870 vs. SC Tactical Supernova

[kcmarine]

I'm now over age 18. I can buy a gun. Finally.

Now comes the deciding. As you may recall, I asked about the Benelli Supernova on here. SC (Special Configuration)... the one with the pistol grip and rifle sights. They run for somewhere around $500. Expensive, but I like the Benelli I have, and the gun seems ready- made to do what I want it to... which is to be sort of a utility shotgun, just one that comes with a pistol grip and rifle sights. Also, a lot of the gun is encased in plastic, which would eliminate the rust problem to a good extent.

Another choice is the legendary Remington Model 870 pump action shotgun. They're cheaper than the Benelli, and can be found anywhere. The design has been proven over a number of years, and aftermarket parts are abound.

With the 870, I think I'd be getting an Express model with a 18"-20" barrel, then getting the pistol grip buttstock for it from somewhere. I don't know what would be involved in getting rifle sights on it. I've seen the ones that are on the barrel, but I want something with a longer sight radius, and my eyesight isn't the best, so something with the rear sight closer would be better for fine adjustments in aim. It'd have to be receiver mounted for that, and I don't know where you'd get that kind of thing for the 870.

Cosmetics is another issue. I'm not a big fan of the pistol grips available for the 870 on the aftermarket. They look like afterthoughts... a lot of them have a little gap between the trigger guard and the grip. Another thing that I'm a bit nervous about on the 870 Express is rust. I've heard (and seen some pictures of) rust on Express line shotguns. I'm guessing one could parkerize or otherwise finish the 870 to eliminate any rust problems that come up, but that'd be more expense on the weapon.

Basically, I guess I'm asking this: would I spend more money on upgrading an 870 Express to where I want it, or buying the Benelli, which has everything on it I want? I'm leaning towards the Benelli at this point, though I could be swayed back. I guess I'm concerned because the comparable model to the Supernova I want that I found on Remington's website is floating around the $800 mark.

Aesthetics is not too much of an issue here. I like wood guns. When they're in a glass case. But otherwise, give me synthetic.

Thanks in advance for the replies.

 

[DBR]

I have an original Benelli Nova Special Purpose 18.5" with ghost ring sights. For the money it is hard to beat. Because it is a 3 1/2" gun the stock mag tube holds five rounds of 2 3/4" shells.

The ability to keep the gun "cruiser ready" ie cocked with an empty chamber and easily rack it without chambering a round is also useful if you want to keep the mag full (5rds) and chamber a different type of ammo.

I have a XS tritium Big Dot front sight on mine and a butt cuff with 3rds of Breneke KO slugs and 3 rds of 3" 000 magnum buckshot. The gun is loaded with 5rds of Federal LE low recoil Truball slugs.

Given your eyesight problem the Super with a red dot sight might also be an option. I think the Super can take a rail on the receiver without gunsmith work.

 

[SnakeLogan]

I think the 870 is a much nicer looking gun, but I prefer the Super Nova Tactical (I used to own both, now I just have a SNT).

The Super Nova Tactical has two key advantages IMO: takes up to 3.5 inch shells and has the best pistol grip bar none.

 

[arizona98tj]

My shooting buddy and I bought a pair of SuperNova Tacticals about this time last year. We took a 4 day shotgun course last fall and really came to appreciate how nicely the SNT handled. He has the pistol grip stock on his and I have the regular stock. He prefers a pistol grip and I do not.

We ran the heck out of them during the 4 day course and they ran nice. There was a notable difference, IMO, between how the SNT ran and the other two lower tier guns usually seen with all of the after market items stocks and forearms on them. A significant number of them malfunctioned due to items falling off, screws backing out, etc. Most of the hype seen in magazines and forums doesn't make it in the real world when you push that many rounds through them without letting up for cleaning or maintenance.

I don't think you can go wrong with a SuperNova Tactical.

Here are a few SNT related links from my site that you might enjoy browsing.....

Benelli SuperNova Tactical

Mesa Tactical Carrier

Nordic Magazine Extension

Giles Sling

 

[kcmarine]

Hm... sounds like the Supernova then... . Thanks guys. Keep the opinions rolling... I have some time before I've saved up enough for the gun...

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Im going to chime in and say that I own the Rem 870 Marine Magnum. Part of the reason is that at times we go near salt water and it's nice to have a gun that can stay clean most of the time with just a wipe down weekly.

I have a aversion to the pistol grip. However be that as it may, I like my 870's very long history, parts availibity, good support at the Gunsmith and overall good performance with a variety of ammuntion.

The gun is essentially idiot proof and very good fit to my hands and arms. I had several guns under consideration that night and plenty of money to pick any shotgun in the store. Pistol grips fail, Bolt action fail, Too heavy, too light, too long, too short etc all fail.

There is no choke to maintain on the gun that I know of, it's part of the barrel. The Reciever is easily cleaned, trigger group comes right out when you pull or tap out two little pins. The rest of the gun falls down to seperate peices with just a few tugs here and there. Easy fix.

It does get hot after 20 rounds and gets a bit...dry at times like a wife. But regular care keeps it 100% ready to go. Mine has been quietly sitting or standing rather in it's quick grab for months now ready to go and I do take it to the range each month to fire it.

You may like X gun or Y gun or something else. My advice to you is to go through EVERY gun you like, make a pile of them on the counter and compare. When you are down to about 4 guns to choose from, see about renting to fire at the range yourself at the store or somewhere until you have THE GUN that will be the one you take home.

You can always buy more guns in your life. But your first gun will be the most important, and I cannot state enough how important for it to be simple, reliable and idiot proof as possible. A life time of shooting enjoyment is at stake here. If you bought a problem gun and had issues with it, you may just decide to hell with it all and not pursue it anymore!

Kinda like me at 18 buying a old 71 ford with a big V8 and very little except airconditioning (And Points, Holley Vapor Lock etc) to worry about in those days as a first car. God, if I had that thing today, I would not be paying the damn dealer so much today to maintain the overcomputer-technoicial money pits they are.

 

[Howaido]

As I look back to when I was buying a pump shotgun, there was only one clear choice and that was the 870.

In fact, for me, there was really no choice to be made. I was familiar with it, it was/is the LE shotgun.

I don't remember ever considering the mossberg, although I don't fault people for going with it. I have never seen one of the supernovas, I am sure they are fine as well.

 

[Gordon]

I took an advanced shotgun course with a Benelli Nova 18" RS with factory extension and rail about 5 years ago. After lunch on the first day I received permission to switch back to my 870. The Nova had a 12 pound trigger pull, the stock at 14 1/4" was more than an inch too long for extended low readies and the left hand position was too far forward so that hurt and the loooong action stroke was not that 'snick' of the 870 I was used too. In actual use the mag cutoff of the Benelli while an excellent idea is hard to depress under stress of 'select slug' ect.
That was then, since then I have gotten the trigger pull down to a smooth 4.5 pounds, shortened the stock (properly which is no easy feat) to 12 3/4" with a broad Limbsaver, enlarged the safety head and put tritium LPA sight inserts on the excellentLPA sights. The barrel BTW is the most accurate slugbarrel I ownfor some unknown reason. I have an old wood stock Benelli Super 90 with all the bells and whistles, but has a Duck barrel on for the last 3 years as a close range duck partner to my 10ga BPS, I never warmed to a semi combat SG.
The New improved Nova seems MUCH more useable than it was, but when I put it next to my "3rd generation" 870 Police Wingmaster it still is NOT as smooth and 'flick like' an action stroke, the Surefire foreend has a hand position 6" shorter so is easier to hold in low ready or extended periods as it is to 'cover a suspect' for 15 minutes at a time-real world scenarios for sure.Although the stiff finger out of trigger guard keeps the finger on the Benelli safety I'm having a hard time with the LAPD trained 870 safety manipulation that is ingrained in me.
I'll give the Benelli another try under Awerbuck, I'll have the 'perfect' 870 as a back up however!

 

[Hungry Seagull]

The Spouse has the Mossberg and I happen to grow onto that little gun myself. I actually appreciated it after a few trips with it. I found it to be a bit lighter than I liked and the stock half the size it should be but... as long the wife shoots, fits perfectly to it.... who am I to pick on it.

Mossberg makes good guns but one of these days Im gonna get that durn slug barrel for it so that the wife dont worry about the Accu-chokes that they have.

Chokes are good for different targets on a shotgun, but to me they are just another extra part to maintain. I dont mind it TOO much but... it's a bit of cleaning that needs doing right without damage to the threads on either the choke or the barrel threads.

Labor of Love I say.

I did look at a Benelli, nice purposeful guns. But are.... a bit BIG? As if perhaps certain folks 7 foot and 350 pounds of muscle are a necessary fit to these guns. It's just me, a 180 pound shrimp who finds the 870 a better fit than the big Benelli.


Oh, some other thoughts....

You may be feeling a sense of happy, cloud 9 feeling while in a actual gun shop BUYING YOUR OWN Shotgun. Your vision will probably be a bit... tunnel and forget a few things in your excitement. In fact, bring someone along to help fill your 4473 out in case you forget important information in your excitement to buy a gun.

Consider the following.

Look at the barrels near the Reciever. Do they have stampings of chokes? Shell lengths? 2.75 (2 3/4) or 3 Inch? Or even 3.5 inch shells? Are there stampings such as MAGNUM capable on the barrel or reciever of the gun?

Try to evaluate your choices carefully the guns themselves will tell you alot when you take a bit of time to read the stuff stamped into them.

Finally, try to get a shotgun with the least amount of stuff hanging on them. Preferably already equippted with a rail on the reciever or at least screws on the reciever capable of taking a rail. It wont be long before you are either going plain police furnature or tatical-cool bling overboard.

Dont tac out a shotgun heavier than you can hold and aim I say.

 

[Gordon]

I took an advanced shotgun course with a Benelli Nova 18" RS with factory extension and rail about 5 years ago. After lunch on the first day I received permission to switch back to my 870. The Nova had a 12 pound trigger pull, the stock at 14 1/4" was more than an inch too long for extended low readies and the left hand position was too far forward so that hurt and the loooong action stroke was not that 'snick' of the 870 I was used too. In actual use the mag cutoff of the Benelli while an excellent idea is hard to depress under stress of 'select slug' ect.
That was then, since then I have gotten the trigger pull down to a smooth 4.5 pounds, shortened the stock (properly which is no easy feat) to 12 3/4" with a broad Limbsaver, enlarged the safety head and put tritium LPA sight inserts on the excellentLPA sights. The barrel BTW is the most accurate slugbarrel I ownfor some unknown reason. I have an old wood stock Benelli Super 90 with all the bells and whistles, but has a Duck barrel on for the last 3 years as a close range duck partner to my 10ga BPS, I never warmed to a semi combat SG.
The New improved Nova seems MUCH more useable than it was, but when I put it next to my "3rd generation" 870 Police Wingmaster it still is NOT as smooth and 'flick like' an action stroke, the Surefire foreend has a hand position 6" shorter so is easier to hold in low ready or extended periods as it is to 'cover a suspect' for 15 minutes at a time-real world scenarios for sure.Although the stiff finger out of trigger guard keeps the finger on the Benelli safety I'm having a hard time with the LAPD trained 870 safety manipulation that is ingrained in me.
I'll give the Benelli another try under Awerbuck, I'll have the 'perfect' 870 as a back up however!



BTW I tried a SIG Ligth Laser combo, and while it looked good and drained the batteries in off position, I went back to the good TRL 1 Streamlight which seems bullet proof on the Benelli!