who shoots a benelli nova?

M

mkeller72

New member
I am thinking about getting a benellin nova for a calling shotgun. Last year they had a turkey model with the steady grip stock I really liked. Who has one and what are the pros and cons of this model.
 
I love my Nova especialy for the price. It has been a good all around type of gun for dogs, duck, upland etc. No real issues. If you do get it and decide to shoot 3 1/2s out of it spend the extra money for the recoil reducer. Your shoulder will thank you.
 
Had one. 2 very close friends still have them. Good all around, but a bit bulky for calling IMO. I like something smaller, lighter, faster.....
 
I do! Wish I would have kept my old Rem. 870. I just thought I had to have a Nova, even though I've killed several turkey, ducks and geese with the rattling thing. I miss the feel of my old 870.
 
I use one and I love it.I've killed quite alot of porcupines,skunks,pheasants, a few turkeys and a bobcat with it.I havent got to test it out on a yote yet but it would lay the smack down on one.I'd recommend one to anybody.Their reliable and they look really cool I think. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I bought one about 4 years ago and sold it the same day that I shot it. It came with a rubber "brick" for a recoil pad and it would knock the taste out of your mouth with light skeet loads.
 
I have one as my primary duck gun and love it.

Face it nearly any pump is going to beat you up with 3.5 inch, the nova is no different in this respect.

I have had only a few problems with it so far.

First you need to shuck it like you mean it. A half ace effort will jam it, at least it will mine. Its never been a problem on game, only when I want to unload it when at the truck. A half effort pump and mine seems to release a shell from the mag before the first has really cleared the gun resulting in a jam. Not a big issue, and certainly nothing to be concerned with in the field.

I love the way mine points and handles in the field. Out of the box it just fits me, and I only have to think dead bird and its done. Of course this might not be the case for you, and many guns have shims to adjust the fit, but for me this was the right gun.

If your hunting in the cold, clean it well and lube it with a cold weather lube sparingly. Mine worked straight from the shop all season on ducks until about -10C or so when I hung it up. Last week at -37C I got the dreaded frozen firing pin, the cause to much 'gelled' lube. A cleaning fixed that right away. Not a problem specific to the nova, but something that should be done with any gun, silly me.

Frankly, if I was given a bizzilon dollars I'd still be shooting the nova. I have a mossberg, a rem, and a browning, and I don't like any of them nearly as much as the nova. It feeds and shoots anything I want to put into it, it patterns well and on center, and it just fits me like no other. I would go so far as to say you could use it as a canoe paddle, shoot a duck with it, then happily paddle some more.
 
Thanks for the info. I have owned berrettas and benelli sbe and for the type of hunting I do for ducks, geese, and predators I hate to have $1,000+ shotgun in the mud and dirt. I am like Craig, I really like the way it looks to me down the barrel, points very well in my opinion. As for the recoil, all pumps kick with big shells, I would have it ported by a local gunsmith at a very reasonable charge that is well worth it. My favorite shotgun to shoot is my 10 browning bps, but I have trouble finding 4 buck for it and dont wish to reload it.
 
i love my nova also. tighten the allen screws on either side of the forearm, not too tight or it will bind up. just snug them up a little, it will take most of the rattle out. in my experience most forearms on pump guns rattle a little.
as for the trigger, i polished it up with rubbing compound and a dremmel tool. it smoothed it out some. i also like the fact that being a lefty, i could just remove the safety and turn it around to suit me. it is a great weapon for the price. i don't believe you can go wrong with a benelli.
 
I love mine. Ran it over with my ATV and bent the barrel about 20 degrees - great for shooting around corners. Had the smithy straighten it and it's still dead on. Who cares if it rattles a bit - it's reliable!
 
I just sold my Browning BPS because it would jam on me in freezing weather and got a camo Benelli Nova . All my Duck hunting friends love and swear by them and you know how cold and muddy that can be during the waterfowl season . They work great even in the worst conditions . Loved my BPS until i had my first flock of geese come in and all i got was one shot . It was frozen and i could not get another shot . A little water and below zero weather was not a good combo for my browning . Sometimes a gun with a little play( loose ) and rattle can be a good thing .
 
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Frankly, if I was given a bizzilon dollars I'd still be shooting the nova. I have a mossberg, a rem, and a browning, and I don't like any of them nearly as much as the nova. It feeds and shoots anything I want to put into it, it patterns well and on center, and it just fits me like no other. I would go so far as to say you could use it as a canoe paddle, shoot a duck with it, then happily paddle some more.



Ditto !!

I have a Mossberg , Rem 870 and had a Browning PBS . I gave the Moss and the Rem to my sons . I am a Nova fan now !!
 
I have two Novas. They do rattle a bit in the forend, and if you short shuck the action, a jam with a 3.5" shell can be a PITA to clear. They fit me well, but one problem I have with them, and it's not something that you need to be concerned about with lead shot, but the Mobil choke system used in them is not particularly good for long range shooting with fast steel loads. Other choke systems, Invector Plus used by Browning and Winchester and Remchoke, do better with factory chokes and most conventional aftermarket chokes than do the Mobil chokes used in the Novas and the SBE1's.

If you don't plan on using it to shoot fast steel shot loads for waterfowl and don't expect to get the best long ranged patterns with it using those loads, then it's really a pretty decent pumpgun.
 
They're almost indestructable, but they will kick the snoot out of you. I bought mine for turkey hunting because of the short barrel but now I mostly use my Winchester Super X2. Yea, it has a 28" barrel, but it's not that bad and with 3" or 3-1/2" full house loads of #4 buckshot it's a lot easier on the shoulder.
 
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