer heavier gun is easier to use for point shooting because it will naturally track (follow through) w/o so much interference/ movement from the shooter.
Plus there is the extra speed and less perceived recoil. It is not like rifle barrels that get very heavy. Shotgun long barrels are a lot lighter than rifles.
The recievers are a lot shorter so they are not bulky like rifles.
Short shotguns are best for home defense. Perhaps some compact rifled for sabots but nothing else.

 

[JosERW]

You guys aren't helping lol So one vote for 26 and one for 28?

I know the 28 will swing better, but the 26 will be easier for snap shots at small game (rabbits, etc) or am I mistaken? Is there that much of a difference in swinging a 26 vs a 28?

 

[JohnnyQ]

26" is good for bird. Now think about chokes...both my SxS and my O/U have removable chokes...so I can play with the first and the second shot.

My suggestion is cylinder for the first shot and modified or even full for the second one depending the size of the shell and the kind of bird/small game you are shooting at.

7 1/2 & 8 1/2 for small medium birds and 4 or 5 for bigger birds

Hope it helps buddy!