Stoeger Industries

Stoeger Industries: Profiling the Quality and Affordability of a Gunmaker

The Stoeger Industries catalog is deeper and more diverse than you might think.

Stoeger is known for its rugged, reliable, and affordable break action and semi-auto shotguns for hunting and defense, but many think Stoeger Industries is a European gun company.

Considering it is currently owned by an Italian gunmaker and that it got its start working with companies in Germany importing firearms, this is quite understandable.

However, before Stoeger was acquired by Beretta, the company was created in New Jersey. In fact, Stoeger is still based in the U.S.

Company History

Stoeger actually began as the largest gun shop in New York City, back when the City That Never Sleeps still had gun shops. Stoeger bought the U.S. marketing rights to the name "Luger" in 1924 and commissioned various small companies in Germany to manufacture replicas of the famed German Luger as .22LR handguns. Stoeger then imported them for sale in the U.S. along with other gun models made by Fabrique Nationale—now FN Herstal—in Belgium.

In 1994, Stoeger began making an all American-made version of the Luger chambered in the original 9mm. It was marketed as the American Eagle Luger and came with either a 4- or 6-inch barrel.

Today, Stoeger Industries is a manufacturer and importer of firearms headquartered in Accokeek, Maryland. It is a subsidiary of Benelli and Benelli USA, which also owns Beretta, and the recently-acquired Holland & Holland.

The Stoeger catalog includes a line of tactical and hunting shotguns as wells as airguns. More recently, Stoeger broke into the handgun market with the striker-fired STR-9 pistol. The company also imports guns made by Uberti, which is also a member of the Benelli/Beretta group.

Popular Stoeger Models

Stoeger's catalog includes a number of shotgun lines including break-action, pump action, and semi-automatic—many available in hunting and defensive configurations. Here's a breakdown:

M3000

The Stoeger M3000 is a solid semi-automatic shotgun designed for everything bird hunters use shotguns for: turkey, waterfowl, and upland hunting. The M3000 is an inertia gun with a 3-inch chamber and a receiver that's drilled and tapped to accept Weaver-style scope bases. All models have a ventilated, stepped rib, and fiber-optic front sight on the barrel.

The M3000 is available in a number of stock options and camo patterns, including A-Grade Satin Walnut, black synthetic, Mossy Oak Bottomland, Realtree Max 5, and the interesting option of a Cerakote Burnt Bronze receiver and barrel with satin walnut furniture.

The M3K - 3 Gun shotgun is the same as the M3000, only tricked out for 3-Gun competition shooting.

M3000 R

This version of the M3000 is specifically built for shooting slugs with accuracy. It comes with a 24-inch rifled slug barrel with a 1:35 twist rate for greater accuracy at longer ranges. The receiver is drilled and tapped and the gun comes with a cantilevered Picatinny rail for scope mounting.

M3500

The Stoeger M3500 is an affordable semi-auto shotgun thats ideal for waterfowl, wild turkey, or upland game. It's versatile, reliable, and dependable, like the M3000, but with a 3.5 inch chamber. The M3500 comes in three barrel lengths and a number of finish options, including a striking Cerakote Burnt Bronze finish. It comes in 12 gauge and is inertia driven. With its 3.5-inch chamber, it can handle anything between 2.75" and 3.5" magnum loads without adjustment. All these guns have a ventilated, stepped rib and fiber-optic front sight.

Longfowler

This Stoeger double gun is available as an over/under or a side-by-side. The SxS version is available in 12- or 20-gauge and is built to be balanced like a classic duck gun. It's rugged, affordable, and dependable, like so many Stoeger models. It comes with a stained walnut stock and a set of extended choke tubes.

The over/under version of the Longfowler is designed for waterfowlers and is also balanced to swing like a classic fowling gun. It's also available in 12- and 20-gauge with a stained walnut stock and extended choke tubes.

Uplander Shotguns

The Stoeger Uplander is a side-by-side break action shotgun line that includes three models: the Uplander Supreme, the Uplander Field Shotgun, and the Uplander Youth Shotgun.

The Uplander Supreme is based on a traditional English double gun design with a single gold-plated trigger, an AA-grade, gloss walnut stock, extractors, and an auto-engage tang-mounted safety. It's available in 12- or 20-gauge with 3-inch chambers.

The Uplander Field model is even more versatile. It's offered in 12-, 20-, and 28-gauge and .410 bore and is built to run 2.5-, 2.75-, and 3-inch shells.

The Uplander Youth model is a downsized version of the Uplander Field with a short stock and a 13-inch length of pull that's just right for young hunters or those of small stature. It's available in 20-gauge or .410 bore.

Coach Guns

The Stoeger Coach Guns are based on the defensive shotguns favored by stagecoach guards in the Old West—side-by-side break actions with short barrels for ease of shooting from the "shotgun" seat on a coach. The Stoeger versions are available with a single or double trigger and are ideal for their original defensive purpose, or Cowboy Action Shooting. All models have 3-inch chambers and are available in 12- or 20-gauge or .410 bore with blued, matte nickel, or polished nickel finishes.

The Coach Gun Supreme model has an upgraded AA-grade gloss walnut stock and beavertail forend with extensive cut checkering throughout as well as a fitted soft rubber recoil pad. This model includes IC and modified choke tubes.

Condor Shotguns

The Stoeger Condor line includes six over/under shotgun models: the Condor FieldCondor SupremeCondor YouthCondor OutbackCondor Competition, and Condor Skeet.

The Condor Field is the base model available in 12-, 20-, or 28-gauge and .410 bore. It's also available as a combo package with 12- and 20-gauge barrels. All models have a blued receiver, machine-turned monobloc sides, and a ventilated rib. The Condor Supreme offers higher-end finishes and stock options. The Outback model is interesting in that it's an O/U with 20-inch barrels, making it perfect for defense or as a turkey gun, or even a quick swinging brush gun. It's available with an A-grade satin walnut stock or with a black synthetic stock and polished nicker barrels and receiver.

Double Defense

These break-action double barrel shotguns are designed as home defense shotguns with modern features. Available as a side-by-side or an over/under, the Double Defense comes chambered in 12- or 20-gauge with 3-inch chambers. The 20-inch ported barrels are easy to maneuver and the fixed IC chokes will offer a good pattern at defensive distances.

All models include a green fiber-optic front sight that easy to pick up in low light as well as a top Picatinny rail for optics and another accessory rail on the barrels for a gun light or laser sight. The tang-mounted safety makes the design inherently ambidextrous.

M3020

The M3020 is a 20-gauge only semi-automatic inertia driven shotgun that is as affordable as it is versatile. Models are available for waterfowl, turkey, and upland hunting—and there are also Compact and Defense versions with 20-inch barrels. The Defense model includes ghost-ring sights, a receiver mounted rail for optics, and a rail in front of the magazine tube cap for lights and lasers. It's lightweight, maneuverable, and has a 3-inch chamber for magnum rounds.

The Grand

This single-barrel break action target shotgun is designed for trap shooting and clays shooting. It includes an A-grade satin walnut stock with a fully adjustable comb, stepped ventilated trap rib, and a fiber-optic front sight.

P3000 and P3500

These are Stoeger's only pump action shotguns, with the P3000 chambered for 2.75- and 3-inch shells and the P3500 chambered for 3.5-inch magnums. It's available in a variety of finishes and camo options and as a defensive shotgun with a shorter barrel.

Freedom Series

These are extended mag tube versions of the M3000 Defense, P3000 Defense, P3000 Supreme, and the M3K 3-Gun shotguns

STR-9 Pistol

The STR-9 striker-fired, polymer-frame pistol is chambered in 9mm with drift-adjustable 3-dot sights, accessory rail, 4.17-inch barrel, and a 15-round double-stack magazine. It weighs just 30.4 ounces and is easy to field strip and clean.

That's Stoeger Industries in a nutshell. To learn more ond find retailers that offer Stoeger guns, go to StoegerIndustries.com.

NEXT: STOEGER SENT US THE P3000 PUMP SHOTGUN, SO WE SHOT A WATERMELON WITH IT

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