Good colder weather shotgun? Benelli super nova

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RNorthern

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Hi,

I'm looking for advise regarding a good all-weather shotgun especially cold[er] Nunavut weather.

Used mainly for defense against Polar Bears when roaming with the ATV and occasional fowl hunting

I was checking the Benelli Super Nova 12 gauge since with a bigger trigger guard, this can accommodate winter gloves and a more budget friendly option
**edit: I'll be mostly loading with rubber slugs

I'm fairly new to the scene, already have my PALs and attended necessary classes.
any helpful advice to newbies?
Thanks!
 
I haven't used a supernova in the cold but I have used a Winchester SXP Defender down into the -30's for ptarmigans with zero issues.
The newest models have an enlarged trigger guard and reversible safety, and the Marine Defender is threaded for Invector Plus chokes but only comes with one. Barrel length is 18" so nice for packing around.
I'm assuming you don't want a long barrel for your use?
 
I've run about everything except the Turkish sxps and no plans to test, period. The benelli nova would be my go to hands down out of all the pumps.
 
It really comes down to personal preference.
A lot depends on whether a certain gun has the features you want. Barrel length?
Chokes or fixed? Is the safety located where it's easily manipulated? Location of the action release? You want to be comfortable with the controls.
I think any pump will work as well as another in different temperatures if all else is equal. If you find one you like, buy it.
 
At those temps I would be looking at wood stocks
40 years as a gunsmith I have a huge pile of synthetic broken stocks of every make
Just saying .
 
struff55 said:
At those temps I would be looking at wood stocks ....
Click to expand...

Very good point, and if it's only ever being carried on the machine, the extra weight will only help handling. But I'd prefer quality laminate to wood if it's going to get wet and stay wet, or go through many freeze-thaw cycles (in and out of doors in the cold).
 
Getting a shotgun with a bigger trigger guard is a good plan. The Mossberg 590's have a good sized one too.
Loading with gloves will be the biggest challenge, so a shotgun with an enlarged load port would be beneficial (my Rem 879 is not as easy as my Moss 940JM Pro to load, with winter gloves on). Every Mossberg 500 I had was subject to load port grinding, making it much easier to load.
A receiver mounted tang safety will be easier to manipulate versus a trigger guard mounted cross safety.
Synthetic stocks from quality manufactures are fine in the North. We have run synthetic stock Rem 870's for years up here. Laminate is also good as it is more impervious to moisture, as with the stock on the new Canadian Ranger Rifle, Tikka T3 Arctic.
I would recommend a barrel length of 18-20 inches if you plan on using it for bird in addition to bear defense, or get a shotgun that has a two barrel combo.
Using the proper lubricants is also important.
 
Talk to the local people about what they use. Almost everyone, every man at least, is happy to talk about guns once they know you a bit. Although there is quite a tendency to adapt yourself to a gun a person already owns, you will likely learn a lot. For sure, the north = 12 gauge guns.
 
I've used a wood-stocked 870P and a synthetic-stocked Dominion Arms Grizzly (Chinese 870 clone) at temps down to -50 and they've functioned flawlessly.
I use it with mid-weight gloves without issue, but if you have sausage fingers the 870 triggerguard might be a little tight.

Disassembling/cleaning an 870 is pretty easy, and since aside from the stock (and follower) it's all metal I don't hesitate to put it near the wood stove to bring it up to room temp and dry it out.
Internals get a thin coat of gun grease, externals get a wipe-down with an oily rag, bore gets only the lightest cleaning followed by a 12ga wool mop with oil. I've never had a problem with corrosion.

Stocks, barrels, accessories are plentiful and affordable so if you do manage to break something like a stock or just want to try out different configurations they're widely available at retailers or on the EE.
I like Benelli Novas, but (unless they've changed the design since I owned one) it's a skeletonized receiver overmolded with plastic... so if by chance it does get a little brittle and something does break you're SOOL.

The suggestion above about asking locals what they prefer is also not a bad idea, just take everything with a grain of salt (and that includes my post) since people tend to get really attached to brands/models they're invested in.
 
manbearpig said:
I've used a wood-stocked 870P and a synthetic-stocked Dominion Arms Grizzly (Chinese 870 clone) at temps down to -50 and they've functioned flawlessly.
I use it with mid-weight gloves without issue, but if you have sausage fingers the 870 triggerguard might be a little tight.

Disassembling/cleaning an 870 is pretty easy, and since aside from the stock (and follower) it's all metal I don't hesitate to put it near the wood stove to bring it up to room temp and dry it out.
Internals get a thin coat of gun grease, externals get a wipe-down with an oily rag, bore gets only the lightest cleaning followed by a 12ga wool mop with oil. I've never had a problem with corrosion.

Stocks, barrels, accessories are plentiful and affordable so if you do manage to break something like a stock or just want to try out different configurations they're widely available at retailers or on the EE.
I like Benelli Novas, but (unless they've changed the design since I owned one) it's a skeletonized receiver overmolded with plastic... so if by chance it does get a little brittle and something does break you're SOOL.

The suggestion above about asking locals what they prefer is also not a bad idea, just take everything with a grain of salt (and that includes my post) since people tend to get really attached to brands/models they're invested in.
Click to expand...


That's a good point- you have to take it easy on the lube in Arctic temperatures... but I wouldn't use even a light coating of gun grease, oil only.
 
RNorthern said:
Hi,

I'm looking for advise regarding a good all-weather shotgun especially cold[er] Nunavut weather.

Used mainly for defense against Polar Bears when roaming with the ATV and occasional fowl hunting

I was checking the Benelli Super Nova 12 gauge since with a bigger trigger guard, this can accommodate winter gloves and a more budget friendly option
**edit: I'll be mostly loading with rubber slugs

I'm fairly new to the scene, already have my PALs and attended necessary classes.
any helpful advice to newbies?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Old school Remington 870 wingmaster magnum 3" chamber
New school benelli super nova
 
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