Bought a shotgun - edit, range test, laugh at my dum-dum.

[Dapper Dave]

Nothing special, nothing fancy. Yes, I shot a match, read the rulebook, and triple checked that this one is "OK" per the rules, and everything I read says the synthetic traditionally styled stock Stoeger Coach Gun is within the rules. Cool. My gunsmith buddy who is currently loaning me that Marlin 1894 rifle is all excited about doing his worst, er, "best" to clean it up, hone out the chambers, remove the "auto" portion of the safety, etc. He loves projects. And this one, being a Stoeger with however many of the reported problems, (or none, never know), will be a fun project. Even if the rules change and the traditionally styled synthetic stocks become illegal, for just over $300 it can't hurt to get a functional double barrel shotgun - the wife would probably love it for nighttime duty. And for just over $300 out the door, hey, good starter gun - I do not have a single shotgun to my name, can you believe it? Plus, my buddy is wanting to see how it will handle full length brass shells with black powder loads. Any way this goes, this is going to be fun.

 

https://palmettostatearmory.com/stoeger-coach-gun-s-x-s-12-ga-20-shotgun-black-synthetic-31676.html

 

Question for anyone with experience - Stoeger lists the wood stocks out of stock, mildly curious if anyone used a different model shotgun stock/forends on one and how much was it a pain to fit correctly? I know the basic model I'm getting is listed as having fixed chokes - can't see that being an issue at 15 yards. Unless I am REALLY bad, and I didn't miss any shotgun targets at the match. 
Thank you for your time.

 

 

EDIT

Check next page for range test...sort of..

Edited November 27, 2024 by Dapper Dave
Update

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

Fixed chokes work fine for CAS.  Many disable the automatic safety as pushing the button forward after each  reloading can slow you down.  Polishing and funneling the chambers will speed loading and unloading.  Finally, after a few years the soft firing pins will mushroom and fail to retract.  This will cause the shotgun to stay closed when you try to open it.  Then it will be time for new, hardened firing pins.

 

Stoegers are serviceable, low cost coach guns,  I keep a couple around as backups.

[Eyesa Horg]

Ya might be lucky too, my Stoeger has been running fine for 13 years now without any mushrooming of the firing pins. Prolly just jinxed myself. @Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 did an excellent 2 part article in the Chronicle on how to tune one up and reverse the triggers if you wish.  Nov & Dec 2009. You can download those issues from the SASS web site. https://sassnet.com/

[Dapper Dave]

Yes, my gunsmith buddy has the cylinder hone to polish the chambers for that smooth glide extraction. He also knows about the safety connector rod cut down, and has the tools to do it, but I do hope he lets me do it under his supervision, so I can learn myself.  I want the positive safety without the auto on function. I did mention the soft firing pin issue and he pshawed - easy replacement. Well, for HIM - I'll have to have him show me how.  
I didn't think the chokes would really matter at such close range, but he was also talking bird hunting...NOT too sure about that, I really suck at wing shooting.

[watab kid]

my stoger has run fine with only a couple repairs in 20 years , i do have wood stocks on it but yes it was well under $300 at that time and ive never looked back , i have a few other shotguns - 97 , stevens hammered and stevens non hammered that work fine but that old stoeger just keeps on running and feels fine 

[Imis Twohofon,SASS # 46646]

Macon Gunstocks in Central Missouri makes stocks for LOTS of guns. They are reasonably priced, great service.

 

Imis

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

I have 3 Stoegers and never had a problem with any of them. Changing out the firing pins is easy and not real expensive except you'll probably need to purchase one of the small spleen wrenches to get to the firing pin and spring. If it's a new shotgun just be careful honing down parts to make it looser and easier to open. Mine all loosened up just fine with just shooting them.

[Shepherd Book]

13 hours ago, Eyesa Horg said:

Ya might be lucky too, my Stoeger has been running fine for 13 years now without any mushrooming of the firing pins. Prolly just jinxed myself. @Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 did an excellent 2 part article in the Chronicle on how to tune one up and reverse the triggers if you wish.  Nov & Dec 2009. You can download those issues from the SASS web site. https://sassnet.com/

Eyesa, thanks for this post.  I found the articles you referenced, and a whole bunch of new winter reading to do!  SB

[Eyesa Horg]

2 hours ago, Shepherd Book said:

Eyesa, thanks for this post.  I found the articles you referenced, and a whole bunch of new winter reading to do!  SB

It was easy for me as a kitchen table smith to accomplish as well. 

After ruining my shoulder, I also had the forcing cones lengthened and polished. It cost a bit, but made a huge difference in recoil. And cleaning is much easier without that rough one inch section ahead of the chamber. Larsen writes some excellent "how to" articles. Wish he had a book!!

Edited November 22, 2024 by Eyesa Horg
Added missing word!

[Eyesa Horg]

To smooth out the rough radius on the hinge/ front of the receiver and fore grip, I used fine valve lapping compound and opened/ closed it a bunch. You don't want to remove too much and loosen the lockup. You'll also probably find that it doesn't like steel based cheapy shells either. They don't shrink back fast enough and will make opening the gun difficult. Don't go too light on the latch spring either as it may partially open on the first shot and won't fire the second barrel. Long Hunter carries a spring kit for that or at least used to. Have fun!

[Marauder SASS #13056]

Ask your smith to check the lockup of the gun.  A main weakness of the Stoeger is that the lockup tab does not fully extend into the locking slot - thus decreasing the surface area and greatly increasing wear.  When he adjust the tab to almost fully fit, the lock up will last quite well.
https://marauder.homestead.com/files/Stoeger2.html

 

http://marauder.homestead.com/files/stoeger3.html

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Plus one for Marauder.

My Stoeger started opening on the first shot after I lightened the lever spring. After some serious scrutiny of the system I discovered that the locking bolt was hanging up in the forward locking recess. By relieving the upper surface (not the lower locking surface) the bolt slid fully into place and the problem was resolved.

FYI

Rev. Chase

[Griff]

I have two Stoegers, both from the late 1980s.  The only things I've done is to hone the chambers, deburr the extractors and disable the auto-safety.  Marauder's articles referenced are good.  Good luck with yours. 

[Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903]

After all the talk in 2 different threads about this shotgun and verifying that the synthetic stock was legal for SASS I couldn't resist. I picked up one yesterday at an LGS for $275 OTD.  In my defense I didn't intend to by one but they twisted my arm with the price and I gave in!

 

Randy

[Dapper Dave]

Looks like it will get here right after Thanksgiving...then there will be something to be truly thankful for, other than surviving my sister-in-law horrific cooking. We are doing that by bringing the main dish ourselves...that woman couldn't cook her way out of a paper bag with a blowtorch. 

Edited November 26, 2024 by Dapper Dave

[Dapper Dave]

So, I picked it up at the LGS, and everything looked nice. They called me to please come down, as soon as I cleared everything they were closing up for the holiday weekend, and UPS was nice enough to show up about 2 days early...how could I say no?
First impressions, after watching some videos on the Stoeger Coach Gun was the polishing seems to have improved somewhat over what I'd seen online. I is stiff as a life sentence when opening, but some fine grit sandpaper and oil will cure that right up. The stock is, lets face it, almost as ugly as Rosie O'Donnell, but functional. 

Point to remember ) uhave no had a scatter gun in over 10 years, and the last one was a longer barrel semi auto CZ 712. This is my first SXS, ever. ASnd...it shows.

 

Here we are at the range. Experienced shotgunners can probably see what's going to happen without me saying a word. I started with the Remington load, and that first target shows high and to the left...and what a wide pattern! Front trigger does right barrel, BTW, which I thought was a modified choke. Left barrel showed pretty much the same thing. 

 

 

Edited November 27, 2024 by Dapper Dave
Added photos

[Dapper Dave]

Then I switched loads, and that's when I whoopsied. The range was busy and I couldn't just walk out and change targets, so I shot lower...yeah, that put an end to that. 8 rounds and the target holder was shattered.  Oopsie. The nice thing I that I live a few minutes from both Home Dept and the range, so Friday I'll grab some more wood, and then try patterning the shotgun on my steel target, to save on the wood! 
Observations, the gun does NOT want to open, of course, being new and rough, even with cleaning and liberal oil. What was surprising is it shucks with no problem whatsoever, both brands of empties flew right out. The auto safety HAS to go - that's insanely annoying, but I will likely do the rod shortening to keep a functional safety that simply isn't "auto on".
All in all, considering the low price, I am happy, and with my gunsmith buddy wanting to slick it up, I think it will work just fine.
Oh, yeah...I guess I need a shotgun belt now or a belt slide. Hello, Mernickle?

[Dapper Dave]

This is roughly the POA I was using with the second load. Target was at 15 paces. Gunsmith says it ain't the gun, it's me. I'll believe it. 

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

There are videos on Youtube showing how to mount and aim a shotgun at a static target correctly.  A local clays target facility should have an instructor who can correct your aiming.  It should only take one session.

[Dapper Dave]

I've been qualified with the Remington 870 for 23 years with my Dept...but they are equipped with rifle sights. My 712 had front and rear sights, so this was different. However,  I didn't miss a single shotgun target with the loaner guns. I know it's me. 

Edit to add, we have no local instructors of anything other than CCW. OTOH, imagine concealing this...

Edited November 27, 2024 by Dapper Dave

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

Just a thought...

 

Shotguns are often used to shoot at "flying/ rising targets", meaning shotgun stocks will sometimes have an couple of degrees angled cut on the butt to facilitate this upwards shooting angle.

 

AND because of their use on "rising targets" shotgun barrels are often regulated to place the shot pattern on TOP of the front bead.

 

But...

In Cowboy; we are often shooting downward - opposite the built in design angle of the butt end. 

And opposite of the pattern position relative to our sights.

 

Many Cowboy gunsmiths will cut their stocks to either 90 degree square or a couple degrees opposite angle from stock to encourage the downward angle.

 

This modifies the mounting relationship between shooter and angle of the shotgun effectively lowering the pattern position.

 

A good cheek/ stock weld assists with this as well.

[Dapper Dave]

That is not something I had ever considered, interesting thought, thank you. 

[El Sobrante Kid]

Pretty sure it was Coyote Cap that would cut the shotgun buttstocks  at a negative 2 degree to negative 4 degree angle.