I picked up my shotgun for the 3Gun match

G

George Hill

Staff Alumnus
I purchased a Benelli Nova Special Purchase w/ ghost ring sights.
I tried EVERY shotgun at a shop with a "The Matrix" kind of a selection... nothing felt better. Nothing handled better. Nothing mounted better. This thing aims its self. I LOOK at the target and bring the gun up and it is ON TARGET. I love it. $280 bucks. Couldn't pass it up.
It holds 4 and I can get a 4 shot extention for it. "Perfect".

This is the first shotgun I have purchased since my Moss 590, 6(?) years ago. I'm "pumped".
BTW, this is one freaking COOL shotgun.

The only thing... How am I going to attach a Side Saddle? This will require some creative engineering on my part. Fabricate an adapter that with put a space between the receiver and the SS to clear the handgrip. Doable.
Things to order for it: The 4 shot extention and the recoil reduction device that is made to fit inside the stock.

I think I made a good purchase.
(please bolster that feeling)
 
Less than 300 bucks is a good deal on a Benelli (bolster, bolster):)

Just off the top of my head, the SideSaddle has six screws attaching the shell holder to the backing plate. How about using the top and bottom screws on the ends to attach Velcro strips, put a piece of rubber in between and strap it to the receiver? Don't think you would get much movement vertically, and the rubber would help to keep it in place fore and aft.
 
Not bad.
There is a version of the side saddle that uses adhesives. That's probably going to be my starting point.

The other shotgun idea I had was to use a Browning BPS, (is that the one with the bottom eject?) and put a side saddle on both sides. But I really don't think I need that much ammo on the gun.
And while smooooth... it didn't fit me nearly as well.
There are a lot of threads here about the Nova, but nothing really saying its good or bad. I guess we shall see in a few months.

Rifle - Check.
Shotgun - Check
Pistol - Still need Tritium sights.
I'm almost ready for this.
 
I handled a Nova recently, didn't fire it. An interesting piece. Even with the recoil reducer in the stock, it handled nicely, and on the light side.The stock oughta fit lots of folks.

SOund slike a good deal on a decent shotgun George (Bolster, bolster). Good luck on the matches. Warning, they're as addictive as cocaine(G)...
 
Prepare for heavy bolstering. I too went through the holy grail of shotgun shopping. I had a 870, 11-87 Police and a Beretta 1201FP but neither really "felt" right (sorry Dave). I got the Nova and have used it in one 3 gun match. Interesting thing is that I have the less percevied recoil while shooting slugs with my Nova. I haven't put a side saddle on mine yet for whatever reason I think side saddles ruin a shotguns lines. I really, really, really, REALLY like my Nova.
 
Ronin308 will be here shortly to tell you how much arse your Nova kicks. It's a really good gun that handles well and has some very interesting features. I think the Nova is the only pump gun made with a magazine cut-off for slug drills.

- Chris
 
Christopher II- Dis here ronin308 ;)

George- The Nova is a sweet piece for the $$$. I've had great results with mine. Since it handles 3.5" shells it has a big ejection port...which makes throwing a round in there easier. You might have a tough time hunting down a mag extension...I don't know if the M1/M3 extensions work or not. I found a +2 (actually a +3 for 2.75" shells) at a gunshow for $50. As far as the Sidesaddle, let me know what you do because I wanna slap one on mine. A problem might be that the arm of the pump might get in the way on whatever side you stick it on. One problem with the Nova: When you fire a round, you cannot pull towards your body with the pump as you fire. Doing so will cause the action to lock. If this happens you have to push the pump forward and then do a normal reloading stroke.

Dan
 
Woke up this morning... Looked over the Nova again. Then I read this thread.

I think I made the right choice. Thanks guys. Now to go SHOOT IT! :D
 
The M1 extensions do not fit. The ID of the threaded collar is not the same as the NOVA's. I had a spare 2 two extension off of an M1 and wondered if it would fit a NOVA. So off to the gun shop I went to buy a NOVA to see for myself. [It was a good an excuse as any to get a new gun.] Just in case, I had purchased to NOVA extension while at the shop in the event of the M1 extension not fitting. Lo and behold, I had outsmarted myself once again and found the difference in ID thread size when I got home.
 
I just got back from one of my favorite stores "Sportsman's Warehouse". They have a tremendous selection. The had a 4 shot tube. Benelli. For the M1. Didn't fit.
Only option is the 2 shot tube that actually holds 3. Not a bad option. Only problem is that it has to be ordered online from a company I know nothing about.

Also. Picked up a 100 pack of shells for 15 bucks at Wal Mart. Federal's Value Pack. Screaming deal. Good stuff for practicing reloading drills and general blasting. 12 bucks for a set of muffs.
Now if I can just find a way to sneak out with the stuff and the gun...
"Hey Honey, uh... I'm going to the library."
 
If you haven't already ordered the extension, Van Wagenen's has(ok it has been a month since I have been there, it may be gone) a 2 shot Nova Extension. If I remember correctly, the one I bought there was 50.00.
 
Side saddle options

If you can't get the side saddle to fit or if you don't like the way it looks, try the shot shell carrier from Willson Combat. They mount to your belt are E-Z on / E-Z off, and hold two rounds each. I stopped using my side saddle for three gun after I found these beauties. They work just like a mag pouch and only cost about $6.00 .
 
Zane, I totally forgot you had a Nova. I could remember that I had shot somebodies Nova, (and I had really liked it) but for the life of me I couldn't remember who it was. :)

Congrats George. Hopefully we will be able to go shooting again as soon as stuff calms down for me around here.
 
George, I just picked mine up today, with the extension and the recoil reducer. Ask your dealer for a Nova extension, they do make them. Make sure the collett is not warped, mine was and did not screw to either piece (resulting in another 50 mile round trip to the shop). Get a long screwdriver, about a 10" shaft, phillps head, for the reducer. The attachment points are as far down as you can get in the stock. Standard Benelli night sights should fit into the ghost rings, as the dealer told me today.
Anyone have suggestions as how to mount a light or sling? I don't much care for the sling points on the gun. Does the front attachment work on the Nova?
 
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