Benelli Nova

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L4yerCak3

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Howdy all,
I've been looking at the Benelli Novas for quite a while with the main interest of using it for a slug gun. The only thing thats been seriously holding me back is the price (which I know can't really be helped) and that there is no (or at least I can't find one) rifled cantilever barrel for the Nova. I'm not keen on tapping the receiver for sights/optics as I've heard a few negative things with regards to accuracy.
The shops I've checked out (London and Tillsonberg) have been pretty pricey for a second barrel for the Nova, coming out to nearly the price of the shotgun itself.
The other option I was thinking of was a Remmington 870 with a barrel combo in case I do end up wanting to go turkey or waterfowl hunting. However I do have an older Savage that would serve the latter purposes just fine....
Thoughts, suggestions?
Cheers
 
WRT the Express models, if you can find an older pre-J lock express, most of those aren't that bad. The J-locks are an abortion and the newer guns are just crappily put together with un-excusably bad fit and finish.

Your best bet in the Remington might be to look for an older Wingmaster with worn finish and have it bead blasted and blued at your gunsmith's. It will look new and will be well made.

WRT the Nova, I find them plasticky and loose and the parts, as you've seen, are not cheap and not readily available. The Benelli semi-autos are better than their pumps IMHO.
 
Claven2 said:
WRT the Nova, I find them plasticky and loose and the parts, as you've seen, are not cheap and not readily available. The Benelli semi-autos are better than their pumps IMHO.
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So I`ve heard. However somebody had said on here somewhere that the newer ones are better built and aren`t as loose. The one I was playing with at the local shop wasn`t that bad at all. Then again it was BNIB so maybe after it was worked in it might start to shake and rattle...
 
[WRT the Nova, I find them plasticky and loose and the parts, as you've seen, are not cheap and not readily available. The Benelli semi-autos are better than their pumps IMHO.[/QUOTE]

I've always used semi autos but I purchased a Nova for turkey hunting because of the cost difference. I only used it one season and sold it. when I carried it around on my shoulder using a sling it rattled terribly. I couldn't find anything loose so I just figured thats what pumps do. It did hold it's value well when I sold it but that was 2 or 3 years ago.
 
I recetly bought a Super-Nova Pump from LeBarons in Ottawa. 26 Inch Barell in Camo pattern with three interchangable chokes for this years turkey hunt, future skeet, other upland birds, and maybe ducks. It's an overall awesome shotgun and a hoot to fire. First day on the range I went through a box or so of Turkey loads that, with my older Remington Wingmaster, would have resulted in more than a few bruises , sore cheek, and a battered shoulder. However, the Benelli fired like a charm. Its not a high end firearm but I think I made a good choice for a multi-platform gun.
 
1bighead said:
However, the Benelli fired like a charm. Its not a high end firearm but I think I made a good choice for a multi-platform gun.
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So I`ve been hearing. Apparently they`re pretty hard to put in the ground. One fellow on here was saying though that the comb cut up/pinched his face after prolonged firing...anybody else found that?
 
I own Browning, Remington and my brother owns a Nova.

Must say I'm not a fan of the 870 express. Fit and finish isn't up to par with what I would expect. Love the Browning but someone else said, you could get an older Wingmaster and put a rifled barrel on it. The old Wingmasters are beautiful firearms that are built well. Plus, parts are everywhere at a reasonable price.

Like others, I am not too fond of the 'feel' of a Benelli Nova, so on that alone, I would opt for something else.
 
with my Benelli Super Nova I do find it rattles somewhat. And, when I was sweating like a pig tromping across farmers fields after turkeys this spring I found the forestock, with its camoflauge / composite stock, got kind of slippery.

However, that aside and compared to my old Wingmaster, it is very light, shorter, shoots and tracks like a charm, its very easy on the shoulder ( including firing it with Turkey loads), and has interchangable chokes.

To mitigate the "greasy feeling," I'm going to get in better shape, and, use some strips of skateboard tape on the forestock.

As for the rattles ? It really isn't that big of a deal. My farts were louder and, while sitting in a blind or treestand, its not really an issue. If a turkey, or whatever, hears a ratttle, the next thing its NOT going to hear is a 3" Winchester Turkey load in the side of the head.

After sourcing a potential place to hunt giant hogs in Saskachewan, I'm probably going to source a slug barell, scope, and use the Benelli there. Any reccomendations lads ?
 
GGSmith said:
I own Browning, Remington and my brother owns a Nova.

Must say I'm not a fan of the 870 express. Fit and finish isn't up to par with what I would expect. Love the Browning but someone else said, you could get an older Wingmaster and put a rifled barrel on it. The old Wingmasters are beautiful firearms that are built well. Plus, parts are everywhere at a reasonable price.

Like others, I am not too fond of the 'feel' of a Benelli Nova, so on that alone, I would opt for something else.
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The Brownings are nice from the ones I've seen at the local shop. I've been looking into the Browning BPS a bit. Any thoughts on that? They look nice and seem to be in around the same price range as the Nova. The bottom eject seems pretty nifty too.
 
Some things to consider:

FIT is very important to a shotgun. Benellis come with spacers to adjust length of pull. If the 870 or whatever else you're looking at doesn't, consider the cost of stock work in the future.

Chokes: Benellis come with a selection of chokes. Most others do not. There's an additional cost there.

Accessories: Benelli add-ons seem to be harder to find/more expensive/longer waits than, say, mossberg, or remmie.
 
Van Isle said:
Some things to consider:

FIT is very important to a shotgun. Benellis come with spacers to adjust length of pull. If the 870 or whatever else you're looking at doesn't, consider the cost of stock work in the future.

Chokes: Benellis come with a selection of chokes. Most others do not. There's an additional cost there.

Accessories: Benelli add-ons seem to be harder to find/more expensive/longer waits than, say, mossberg, or remmie.
Click to expand...

Valid point. From all the shotguns I've handle in the stores they seem to "fit" but I guess to really find out I'd have to get out to a range and fire them all. I've handled and fired a 870 express, not sure of the date of manufacture, and a 11-87, and both felt nice to shoulder and shoot.
As far as the Benelli and Browning though, I haven't fired either so I'd really have to get out to a range and play with them.
The most I've played with is a Savage Model 30 (correct me if I'm wrong on anything there) but it was easy pointing and smooth shooting. I have looked at the Winchester SX3, but I'm not too interested in the price nor the fact that its an auto loader.

My main interest is, however, for a slug gun, and as far as I've seen the Benelli's only come with rifle sight rifled barrels, no cantilevers. I've heard some talk about the fact that mounting a scope/sight to the receiver (whether by side saddle or tapped and died mount) is less accurate than mounting a scope/sight to the barrel via a cantilever. Is there any truth to this?
 
I cannot speak to the difference b/w cantilever or not - I have no experience comparing the two.

As for the BPS. I must say I really do like it. I think I will be going to a semi this year otherwise it has been great. Hasn't let me down yet. Clean up is easy, especially in a lay-out blind and my friend who purchased a nova wishes he would have gone Browning.
 
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