The Benelli Nova has been my go-to shotgun for about 8 years now. It had everything I wanted at the time, the right came pattern, the right options, and the right price. I have never regretted buying it and it has been a great gun. It is accurate and reliable and has stood up to all the abuse I could throw at it. If for some reason I ever needed a replacement I would not hesitate to pick another one up.
Here are the specs –
Magazine Capacity: 4+1 – depending on the length of the shell
Chokes: IC, M, F
Type of Sights: Red-Bar Front and Metal Bead Mid-Sight
Length of Pull: 14-1/4″
Drop at Heel: 2-1/8″
Drop at Comb: 1-3/8″
Chamber: up to 3-1/2 inch magnum shells
Gauge: 12
Barrel length: 28 inch
The Nova also has an optional accessory for the more recoil sensitive or smaller framed. Benelli sells a Recoil Reducer Package that includes a mercury recoil-reducer and bracket. The bracket houses the 14-ounce recoil reducer and is “easy to install” according to the website but I have no experience with it so I can’t validate that claim. It slides into the buttstock of the shotgun and is an inertial recoil reducer and not a mechanical one and adds less than a pound to the weapon. A nice option for newer shooters and people who spend long hours at the clay range.
There is a feature with this gun I like a lot. On the bottom of the front stock, there is a button, if you press the button down and rack the slide you eject the shell in the chamber WITHOUT feeding the next one in the magazine.
This is a great feature because then you don’t have to eject two shells even time you want to clear the chamber. I like this for two reasons.
One I can change the round I am shooting on the fly and don’t have to feed the magazine and then cycle the slide – I can just hit the button, eject the current round and drop the new round into the chamber. Great for when you have a target of opportunity on an animal you were not actively hunting for.
Second I can clear the chamber for short excursions when duck hunting or dove hunting (obviously depending on the laws of the location you are in). If I don’t want to travel in a boat or ATV or vehicle with a round chambered I can eject the round but still have a magazine full so I can pump one in the chamber as soon as I arrive. Again obviously depends on the local laws and regs.
Because of the way the stock is made the stock and receiver are mated as one piece. There is no way to change out the stock for shorter, longer or tactical (if that’s what you want). The lack of adjustment may be an issue for some people if the gun does not fit very well. Most of the other name brand pumps out there have the ability to change stocks and it may cause smaller framed individuals to be unhappy with the fit of the Nova. For comparison, I am 5’11 and about 200 pounds and the fit is excellent.
The Super Nova has a removable stock but I don’t know that that will help in the hunting department but you can get a pistol grip stock for the more tactical minded people who are looking at the gun – Or for someone who wants to get the best of both worlds. Below you can see the one piece stock and chamber area.
I tried to figure out how many shells have been through this gun since I bought it and I know its not as high as some people because there was a year or two it didn’t come out of the safe because of time and work. But I can say its north of 5000 shells. Not a large amount by some standards but in those 5000+ shots, I have never had a jam, failure to feed or failure to eject. I have shot this gun in the Oregon rain and in sweaty dusty conditions in Arizona when dove hunting and it has never had an issue. There have been times I have shot ammo that has been bottom shelf cheapest I could find and it ate it up with no issue other than it was a pain in the butt to clean because it was so dirty.
In the end, I do love the gun. I have beat it up and it keeps running strong, I do wish that it had the option to change out stocks because then I would buy a second for home defense. But I bought it as a hunting and clay shooting un and it has excelled at that.
I don’t like that the finish is rubbing off in one place but its not terrible and to be honest for the amount of abuse I have given it the finish has held up very well. I have also noticed that on multiple Nova’s that friends or friends of friends have owned the wear spot is always in the exact same place – right at the front sling mount the finish seems to chip off. I believe this is because of the shape and sharp angles in that location.
The finish of a hunting gun to me is not a big deal. I am going to keep banging it off trees and using it to push through the rik rak into blinds and I am going to do it knowing it’s going to wear the finish away faster. It’s not a safe queen and its record or reliability makes it a true go to shotgun. I think anyone would be happy picking one up.