I have been wanting a side by side for quite some time. I'd use it mostly for hunting, with a little trap and skeet thrown in. So far I've just used my pump Remington 870 for all of that. I had my eye on a Weatherby Athena D'Italia. It was set up just the way I want it. Pistol grip stock, Single trigger, screw in chokes, beavertail foreend, mechanically cocked second shot. The other day I was in the local gun store and saw a Stoeger Uplander set up exactly the same way. Now I'm torn. I've been in three times to handle the Stoeger. It doesn't seem like a bad gun. When people talk about quality differences, they always mention "fit and finish" which seems to be fine on the Stoeger. It doesn't seem to be too different, but it's a quarter the price. I'll pay for quality if I think the gun will be more durable and last long enough to warrant the price, but I won't waste money on aesthetics. What differences will I really notice between the two?
Cheap Stoeger vs not so cheap
- Thread starter BarePaw
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Virginian
Member
Do not get a single trigger Stoeger. Lots of issues with that trigger system. They aren't Purdeys, but the double trigger models are pretty tough and are popular with the Cowboy set for that reason.
rbernie
Contributing Member
I had a Stoeger Uplander for a while. It was poorly machined in the extractor tunnel and I needed to clear it out with a rat tail file. Other than that, it didn't display any egregious manufacturing issues.
I put about 1K rounds through it before I sold it, maybe more. It started out really tight (due in large part to the extrator hanging up) and wound up really loose. It didn't pattern particularly well, but it would break the clays if I did my part.
In the end, it was a serviceable gun but it was clearly not the equal of the SKB that I found and purchased shortly after I got the Stoeger.
I put about 1K rounds through it before I sold it, maybe more. It started out really tight (due in large part to the extrator hanging up) and wound up really loose. It didn't pattern particularly well, but it would break the clays if I did my part.
In the end, it was a serviceable gun but it was clearly not the equal of the SKB that I found and purchased shortly after I got the Stoeger.
oneounceload
member
This discussion comes up quite frequently on various forums. SxS are the most difficult shotgun type to manufacture with any semblance of quality. Fitting the action to the stock, regulating the barrels, getting balance and fit properly done all takes hands-on work, which costs money. Guns built to lower price points do not have that effort put into them. The result? They might look nice on the outside to some degree, but corners were cut to make the price point.
Will your gun have the same POI/POA with each barrel? Will the gun shoot loose after a few hundred rounds? Will the triggers have the feel of sand in a gearbox? Will the handling and balance be like a wand or more likely a pig on a shovel?
Will it work reliably for years and years?
Quality comes with a cost attached to it. That is not to say you have to go the Purdey route to get a decent SxS. There are some older AyAs out there that were built for Sears in the 50s and 60s that sell for a few hundred. There are other Spanish guns, used, that are in your budget range that I would recommend above the Stoeger. You might get lucky and find an older Beretta Silverhawk in your range as well.
The most expensive gun you will own is the cheapest one you bought.
Will your gun have the same POI/POA with each barrel? Will the gun shoot loose after a few hundred rounds? Will the triggers have the feel of sand in a gearbox? Will the handling and balance be like a wand or more likely a pig on a shovel?
Will it work reliably for years and years?
Quality comes with a cost attached to it. That is not to say you have to go the Purdey route to get a decent SxS. There are some older AyAs out there that were built for Sears in the 50s and 60s that sell for a few hundred. There are other Spanish guns, used, that are in your budget range that I would recommend above the Stoeger. You might get lucky and find an older Beretta Silverhawk in your range as well.
The most expensive gun you will own is the cheapest one you bought.
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