which gun

[Drake29]

I got a 870 super mag that I have put through the ringer the last 7 season and have had no issues

[frazihunt]

definitely save up for a Nova, I've had one since i was a kid and its the most reliable shotgun you could ask for. It's super easy to clean and spits out a great pattern you cant go wrong with one.

[BiggLuke]

There's a reason the 870 has sold more copies than any other shotgun in history.
Simply... it's an amazing platform.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/answers/guns/shotguns/shotgun-reviews/benelli-nova-or-remington-870-expess-why

[BiggLuke]

There's a reason the 870 has sold more copies than any other shotgun in history.
Simply... it's an amazing platform.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/answers/guns/shotguns/shotgun-reviews/benelli-nova-or-remington-870-expess-why

But I guess it's all down to prefernce.
You should try shooting them both before you decide.
I'm a big guy, and don't really handle the Nova well. But then again I can still shoot it just fine.
I just prefer the 870 becasue I love to modify the guns I own, and the 870 is the lego building kit of guns. You can add anything you want to it.
In my opinion... if you only could own a single gun, becasue of budget, the 870 has a lot more things going for it.

[jennyfell55]

I chose the Mossberg 500 and it's served me well Even when I found a deep spot in the pond and had to use it as a paddle  I prefer the tang mounted safety, feels more natural to me. It's all about how it fits you though. What's perfect for me may be the worst choice for you and vice-versa

[RadSav]

If you drop your gun in the mud a lot I would go with the Mossberg.  There was a reason we carried them as loaner guide guns   They were always reliable even filled with crud.  To support what Biggluke said, I too find the Remington to be a much better fit for larger framed guys than the Nova.  Though all my experience with the Nova has been 20 ga and comparing it to the 870 in 20.

BTW - Is it possible to make an uglier gun than the Nova?  I mean Daaaaamn that piece of plastic is ugly   I'd choose the 870 just so no one would see me with such an ugly gun

[quackattack90]

Just FYI.  The extractors on the newer 870's absolute crap.

[RadSav]

Just FYI.  The extractors on the newer 870's absolute crap.

How so?  Material change or configuration change?  I have not seen a one made in the past three years.

[AWS]

I have to go with the 870 I bought my Express close to 20 yrs ago and the stock has been refinished three times and there is little color left on the action, it still keeps on going.

Last night I shot trap with a fellow using a new 870 Express and it was every bit as nice as mine and even operated smoother than mine with thousands of rounds of steel through it.

My BinL bought a Nova and it was one of the most uncomfortable guns I've hunted with, halfway through our week long duck hunt he put it in the case and shot my 870 for the rest of the hunt, needless to say the Nove went down the road as soon as he got back home.

Mossberg is a nice gun but feels cheap to me compared to the 870.  When I had my gun shop back in MN I used to trade new Mossberg 500's for work I need done, welding, truck repair and I never got one back for repairs.

[12Gauge]

I have owned the 870wingmaster,  870 express, and the Mossberg 500.

Of the three, the wing master is the best, had it 12 years until I upgraded to a Browning SxS.   
Missing my wingmaster, so I purchased a 870express.  What a POS, IMHO.  Now I own a Mossy  500, a BPS, & A5

You can do further research at:

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/index.php

[lokidog]

I have a 1963 Wingmaster, still going strong (full choke and 25 years of steel shot), I have a Nova, and we have a Mossberg 500.

I like the safety on the 870 because you click it and slide finger forward, easy with gloves on, the safety on the Nova is in front of the trigger, I have had issues with the tip of my glove catching when trying to slide it back onto the trigger, the tang safety is nice on the Mossberg.  I have not shot the mossberg with the smooth barrel, only the rifled one for deer.

I would use the 870 exclusively except it cannot shoot 3" shells, the Nova will shoot to 3 1/2", but man that slide is looong.   Mine is also a very rattly gun though have never had it not function.  The camo finish seems to be pretty good on the Nova.

Just some thoughts, hope it helps.

[MacAttack]

I have an 870 super mag bought it almost 10 years ago. Never had a single problem, brother and friend bought the nova and no complaints there either. I started out with an old wingmaster though, loved that gun but I couldn't shoot steel out of it so I traded it in.

[MADMAX]

870
great gun reliable
darn near indestructible
 

[hntrspud]

870
great gun reliable
darn near indestructible
 

  I have an 870 supermag, and I have used it for a push stick, paddle, dropped it, hunted with it frozen. Doesnt matter, shoots everytime. Had it for years. That being said, a nova is in my future. I like them both.

[fowl smacker]

I bought a nova the first year they came out.  I've put probably 20k rounds through it until I bought an extrema 2, 5 years ago.  I sold it to a buddy who still uses it occasionally.  Great reliable guns.  I also loved the feature being able to eject the chambered shell only and pop in a different shell when a goose was coming, or vise versa.