Benelli Nova (1999-Present)

[dak0ta]

Hi,

I was thinking of picking up a Nova for waterfowling to add to my 870 Wingmaster and Mossberg 500 pump collection.

I looked them over back in 2006-2007, and back then they were relatively new and the only complaint was the handling and the rattling forearm.

Fast forward to 2013, has Benelli changed or modified or fixed anything on these shotguns that you guys have noticed? Is it proven now after 14 years in use?

Does any LE/Military employ the Nova/Supernova shotguns?

 

[PapaG]

Had one for a few years. Always worked, shot well, felt good, killed a bunch of doves and a deer with it. Being a blue steel and walnut man, I just couldn't stand the look of it. Traded it for a Savage 99 in 308 and never looked back. Once in a while I get a case of the regrets but have resisted another one as I have 1100s, 870s and a couple of nice doubles for all my hunting needs.

 

[YZ]

Still rattled in 2011. Otherwise as good as any budget pump. The recoil reduction insert has been well received, but I haven't tried.

 

[dak0ta]

I held one at Cabelas today, the action isn't very smooth but I'm sure with break-in it'll slick up. There's a tiny bit of up and down play when the bolt is locked in the breech, but not as bad as I would have thought based on the internet complaints.

Overall, it fit me well and balanced quite nicely. The recoil pad is really hard though!

Some people complain about the long reach, but the fore-arm is super long so if you hold it on the fat belly portion of the pump, it feels like a Mossberg/Remington pump reach. I have long arms, so the Nova felt fine. LOP was also fine for me as well. Balance was good. Swing was a little slower than my Mossberg which is a little more wippy due to the lighter receiver and heavier barrel. The 870 Wingmaster still takes the cake for best handling/balanced pump. Ithaca 37 >> 870 however!

While at it, I shouldered a Browning BPS. Really nice fit and finish, very smooth action, pump stroke didn't feel long if you hold it again at the belly of the pump. The design is slimmer and more compact than the NOVA similar to the 870, but it's heavier than an 870 and doesn't swing as well. Control layout was good however.

The build quality was way above my Mossberg 500, tighter, and just well put together.

Without firing it, I'm impressed so far.

 

[YZ]

The Browning is an upgrade over the Nova, no doubt. Bottom loading and ejection are handy if you're left handed, otherwise may feel awkward compared to a side eject. Top tang safety is more like classic shotguns.

 

[Jason_W]

I have the "tactical" version (man, I hate that designation) and I really like it for the most part. I've used it as close range, brush gun for deer and ruffed grouse and it seems to be fairly well suited to those niches. The fore end is actually very quiet for a synthetic stocked pump gun.

The things I dislike about the gun are its appearance and the marginal ergonomics. It's a bit clunky, but not so bad you can't adjust. The lack of available aftermarket parts is another potential downside.

I recently purchased an aftermarket Carlson's barrel for mine. It's an 18.5-inch model with a rifled choke tube installed. Unfortunately, the front sight on the new barrel is too low-profile to work with the gun's ghost ring rear sight. When I can scrape together the money, I'm probably going to install an optic and designate the gun for use on non-flying targets.

 

[dak0ta]

In terms of ergos, I think they could have made the action release bar a little bigger so it sticks out a little from the trigger guard. With gloves it may be hard to access. I like the safety position.

I didn't get to try the trigger cause there was a lock on it, but I heard they were a little mushy and heavy. Any word on that?

 

[YZ]

It was a normal trigger for a semiauto shotgun. Owned 2 novas, one long, another home def. You don't want it too light with winter gloves.

 

[Jason_W]

I'm not a great judge of triggers as I grew up shooting a hodge-podge of old guns with triggers of varying quality. Adjusting to the quirks of a gun rather than the other way around became habit for me.

That said, the trigger on my Nova seems pretty crisp for a budget shotgun. It's crisp and light enough that I can group slugs surprisingly close together out to 65 yards. And this is from a guy who honestly isn't all that great a shot.

 

[Gordon]

Action stroke very looooong, too small action release as noted and very hard to reduce the LOP. Otherwise it is a very nice gun! I reduced the LOP with help of a machine shop , and tigged a larger action release button on . With the reduced LOP it is easier to run the bolt. The slug barrel is extremely accurate and the factory LPA sights are top shelf.It won't be replacing my more versatile and smoother 870s, but is an ok HD gun now.