Stevens 350 tactical 12 gauge shotgun. Bottom eject Ithaca 37 copy but not necessarily a good one…

Published on October 22, 2025
Duration: 12:14

This review of the Stevens 350 tactical 12 gauge shotgun, a bottom-feed, bottom-eject design inspired by the Ithaca Model 37, highlights its budget-friendly nature and basic features like an 18.5-inch barrel and adjustable rifle sights. However, the review notes significant drawbacks including poor fit and finish, a heavy and mushy trigger, and notable reliability issues, particularly with both reloaded and factory ammunition, leading to stuck shells. The reviewer suggests extensive break-in might be necessary for improved performance.

Quick Summary

The Stevens 350 tactical 12 gauge shotgun is a budget-friendly copy of the Ithaca Model 37, featuring a bottom-feed and bottom-eject design. While it has an 18.5-inch barrel and adjustable sights, it suffers from a poor-quality trigger, less refined fit and finish, and significant reliability issues with both reloaded and factory ammunition.

Chapters

  1. 01:00Introduction: Stevens 350 Review
  2. 01:11Savage Stevens Model 350 Overview
  3. 01:21Bottom Feed, Bottom Eject Design
  4. 01:30Barrel Length and Magazine Capacity
  5. 01:38Sights: Rifle and Fiber Optic
  6. 01:45Fit and Finish Comparison to Ithaca 37
  7. 02:02Trigger Quality Assessment
  8. 02:11First Time Shooting the Stevens 350
  9. 02:19Loading Procedure for Bottom Eject Shotguns
  10. 02:35History of Bottom Feed, Bottom Eject Shotguns
  11. 02:50Slam Fire Functionality Test
  12. 03:08Initial Firing Impressions
  13. 03:19Trigger is Awful
  14. 03:35Frustration with Malfunctions
  15. 03:40Quality Concerns: Ithaca vs. Stevens 350
  16. 04:04Manufacturing Origin: China vs. USA
  17. 04:21Action Smoothness and Trigger Weight
  18. 04:39Stuck Shell in Chamber
  19. 04:43Reloaded Ammunition Issues
  20. 04:55Clearing a Stuck Shell: Barrel Removal
  21. 05:36Need for Cleaning Rod
  22. 05:41Acknowledging Reload Issues
  23. 05:53Testing Cacttor Buckshot and Slugs
  24. 06:14Alternating Buckshot and Slugs
  25. 06:56Malfunction with Factory Loads
  26. 07:05Shotgun Needs Work
  27. 07:13Carrying Cleaning Rods for Emergencies
  28. 07:22Extractor or Ejector Issue?
  29. 07:31Benefit of Bottom Eject Design for Clearing
  30. 07:48Reassembling the Barrel
  31. 08:01Suspected Extractor Issue
  32. 08:17Potential Barrel Clocking or Weak Spring
  33. 08:25Attempting to Cycle a Full Magazine
  34. 08:45Action is Far From Smooth
  35. 08:53Grit in the Action of a New Gun
  36. 08:58Terrible Trigger: Hinging and Weight
  37. 09:14Impact of Trigger on Shooting Form
  38. 09:22Final Shots: Buckshot, Slug, Reloads
  39. 09:33Reliability Requires Break-In Period
  40. 09:48Storage: Secondary Safe
  41. 09:59Need to Investigate Malfunctions
  42. 10:10Conclusion: Stevens 350 Pump-Action 12 Gauge
  43. 10:17Not Perfect, Works Okay with Break-In
  44. 10:24Support 2A Rights
  45. 10:28Freedom is Always the Greater Good
  46. 10:48Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory
  47. 11:00Why Guns Get Traded In
  48. 11:04Unreliable Shotgun
  49. 11:18Outro: Freedom and Reliable Shotguns

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Stevens 350 shotgun based on?

The Stevens 350 tactical 12 gauge shotgun is designed as a copy of the Ithaca Model 37, featuring a bottom-feed and bottom-eject mechanism. While sharing the design lineage, it is noted to be less refined than the original Ithaca.

What are the main criticisms of the Stevens 350 shotgun?

Key criticisms include a heavy, mushy trigger without a clear wall, poor fit and finish compared to its Ithaca counterpart, and significant reliability issues, with malfunctions occurring with both reloaded and factory ammunition.

How do you load a bottom-feed, bottom-eject shotgun like the Stevens 350?

To fully load a bottom-feed, bottom-eject shotgun, you first load one round into the magazine tube, then rack the action to chamber a round. Finally, you top off the magazine tube by inserting rounds into the bottom feed port.

Can the Stevens 350 clear a stuck shell easily?

Yes, the design allows for the barrel to be removed with a quarter turn, which can facilitate clearing a stuck shell. However, the reviewer still encountered difficulty and required tools like a knife or cleaning rod in one instance.

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