Benelli Nova or Remington 870 express??

Both good, but the benelli's are more money, but have better feel, quality, and finish.
There is a nice supernova with a mag extension on the ee for $700, great for hunting and busting clays.

If you are looking for something you want to put accessories on, the remingtons have lots of options. Only reaon I say that it benelli barells are expensive, and 870 barells are cheap. Also nova's use the stock and receiver as one peice and I don't think you can change the stock (I may be wrong though).
 
Used Remington 870 Wingmaster would be better than an 870 express. I own an express, but I'm going to sell it and get a wingmaster
 
-forget about buying a second barrel for the Benelli, theyre ridiculously expensive and it would make more sense just to buy a second Benelli.

-go pick up the Nova/SuperNova in the store, and see how it fits you. if you dont like the feel/fit, theres only a little you can do with the SuperNova to make it fit you, and absolutely nothing with the Nova - its one big solid piece of plastic. the 870 you can customize to fit just about anyone with countless types of aftermarket stocks.

-the Benellis have 3.5" support, the Express Magnums just 3" unless you want one of the Super Magnums.

-quality is way better on the Benellis than on the Express.
 
30-30winchster said:
i'm looking for input on the two models. i would be using it for everything from skeet to waterfowl? which one do you prefer and why?
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I don't know for sure, but I've been told that the expresses are a cheap version of the normal 870, and that barrels are not interchangeable between the two. I have an express super mag. It works ok most of the time, but i find with the stock isn't as comfortable as some other scatter guns out there.
 
rig_pig69 said:
I don't know for sure, but I've been told that the expresses are a cheap version of the normal 870, and that barrels are not interchangeable between the two.
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Their the same gun.


The Nova is nice but has a very cheap, clunky feel to it. However they are as tough as nails and don't let the plasticy feel fool you. The nice thing about the Nova is the magazine cut off switch of the fore arm. It's handy when crossing a fence, jumping out of a boat, handing it over, leaning it up in your blind etc. It allows you to remove the shell from the chamber but not allow you to feed another from the magazine.

The 870 is a heavier gun and will soak up recoil better. I'll bet your not going to accesorize your gun any, but one day you may wish to add a slug barrel or a shorter barrel to your gun, the 870 is a natural for that. If your on a budget the Express is fine and don't be fooled by anyone who tells you otherwise. Their a tough, do anything utility gun that will do it's job without any fuss. For what it's worth, I will never again be without one in my safe.

Both guns have their standard features you may or may not like. Both can be had with a 3 1/2 inch chamber, but as said above the standard 870 is a 3 inch only gun. I know alot of the 3 1/2 inch 870's had issues, I had one and it didn't. I can tell you I shoot alot of shotgun shells every year. I don't shoot clays, but I shoot pigeons, ducks, geese and other feathered critters. In all the shells I've fired, very few have been 3 1/2 inch cigars, and I don't have a 3 1/2 inch gun anymore. I don't need it and I'm content with 2 3/4 or 3 inch shells for everything.

The Nova never really fit me that good. I found I was looking down on the rib more then looking along it. You will be built different then I and it may fit you better. The Nova would be a nicer gun to carry then the 870 if you were going to be packing it alot, but it's really not that big of a deal. I think the Nova comes with standard sling swivels and that would be a bonus. I believe you have more of a selection of chokes for the 870. That may or may not intrest you, but some guys prefer aftermarket chokes for the different non toxic shot out there.

If you want to combine the two, the Stoeger 350 has the look and feel of the Nova but the weight of the 870. The Nova has a 1 piece polymer butt stock and reciever with all the metal parts moulded righ it. (It's not a bad thing) The 350 has a steel reciever, but to me anyways has the same look as the Benelli. The most important thing is the gun must fit you. Other peoples opinions are meaningless if the gun doesn't fit and that's the single most important thing with a shotgun. Riflemen have a gun that they bring up, steady, aim and fire. A shotgun is fired more instinctivly then anything else. Birds like teal come in at mach 2 with their asses on fire. Your doing all you can to get that gun up and swing fast enough on them, you don't have the time to adjust the gun on your shoulder. Try it on, ask for advice from people who know shotguns who can show you what fits and what doesn't and enjoy. Whatever you decide on, I'm sure you'll enjoy it and get good use out of it.
 
I personally love my nova:

tough as nails
Accurate
lighter recoil
toolless disassembly
3.5" shells
magazine cutoff switch

Better overall build quality.
 
Remington all the way. I am not a fan of the finish of the express but the quality in my opinion is far superior to the Benelli. The 870 has been around for 40 odd years and to date I have never seen one blown up. I have however seen two Nova's on a duck hunting forum blown up in the field with their receiver bottoms blown right off. Some kind of manufacturers defect according to the articles. I have owned both, the Benelli I kept for 1 week, the 870's I kept for years. Just my opinion.
 
I taught a 100 lb girl to shoot trap. She tried both my benelli nova and an 870 express (borrowed from my pastor). She said the felt recoil of the nova was significantly less, and had a marked preference for the benelli over the remington.
 
the spank said:
Remington all the way. I am not a fan of the finish of the express but the quality in my opinion is far superior to the Benelli. The 870 has been around for 40 odd years and to date I have never seen one blown up. I have however seen two Nova's on a duck hunting forum blown up in the field with their receiver bottoms blown right off. Some kind of manufacturers defect according to the articles. I have owned both, the Benelli I kept for 1 week, the 870's I kept for years. Just my opinion.
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what??? :runaway:
even Chinese clones are surpassing current 870 Express quality.
'Express Quality Superior' should never be used in the same sentence.

do you have a link to these blown up Novas? sounds like the Glock blowup rumors. i suspect the users had something to do with it.
Benellis are overbuilt if anything.
 
I have a wood stocked 870 express I bought in about 1997, I think its a great gun and I have beat it up pretty good.

I liked the benelli until I shot one, ouch. Dont fit me and kick the crap out of me. Plastic stock feels cheap.
 
My vote is for the Express. If you can, do what I managed; find an older one - early to mid 90's and back, so long as you can get it with an interchangably choked barrel. They're solid, dependable, extremely simple to handle, strip and clean and are well suited to most tasks. I've used mine for trap, rabbit hunting and geese. This fall its going out with slugs (and/or a slug barrel if I can manage it) for deer and possibly bear; and Im confident it will perform.

The reason I suggest the older ones is that I agree with the consensus that Remington's QA went down the Sh!tter after the mind nineties. I've handled brand new 870s and 11-87s and they feel like poorly made toys.
 
I have the 870 Express and my friend has the Benelli Nova. He's selling his for an 870 Marine Magnum because he doesn't want to scratch his beautiful gun (and it is) by taking it in the bush or rain and I just don't care because I spent $329.00 for mine. That's the only drawback to the Nova that I know of, it's so nice and expensive you don't want to walk around in the bush with it!

Just get whatever fits you and your wallet can afford, neither of them suck. If you're convinced that 3.5" shells will attract bigger game, then fill your boots.
 
manbearpig said:
what??? :runaway:
even Chinese clones are surpassing current 870 Express quality.
'Express Quality Superior' should never be used in the same sentence.

do you have a link to these blown up Novas? sounds like the Glock blowup rumors. i suspect the users had something to do with it.
Benellis are overbuilt if anything.
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++1 on that opinion. For the life of me, I still can't get over how anyone would choose an 870 over a Nova. And the same are claiming to have owned or shot both. Well that's BS cause comparing these to one another is like comparing oranges to apples. Come on now, the Benellis have far surpassed the 870 technology over the years and they don't even consider the 870 as a competitor as it's a different class of shotgun. The only similarity is the fact that you have to pump the action between shots. The 870 was the top dog in it's day 20 years ago and that I agree, but has since been out paced twice over.
 
Have shot my Nova in all kinds of crappy conditions. Duck hunting in swampy bog, goose hunting from a sand trap on a golf course (don't ask), or running down dusty trails with it strapped to the bike. Never had any issue with it cycling no matter how I abused it. My buddy with his 870 can't say the same.

Go with the Benelli, IMO you'll have a better gun.
 
anthonyfrechette said:
Have shot my Nova in all kinds of crappy conditions. Duck hunting in swampy bog, goose hunting from a sand trap on a golf course (don't ask), or running down dusty trails with it strapped to the bike. Never had any issue with it cycling no matter how I abused it. My buddy with his 870 can't say the same.

Go with the Benelli, IMO you'll have a better gun.
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AMEN:agree:
 
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