FIELD TEST: Stoeger V7000 Over/Under

Combining good looks, dependable performance, and at a price that won’t knock you back, the new Stoeger V7000 is an ideal on-ramp for those looking for a classically-style over/under shotgun

by David Kelley

Whether you’re a seasoned wingshooter with a possessed drive to pursue upland birds behind the point of a skilled hound, shoot doves from a comfortable seat tucked into the edge of a seeded field, or simply enjoy some range time, it’s difficult to dispute that over/under shotguns typically point and swing exceptionally well across a variety of uses.

With one barrel directly above the other and no gas system or magazine tube competing for space, trimmer forearms and actions are the norm. The difference in weight distribution is considered favorable when swinging on moving targets.

The downside? Often, high cost.

When thoughts of sleek, stacked-barrel scatterguns come to mind, the views of an extended price tag can often steer buyers in another direction. The most economical examples have traditionally lacked some visual appeal, and for plenty of hunters, looks matter. For many, aesthetics rank dangerously close to fit and function when choosing a shotgun. To be clear, I’m not taking anything away from utility-grade shotguns. They have a purpose and serve it well; they are “users” — ones that we don’t fear a few heavy scratches from hard use. They’ll function beyond expectations, and after hard use, they are often the ones we’re most comfortable with after extended handling.

The downside? Lack of pizzazz, if that matters to you.

Are you looking for a new lightweight shotgun with an uncommon balance of highly attractive looks, solid operation, and fair value? Stoeger’s new V7000 over/under shotgun may be one to handle before you swipe a debit card.

With timing that couldn’t have been more perfect, I took receipt of one along with Fiocchi’s dove-specific shotshells during the opening week of Pennsylvania’s dove season. Here’s a roll-up of the shotgun, ammunition, and a great time spent with great hunting friends.

Stoeger V7000

The Stoeger V7000 isn’t a lightly spruced-up version of an existing product. It differs from Stoeger’s only other over/under shotguns, the Condor series, in several distinct ways.

First, the action.

Shifting from standard steel to an aluminum alloy reduced the weight of these 12-gauge shotguns to an easy-to-carry 6 lbs. The matte black finish is uniform throughout the improved boxlock, single trigger and trigger guard, selector switch/automatic safety, and the top lever. Having the shotgun only briefly didn’t let me vouch for the durability of that finish, but if it ever wears from the overuse it’s intended for, the alloy itself won’t rust. Consider that an added benefit of Stoeger opting not to use steel for the receiver. Two finishes are available: black or silver.

Next, and most immediately noticeable to the eye, is the AA-grade walnut buttstock and forearm. The grain is straight and flows evenly through the entire length of the stock with great contrast between the golden-brown finish and darker grain. Under close inspection, the finish is smooth with no knots, voids, or blemishes in the walnut nor in the application of stain. The forearm on this shotgun did not have as much figure as the buttstock, though the color and shade were a perfect match.

Another feature that also contributes to weight-saving is the 28-inch barrel design that is shared with the composite Condor field shotgun. You’ll notice a void between the satin-blued barrels from just in front of the chamber area up to the last two inches from the muzzle. Removal of the full rib between the barrels shaved unnecessary material. Though not as significant as the weight cut from the alloy action, the ounces saved all add up.

The barrel is topped with a 7mm ventilated rib and .080-inch fiber-optic bead. Each barrel is chambered for 2 3/4- and 3-inch shells.

The V7000 includes a choke wrench and three chokes: improved cylinder, modified, and full. With the black finish (#36100), chokes are flush. The silver-finished model (#36101) ships with extended chokes.

Fiocchi Golden Dove Duplex

In the dove fields, I’ll take any advantage offered, and Fiocchi’s new 12-gauge Golden Dove Duplex is the latest. These new shotshells are 2 3/4 inches with a 1 1/5-ounce mix of 6 and 8 shot. This 1275 fps blend provides an ample spread of light shot with the 6 for harder hits, especially out at the fringes of your shotgun’s capabilities. I’m a proponent of duplex loads for turkey hunting with sub-gauge shotguns, and I’m glad to see this bleeding over into commercially available dove loads.

Mornings in a Gravel Pit and Grape Vineyards

Dove hunting presents a challenge that regularly tests my skill level. In the field, I constantly remind myself to set reasonable expectations when calculating a hit ratio at the end of a morning. Between the dove’s small size, speed, erratic flight, and often using shotguns that I’m not overly familiar with, I fall into the “average” category. Combine that with not having access to a heavily-active flyway and you’ll have to keep your eyes skyward, ready for sporadic opportunities and make each shot count since you don’t know when the next group of fast-movers will present a shot. Our home area isn’t blessed like Texas with the bird population.

After a slow start to the first day, I opted to leave a set of Mojo decoys and spinners in place and walked rows of vineyards to flush tight-holding doves from the massive amount of feed and cover provided by the lush grapevines. This experience gave firsthand appreciation for the V7000’s trim lines and unusually light weight. The shotgun carried well gripped around the receiver at my side, over the shoulder, and at “port arms” diagonal across the front of the body during the brutally muggy low-90s temperatures. The slightly pronounced palm swells of the grip and tight checkering gave a just-positive-enough grip while firing the quick-handling shotgun. With standard loads, recoil was very manageable for a 6-lb. 12-gauge that doesn’t rely on gas or inertia operation.

With the Stoeger V7000, Fiocchi’s new Golden Dove Duplex, and an abundance of Mojo and Avian-X dove decoys set on day two, a short morning was spent in the same local grape vineyard, its gravel roadways, and a puddle-pocked gravel pit. The V7000 was passed around the group of hunters for each to get hands-on and fire if birds passed.

All provided similar sentiments when discussing the V7000. Each noted the shotgun’s lightweight and fine walnut. The only critiques were that the length-of-pull (or drop at heel/drop at comb) felt a touch off. Quickly shouldering the V7000 would find me and another user looking slightly over the rib. Mind you, this was in a T-shirt on a hot summer day, and it was agreed that in a lightly layered outfit and a game vest, that could easily change the feel with the shotgun pushed slightly forward. The other comment was that the safety movement felt “soft” when shifting from fire back to safe. I’m assuming that the feeling in the safety is related to the mechanism for the barrel selector. If that is the separator between a V7000 and a significant jump in price to the next category of over/unders, I can deal with that.

I’d also add that when new, it’ll take some rounds for the action to smooth out on opening, which is key for the automatic ejectors to function properly. We found that the barrel-to-action fit is quite stiff right out of the box, and a little additional force was needed to fully open, allowing the ejectors to work properly. Some additional field use should cure that just fine.

Takeaways

Overall, the V7000 was well received by me and a regular group of hunters who also spend considerable time using a wide range of firearms. We all work hard for our income, and when we spend it on a tool, we expect it to work well and look good. At its $949 MSRP in the black finish, the V7000 does that and then some.

Easy on the eyes, hard on the birds.

Stoeger V7000 O/U Specifications

Model: 36100 (black finish), 36101 (silver finish)
Action: over/under
Gauge: 12
Barrel Length: 28 in.
Chamber: 2 3/4- to 3-in.
Stock & Forearm: AA-grade walnut
Receiver: alloy, black finish
Chokes Included: IC, M, F (flush for #36100, extended for #36101)
Length of Pull: 14.5 in.
Drop at Heel: 2.1 in.
Drop at Comb: 1.3 in.
Overall Length: 45.4 in.
Weight: 6 lbs.
MSRP: $949

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David Kelley

David Kelley (Shoot ON Associate Editor) is a retired Sergeant First Class, having served on active duty with the 82nd Airborne Division and various organizations within the Pennsylvania National Guard (AGR) during his 22 years of service. He is a High Master card holder in both NRA High Power and Mid-Range Prone. David is an avid hunter with a bow, shotgun, and rifle. His latest obsessions include spring turkey hunting and muzzleloader rifles and shotguns.