Are Benelli Nova pump 12GA any good, vs Mossberg 500 or Remington 870?

[AirPower]

I dont' usually hear about Benelli Nova pump shotguns near often as as Mossberg 500 or Remington 870. Are the Nova good guns?

 

[RetiredLawman]

I have a 20 guage Nova that I love. It is as slick as an eel to cycle and very simple to take apart with no tools. It hasn't been on the market but a few years, unlike the others that have been out there forever. THe space age looks may throw you but it has proven very reliable.

There is nothing wrong with the Remington and Mossberg. I have one of each. The Nova will build as good a reputation as the others, IMO.

 

[jpatterson]

From what I've heard Benelli's pump lines are nice shotguns, but 500's and 870's are PROVEN nice shotguns. Nova/Supernova are relatively new, whereas 500's and 870's are basically ancient and have yet to have anything to replace them.

 

[john1911]

I've owned and shot all three. My order of preference:
1) Nova
2)500
3)870

I'm looking for a Supernova tactical right now.

The looks is what turns most people off Novas. They're not too pretty. Being chambered in 3 1/2" makes for a longer stroke on the pump. Takes some people a while to get used to this.

All three (if the 870 is an Express) sell for around the same amount. The Nova is the best buy of the three (IMO).

 

[f4t9r]

The Nova Is a very nice shotgun. They are all good but I would pick the Nova over the other 2

 

[earlthegoat2]

When it comes to durability the Nova may be the best there is. It cycles horribly. It rattles the worst of any pump I know of. Its ugly. It never stops shooting. It costs less than the 870 equivalent with a 3 1/2 chamber.

This is the quiessential canoe paddle. Its an AK47 shotgun. You cannot make it stop shooting.

 

[357wheelgunner]

I like the button that stops the magazine from feeding, so you can clear the chamber, load a slug, and not waste a second round doing so.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Second to the magazine cutoff switch of the NOVA

 

[jmr40]

I like the way the Benelli's function and liked the Nova's better than the Supernova. I've owned all three and from a mechanical point of view like the Benelli best.

Shooting them however was a dissapointment for me. The receiver is too long, too fat and they do not point well for me. Could not hit well with the ones I had at all. For me no other pump shoots as well as the 870.

If I were just starting in shooting and were not so used to 870's my opinion may be different.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Credit to Benelli for trying but....

The triggers on the ones I've tried have been from truly bad to horrible.

The forearm rattle is a nuisance.

The shuck is rough, though in fairness none of the ones I've tried have more than a few hundred rounds through them. Time may improve them.

A couple of folks I know, decent shotgunners , love the things.

My favorites, in order of top down, are

870s.

12s,

37s,

1300s,

500s and variants.

Novas. (Novi?)....

 

[emerson]

I have a new 12GA Nova with a 28 inch barrel which I took duck hunting this morning. I can tell you mine is a very nice shotgun. It cycles incredibly well - in fact, when I was first shooting it, I couldn't believe how fast I was cycling through. It was as if the shell was half way ejected after I fired. Very nice.

The rattle is not at all bad.

The gun fits me well and I felt virtually no recoil.

I'm very satisfied, and I would take it above a standard Mossberg design any day. Although I like Remington, I would take the Nova.

For what it's worth.

 

[marriedguy1]

I have a Supernova and love the rattles. I shoot it about as well as I can...not that well. It works great for me and my buddy shot it and went out and bought a regular nova. The price was a little high for a supernova, but I like it and enjoy it. I have shot many shotguns before and the Benelli's just feel good to me.