Originally Posted By: SqueezeI have a Maxus 12 ga. 3.5", a Winchester SX-3(just cosmetic changes to make it a SX-4) in 20 ga., and a Beretta A400, in 28 ga. And I have had a Beretta 3901, in 20 ga, and a Benelli SBE. I have had a few more makes and models of shotguns, but let's just stick to these for now. For the stated budget, I would go with the SX-4. There are very little differences, internally between the Maxus, and the SX-3/SX-4 shotguns. Both are FN designs, and both are simple designs, and very reliable. The only feature difference is the Maxus has a magazine cutoff. If that is important, then you will have to pay Browning's inflated price.
I don't think you can get a Versa-Max for $1000, and I wouldn't want one even at that price. My waterfowling partner has one, and it is a pile of parts to clean, and he has had a number of cycling issues with his shotgun. Granted it is a sample of one, but one is enough for me.
The Stoeger, is not a shotgun I am familiar with, except by hearsay. Some say it is a good value brand, and others don't have kind words for their Stoeger.
Any brand can have a problem example, which was the case for my Benelli SBE, but most often the better the manufacturer reputation is, the better value the shotgun will be over time. About the only time I sell or trade a shotgun is if it is a problem gun, it doesn't fit me well, or it is just too complicated to be easily maintained.
So for me, at this space in time, the Winchester SX-3/SX-4 is arguably the best shotgun on the market, for the price, simplicity of design, quality of parts, fit/finish, and balance. But you really should handle each of your candidate shotguns, and maybe even see if the salesperson will disassemble them for you. That is usually entertaining in itself. I asked the salesman to disassemble my Browning Gold 10ga, when I bought it, and the gunsmith had to bail out the salesman...It was just a simple trick, but the salesman didn't know it, and I got a free lesson on doing the trick.
Squeeze
So you'd go Winchester over Maxus? Interesting