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My family and I have decided that my brother-in-law has duck hunted too long with his rusty/old/junker shotgun. We are all pitching in to buy him a new gun, and I have narrowed it down to the following:

The Remington 870 Express or the Benelli Nova... NOT the 870 and NOT the SuperNova; these are two different guns.

*Both are 12ga., 26", black synthetic.

Considering that he he prefers a pump shotgun, that he wants it black synthetic, and that I've priced BOTH guns at my local shop for $299 +tax, please help me decide which gun to purchase for him. The more facts and personal experience opinions I can get the better. Non-use opinions and hearsay won't help me at all.

Please give me anything you've got, I'll really appreciate it. Mods I realize this is off topic but if I can get several replies I'd be fine with you removing this post, then.

Can you have him try each before the purchase? These 2 are very close,except I would lean toward the Remington, but that is MY preference. Hope this helps.

No. Secrecy... as goofy as that sounds... is key here. I HATE Cabela's, but I have considered purchasing the gun through them as they have a no-hassle return policy on unused shotguns (so they claim).

This isn't off-topic. It's about guns and shooting, so we're pretty liberal on those topics. It's the LEO Encounter section that we give a lot more scrutiny. they have a way of going south very quickly!!

Chas.

I had it narrowed down to those 2 guns (I think - not sure what the difference is between the Nova and the SuperNova). And while I really wanted to like the Benelli better (it would handle 3.5" shells as well), I handled them both and went with the 870 express because it fit ME better. I have no functionality concerns about either one though.

Good point, Kalrog. For the record, the SuperNova has the new ComforTech stock and the exterior of the gun is different as far as checkering around the grip, stock, etc. It retails for about $450+.

Man, are you just nice to yer BIL or what...

Either one would be just a great thing to get regardless...

My BIL you ask??? He can be a real putz most of the time...And to give him a gun??? Heeeeeck no!

Could you post a link to the exact shotguns that you're considering?

My wife and have one each of this model, which I bought a couple of years ago.

Functionally, they are nearly flawless. The fore-end on mine didn't unlock after firing a shot maybe twice in several thousand rounds, but that could have been operator error.

This model has a black metal coating which is not blueing. It's like the coating you might find on an automotive part.

Mine rusts easily. It rusted standing in the corner after being cleaned (I live on an island in the ocean).

I now coat it with generous amounts of Johnson's paste wax, but it still rusts if I don't clean it immediately after shooting.

My wife's shotgun doesn't have this problem. I researched it on the web. It seems to be uncommon, but still a known problem.

If I had a do-over, I would pony up for an 870 Wingmaster with real blueing.

- Jim

Well every branch of the military chose the Remington 870 as our 12 gauge of choice...hope that helps you make the decision.

I own a couple of 870's. They're great guns for the money, especially the Express versions. $299.00 sounds a little high to me. Wood stock 870 Express are available for $199.00 right now at Academy.

I've never owned a Benelli Nova personally, but I do know a few people who have them and are very satisfied with them. As a duck hunter, your BIL might appreciate the fact that the Nova can be fitted with a mercury recoil reducer in the butt stock which helps take the sting out of heavy waterfowl loads.

I have owned both, (870 pre 3 ½�) would gladly take either as a gift. They are both fine

Would buy a 2nd nova in a hart beat.

If he is a duck hunter 3 ½ is a must, as is a synthetic stock

RKirby wrote:$299.00 sounds a little high to me. Wood stock 870 Express are available for $199.00 right now at Academy.

They also have the 870 Express Super Mag with a synthetic stock for a great price. It is $279 and has an additional $30 Mail-In Rebate through December 31st. I have been tempted to go pick one up for a while now and nobody around has this good of a price for that gun.

I have a young friend that recently bought an 870 Express, and has had nothing but extraction problems.... it just ain't the same as the good old faithful 870 wingmaster it would seem.

mr surveyor wrote:I have a young friend that recently bought an 870 Express, and has had nothing but extraction problems.... it just ain't the same as the good old faithful 870 wingmaster it would seem.

I would say that your friend got a dud. The only difference between the express and the wingmaster is supposed to be the finish. I haven't ever felt the need to buy a wingmaster to test it out though as my express has worked 100%

Kalrog wrote:

mr surveyor wrote:I have a young friend that recently bought an 870 Express, and has had nothing but extraction problems.... it just ain't the same as the good old faithful 870 wingmaster it would seem.

I would say that your friend got a dud. The only difference between the express and the wingmaster is supposed to be the finish. I haven't ever felt the need to buy a wingmaster to test it out though as my express has worked 100%

The internal workings of the 870 express are the same as the
Wingmaster, but no doubt rougher.

You can tell the difference when working the action of each quite easily. It will get better with time/use, or you can disassemble and polish them yourself.

If you really want to feel a "difference" take a Wingmaster pre-1980's and compare it to either of the current offerings.

870's of yesteryear had a good bit of polish and hand fitting from the factory, delightful shotguns. Nothing like what is offered today.

I'm kind of an 870 fan, so I give the nod to it (even the express model) over the other brand.