COMMENTS ON A BENELLI NOVA?

pepemarine · February 23, 2001, 12:20 AM

I´M IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW GOOSE GUN NOT THE 3 1/2 MAG. BUT A MERE 3 INCHER, SHOULD I BUY THE NOVA OR THE 870.
THANKS FOR THE HELP.

Dave McC · February 23, 2001, 06:56 AM

The Nova may or may not be a great shotgun. The 870 has an unmatched record for reliability,longevity and effectiveness.

I doubt the Nova is a pig, Benelli tends to make good stuff, but I'd go with the 870.

NAD · February 23, 2001, 11:43 AM

I am in the same quandry. I talked with a gunshop owner/IPSC shooter at a match recently about the NOVA and he said it's a good shotgun and he has sold dozens of them. He couldn't keep up with the orders last year, and is expecting 50 of them ordered from Benelli for his shop to be sold in no time. I am thinking the Nova over the 870 because I own a Benelli M1 S90. The mag tubes are interchangeable. This means I can use my 11 round extension on it.

Bud1 · February 23, 2001, 11:45 AM

"No Va." Anyone else speak Spanish?

dZ · February 24, 2001, 05:44 PM

my benelli nova makes the ringnecks no va
if i am too close they im plo da

dZ

MiniZ · February 24, 2001, 08:46 PM

I have a Nova 18.5" with the 3.5 chamber. The pros are the gun is inexpensive, cycles smooth as glass, and functions awesome. The disadvantage I see for your purpose is the fact the gun is so light, it is not pleasant to shoot heavy loads without the recoil reducer(which adds about $50.00 to the price tag). I shot mine today at the Utah TFL shoot, and after shooting 5 rounds of 2.5 mag 00 buck(without the recoil reducer, to get a feel for it), I decided I'd had enough and put the recoil reducer back in.
In my opinion, you can't go wrong with either one. I'd check them both out, and decide based on the one that "feels" better.
Zane

hksigwalther · February 25, 2001, 10:57 PM

NAD,

M1S90 mags will not fit the NOVA :

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...threadid=11523

Tried it myself. No Go.

Zander · February 26, 2001, 12:50 PM

"No Va." Anyone else speak Spanish? -- Bud1

It was somewhat more embarrassing when GM exported the Chevy Nova to Mexico.

NAD · February 26, 2001, 12:59 PM

hksigwalther - Thanks for the info. I will have to pass this along to the dealer buddy of mine who told me otherwise.

SDC · February 26, 2001, 04:16 PM

Between the two, I only have experience with the 870, but if you've ever seen Tom Knapp (the exhibition shotgunner on American Shooter), he can make his Nova do amazing things. Now, where can I find a company that'll give me guns and ammo to practice all day with? :-)

Nevada Fitch · February 26, 2001, 04:45 PM

I don't have any expeirence with the Nova but have owned and shot several 870s. The 870 have a good reputation but I had bad luck with one I bought new. It was a 3 inch Mag.Premire grade. The dam thing failed to eject spent cases. I would wind up with the classic stove pipe. I sent it back to the factory 3 times they never got it right. They should have given me a new gun by then but did not.There warantie service is the sorriest in the business.Remington makes some good guns and I own several but this still makes me mad everytime I think about it so I though I would mention it.

Romulus · February 26, 2001, 09:33 PM

I've read a number of postings about problems with Benelli shotguns in tactical sitches. I tend to believe them because these postings further the axioms surrounding Italian engineering: artfully designed, creatively conceived, accurately engineered, high on the performance end, but temperemental and delicate in the product incarnation...think of Lamborghinis or Ferraris.

The 870, on the other hand, is a quintessential gringo product: not the prettiest or slickest, but beefy, tough, and dependable. I still think I like my Ithaca better, though...

TM · March 1, 2001, 10:05 AM

To follow up on hksigwalther's post, there is a 2rd. extension for the Nova, which actually is a 3rd. if you're using 2.75" shells.

I think the Nova is great- have yet to put lots of heavy loads through mine, nor have I gotten the recoil reducer. I plan on getting the recoil reducer in the near future, though- I may use it for a shotgun course later on.

Nice thing is, the manual of arms is the same as the 870 except that the button on the slide allows you to load one w/o wasting a live round from the mag.

Tom B · March 1, 2001, 12:10 PM

What is the going price for a Nova?

dZ · March 1, 2001, 03:57 PM

i bought mine for $309 but 350 is closer to a good price in MD these daze.

Have you noticed the Nova on the cover of AR this month?
nice weaver mount

dZ

624 · March 4, 2001, 03:39 PM

After owning nothing but Remingtons for the last 30 years I purchased a Nova for ducks & geese. I really enjoy the gun, the 3 1/2" loads are not unreasonable if you are wearing a coat. I don't have the recoil reducer and don't intend to buy one. I did have problems with Kent brand shells not consistently ejecting. No problem with any other brand.

pepemarine · March 8, 2001, 10:15 PM

I ALREADY HAVE AN 870 EXPRESS BUT DONT YOU LOVE THE NEW BEETLE, SAME NAME BUT MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF TECHNOLOGICAL DECADENCE, THE OLD BEETLE WORKS WELL BUT HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO THE NEW ONE? AND IN PUMP SHOTGUNS WHATS THE NEWEST AND TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED ONE?

ANY TROUBLESHOOTING?

KEEP BLASTING!

dZ · March 9, 2001, 12:29 AM

i have a new beetle and it sucks for carting long arms!
i have been thinking about making a gun rack for the hatch

Maybe a shorty AR would fit

dZ

PS y'all seen the NOVA 20 guage?
6.5 pounds
great kids shotgun!

February 23, 2001, 11:45 AM	#4
Bud1 Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2000 Posts: 194	Hmmmm... "No Va." Anyone else speak Spanish?

February 25, 2001, 10:57 PM	#7
hksigwalther Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 1998 Location: NE OH, USA Posts: 3,198	NAD, M1S90 mags will not fit the NOVA : http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...threadid=11523 Tried it myself. No Go. __________________ - Ron V.

February 26, 2001, 12:50 PM	#8
Zander Junior member Join Date: December 11, 2000 Location: Middle and East Tennessee, USA Posts: 2,059	A little Latin, too... "No Va." Anyone else speak Spanish? -- Bud1 It was somewhat more embarrassing when GM exported the Chevy Nova to Mexico.

February 26, 2001, 09:33 PM	#12
Romulus Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2001 Location: Kettle Moraine country Posts: 897	An observation of a general nature: I've read a number of postings about problems with Benelli shotguns in tactical sitches. I tend to believe them because these postings further the axioms surrounding Italian engineering: artfully designed, creatively conceived, accurately engineered, high on the performance end, but temperemental and delicate in the product incarnation...think of Lamborghinis or Ferraris. The 870, on the other hand, is a quintessential gringo product: not the prettiest or slickest, but beefy, tough, and dependable. I still think I like my Ithaca better, though...

February 23, 2001, 12:20 AM	#1
pepemarine Member Join Date: February 18, 2001 Location: old mexico Posts: 94	I´M IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW GOOSE GUN NOT THE 3 1/2 MAG. BUT A MERE 3 INCHER, SHOULD I BUY THE NOVA OR THE 870. THANKS FOR THE HELP.

February 23, 2001, 06:56 AM	#2
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	The Nova may or may not be a great shotgun. The 870 has an unmatched record for reliability,longevity and effectiveness. I doubt the Nova is a pig, Benelli tends to make good stuff, but I'd go with the 870.

February 23, 2001, 11:43 AM	#3
NAD Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 1998 Posts: 169	I am in the same quandry. I talked with a gunshop owner/IPSC shooter at a match recently about the NOVA and he said it's a good shotgun and he has sold dozens of them. He couldn't keep up with the orders last year, and is expecting 50 of them ordered from Benelli for his shop to be sold in no time. I am thinking the Nova over the 870 because I own a Benelli M1 S90. The mag tubes are interchangeable. This means I can use my 11 round extension on it.

February 24, 2001, 05:44 PM	#5
dZ Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 1999 Location: Exiled, Fetid Swamp, DC Posts: 7,548	my benelli nova makes the ringnecks no va if i am too close they im plo da dZ

February 24, 2001, 08:46 PM	#6
MiniZ Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2001 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 517	I have a Nova 18.5" with the 3.5 chamber. The pros are the gun is inexpensive, cycles smooth as glass, and functions awesome. The disadvantage I see for your purpose is the fact the gun is so light, it is not pleasant to shoot heavy loads without the recoil reducer(which adds about $50.00 to the price tag). I shot mine today at the Utah TFL shoot, and after shooting 5 rounds of 2.5 mag 00 buck(without the recoil reducer, to get a feel for it), I decided I'd had enough and put the recoil reducer back in. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with either one. I'd check them both out, and decide based on the one that "feels" better. Zane

February 26, 2001, 12:59 PM	#9
NAD Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 1998 Posts: 169	hksigwalther - Thanks for the info. I will have to pass this along to the dealer buddy of mine who told me otherwise.

February 26, 2001, 04:16 PM	#10
SDC Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2001 Location: People's Republic of Kanada Posts: 1,652	Between the two, I only have experience with the 870, but if you've ever seen Tom Knapp (the exhibition shotgunner on American Shooter), he can make his Nova do amazing things. Now, where can I find a company that'll give me guns and ammo to practice all day with? :-)

February 26, 2001, 04:45 PM	#11
Nevada Fitch Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2000 Posts: 261	I don't have any expeirence with the Nova but have owned and shot several 870s. The 870 have a good reputation but I had bad luck with one I bought new. It was a 3 inch Mag.Premire grade. The dam thing failed to eject spent cases. I would wind up with the classic stove pipe. I sent it back to the factory 3 times they never got it right. They should have given me a new gun by then but did not.There warantie service is the sorriest in the business.Remington makes some good guns and I own several but this still makes me mad everytime I think about it so I though I would mention it.

March 1, 2001, 10:05 AM	#13
TM Junior Member Join Date: October 7, 2000 Posts: 13	To follow up on hksigwalther's post, there is a 2rd. extension for the Nova, which actually is a 3rd. if you're using 2.75" shells. I think the Nova is great- have yet to put lots of heavy loads through mine, nor have I gotten the recoil reducer. I plan on getting the recoil reducer in the near future, though- I may use it for a shotgun course later on. Nice thing is, the manual of arms is the same as the 870 except that the button on the slide allows you to load one w/o wasting a live round from the mag.

March 1, 2001, 12:10 PM	#14
Tom B Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 1999 Location: GA Posts: 1,836	What is the going price for a Nova?

March 1, 2001, 03:57 PM	#15
dZ Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 1999 Location: Exiled, Fetid Swamp, DC Posts: 7,548	i bought mine for $309 but 350 is closer to a good price in MD these daze. Have you noticed the Nova on the cover of AR this month? nice weaver mount dZ

March 4, 2001, 03:39 PM	#16
624 Junior Member Join Date: March 3, 2001 Posts: 9	After owning nothing but Remingtons for the last 30 years I purchased a Nova for ducks & geese. I really enjoy the gun, the 3 1/2" loads are not unreasonable if you are wearing a coat. I don't have the recoil reducer and don't intend to buy one. I did have problems with Kent brand shells not consistently ejecting. No problem with any other brand.

March 8, 2001, 10:15 PM	#17
pepemarine Member Join Date: February 18, 2001 Location: old mexico Posts: 94	I ALREADY HAVE AN 870 EXPRESS BUT DONT YOU LOVE THE NEW BEETLE, SAME NAME BUT MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF TECHNOLOGICAL DECADENCE, THE OLD BEETLE WORKS WELL BUT HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO THE NEW ONE? AND IN PUMP SHOTGUNS WHATS THE NEWEST AND TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED ONE? ANY TROUBLESHOOTING? KEEP BLASTING!

March 9, 2001, 12:29 AM	#18
dZ Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 1999 Location: Exiled, Fetid Swamp, DC Posts: 7,548	i have a new beetle and it sucks for carting long arms! i have been thinking about making a gun rack for the hatch Maybe a shorty AR would fit dZ PS y'all seen the NOVA 20 guage? 6.5 pounds great kids shotgun!