Benelli Nova/Supernova

The Supernova has a "different" stock. If I were inclined to buy one I'd just as soon save the money and buy the standard Nova. There were complaints about forearm rattle in early guns, but I believe that has been addressed.

I bought one new, and picked up another used on the cheap years ago. But didn't keep either very long. They are functional, reliable guns with a lot of good features for the money. I just couldn't warm up to the way they handled. I don't mind the utilitarian looks, but they are so thick through the receiver and forend that I didn't like them. Probably because I'm older and used to trimmer designs. If I were a younger shooter with no preconceived notions about how a gun was supposed to look and feel I'd probably like one.

I've used a Nova for the past 6 years as my waterfowl piece and took 2 deer this past Fall. I opted for the Nova as it's slimmer in the receiver compared to the Supernova. The gun is 8lbs and doesn't recoil much, and I didn't really need the Comfortech stock and "Italian styling" on the Supernova. It's been 100% reliable and I like the features it offers.

I’ve used and abused my Super for a good decade. Waterfowl mostly, but the occasional dove and squirrel and turkey. It’s ugly as hell, but has never given me any trouble whatsoever, no matter what I threw at it. Like jmr40 stated, the only difference between the two is the stock. If you can pick one up inexpensively, I say go for it.

Make sure you shoulder the shotgun before buying. If it fits your frame it's going to be a great shotgun. I don't think interchangeable stocks matters on the Supernova as accessories cost a lot!

LRDGCO said:

I have really come to appreciate it and, in my first ever "combat" shotgun match came in third using it

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One thing I learned about my Nova, if you plan on mounting a "Side Saddle" shell carrier on it, be sure you don't tighten the bolts too much. Anything past "tight enough" will distort the receiver enough to bind the slide rods and prevent the pump from pumping.

My Nova's achievements

dak0ta said:

I didn't really need the Comfortech stock and "Italian styling" on the Supernova.

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I own a couple of Benelli shotguns and like them both but I don't know of any maker that seems to go so far out of the way to make their guns look so unnecessarily ugly. Swoopy Ferrari-like styling and goofy-looking trigger guards make some of their guns look like they belong in a Star Wars movie set instead of a duck blind. I do think, though, that a hunter might at least save some ammo if he waits for the ducks to die laughing.

Ugly, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

A lot of ppl think the Nova/SN are plastic shotguns. Here's an Xray of the receiver. Perforated steel receiver insert.

SwampWolf said:

I own a couple of Benelli shotguns and like them both but I don't know of any maker that seems to go so far out of the way to make their guns look so unnecessarily ugly. Swoopy Ferrari-like styling and goofy-looking trigger guards make their guns look like they belong in a Star Wars movie set instead of a duck blind. I do think, though, that a hunter might at least save some ammo if he waits for the ducks to die laughing.

Ugly, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

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The Nova is already pretty thick in the receiver, compared to the SN, what's the point of all those styling features that add further bulk to the receiver area. Also the original trigger guard is already large enough for gloved hands and less obstrusive.



Lastly, the removable stock on the SN is pointless as most people are happy with the stock OEM. Any replacement stock is going to cost more to the gun anyways.

dak0ta said:

Lastly, the removable stock on the SN is pointless as most people are happy with the stock OEM. Any replacement stock is going to cost more to the gun anyways.

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You can shim the SN stock for enhanced fitting.

Slater said:

These shotguns have been on the market for 20 years (?) or so. During that time, has Benelli made any adjustments/tweaks to the design or is a Nova essentially the same gun it was in the beginning?

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I don't believe anything has changed since they first arrived on the market.

Seems to me that the Supernova is the gen 2 version of the Nova. But they kept making the original Nova.

They're somehow able to make the shotguns pretty cheap with a lot of features in Italy. Don't they sell for $300-400 new?

About $400 for the Nova, $100 more for the SuperNova. About $60 more than an 870 Express. But the Benelli comes with 3 choke tubes vs one and they have built in sling swivel attachment points. Those are extra on the 870.

That's pretty good value I'd say. Barrel is also chrome-lined for easy maintenance. Triggers are actually pretty decent for being polymer as well.