Benelli Nova vs. Supernova

[oneshotkill]

I have a friend that is looking at getting his first shotgun for duck hunting and wants a Benelli pump.  He and I are trying to figure out if it is worth spending the extra money for a supernova.  I have a Nova and love it.  He is not going to be changing stocks or anything and is 6' 7" and 250 pounds so I don't think recoil would be an issue.  What do you all think?

[vandeman17]

I shoot a Nova right now and I like it just fine. For the price, it is a very solid gun. I eventually want to get an autoloader but I have other more pressing bills that come first.

[jordano]

with him being that big and wanting to change stocks and everything I would go with the SuperNova because you are able to customize the stock a lot more than you would with the Nova. Both are phenomenal guns, I have a Nova and love it and one of my best buds has a SuperNova and its awesome as well.

[h2ofowlr]

Only difference is the stock.  It has the comfort tech.  Don't think it's worth the difference in price.  The rubber on it wrinkles up when wet.  I would save the money and he is big enough to handle a little more felt recoil.  If it kicks to hard for him you can get him the mercury damper that goes into the stock or a sissy pad for his shoulder.   

[GregFowler23]

SuperNova for sure my father and i both shoot one and have never had a single problem with them for 3 years now. My father changed the stock to fit him better but i still have the same one and its doing just fine for me. Also just for note, never hurts to look at the beretta extrema 2. Buddy of mine just bought one this year and that gun is very smooth.

[boots]

Same action but supernova has the comfortech stock. Im not sure I could justify the price difference just for the stock. I think the Nova would work just fine for his situation

[gaddy]

i have a nova, that im thinking of selling , stocks a little long for me and my son isnt interested in it. im ether going to do a custom shortening job or unload it. awsome gun for waterfowl or turkey. havent used it in the last 2 seasons. i would say if recoil isnt a problem and with his size i would go with a standard nova & not waist the extra $$. and if he does decide to use it for turkey the jelly head choke patterns real good with a nova

[ducksdogsdownriggers]

I have a Nova and a SBEII.  My buddy hunts a SuperNova.  My take is that if the two of you are going to hunt quite a bit, it would be worth it for you buddy to get the comfort tech stock and go for the Super Nova.  But... if you're going to be hunting that much, why not just drop a little more $$$ and look for a good used auto???

[h2ofowlr]

I wore out my first Nova that I picked up in 98.  Replaced it in 2005. With another Nova, then picked up a SBEII a few months later.  My current Nova sits in the gun safe, but it worked great.  Probably shot 40 + cases of shells through it.  No issues.
There are a few deals on Seattleguns.net for the Nova's.  I would go that route.  Then you have more money for shells.
Just a reminder that that comfort tech came out in about 2004-2005.  So, for the past 100 plus years most shot hard metal, plastic or hard rubber but pad.  Back in the lead days the 2-3/4" and 3" shells we loaded were hot as hell.  So, they kicked like a mule, but could bring down birds out to 80 yards.
The stock on the super nova looks cool, but it's the butt pad that makes a difference.  Get a good butt pad and your good to go.  I have lost two but pads off of my SBEII because it isn't screwed on.  It pops in.  The replacement pads ran in the $60-80 dollar range.

[ellensburgpo]

My Nova has always performed well for me. I use it primarily as my duck gun but for turkey as well. A few people have borrowed it over the years for upland too. It's super easy to disassemble and clean. If you are going to be getting one primarily for waterfowl I would recommend one with the small front bead. Mine has a large bead for Turkey hunting, and I wish it were a little smaller for Duck hunting. Also, while a few people have mentioned not liking the hard butt plate, i think it has an advantage. When I'm hunting late in the year and all layered up I don't notice the recoil. But I have noticed that the hard plastic butt plate seems to snag on my clothing less then some of the soft rubber ones do.

I have yet to pull the trigger on my Nova and have it fail to go boom. I witnessed two buddies guns this year fail to fire. For the money I think it's a good investment, and with a little care mine still works as good as the day I got it seven or eight years ago.

[mb121]

In addition to the stock difference, there is a difference in the receivers of the shotguns, the Super Nova has a thicker rear (or re-enforced) area compared to the Nova.  Trigger guard is larger with the Super Nova.  At least that is what I remember when I compared my two buddies Nova and Super Nova.