Getting a Supernova (Benelli) to do a favor. What can.I do with it?

[GatorFarmer]

I generally just have shotguns as disposable tools. One of the Marines I know here is going to be down for two months recovering from surgeries. To give him something to do I agreed to trade him some of my stuff for a nib Supernova with 28 inch bbl and chokes.

I see that an 18.5" factory bbl for it is horribly expensive. If I put a plus six Nordic Components extension tube and use the existing bbl and a clamp...would that fit and simply give me a too long and too heavy riot gun? Can the existing bbl just be cut? Should I just leave it alone and do whatever with it? Trade it off?

I have never bothered to own a 3.5" chamber gun before. Those heavier shells are for turkeys or something?

 

[Bekeart]

I have never bothered to own a 3.5" chamber gun before. Those heavier shells are for turkeys or something?

Have heard that 3.5" was developed to throw LOTS of steel shot at waterfowl.

*****

Instead of trying to change it into what it ain't; consider looking for a trade.

Bekeart

 

[HGWT]

I believe that the Benelli shotgun was developed for the millitary. The automatic shotgun was suppose to be the fastest action made. I've never shot the pump model but I do have a Super Black Eagle with a 24 inch barrel and it does have some kick to it.

 

[quneur]

It would depend upon whether it is a combat or hunting model. If you don't hunt you may want to try trap shooting before trading the gun. Trap/skeet/sporting clays can be fun and addicting.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Trade it for one of these
http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/261075-marines-make-record-22-mile-shot.html

 

[old bear]

Trade it for one of these

Whats the matter, won't fit into the bass boat, or does it take up to much room in the duck blind?

 

[GatorFarmer]

It took a bit of looking around for aftermarket parts, but it would seem other people have had the same idea. At least three companies make mag extensions for the longer tube Benellis. Presumably these see use in three gun matches. It seems that it I want to spend the money I can put a fixed stock with pistol grip on it and increase capacity to 10 plus one. I dislike the feel of the stock that it came with. The action seems fast enouhj though.

 

[Cooter Brown]

I like Benelli shotguns just fine. The SBE is the gold standard of waterfowl guns, and the Ultra Light is a fantastic upland gun.

The autoloaders just keep on shooting, though the recoil is a little more than a gas gun.

I seen the Nova. I've shot the Nova. The Nova has the handling qualities of a 2x4. A heavy one. Shooting 3 1/2 inch shells out of the thing I suspect would hurt about the same on both ends of the gun.

As a tough defensive type gun, or a boat/truck gun, it'd be fairly practical. It could certainly be used as a boat paddle. As far as the clays games or hunting, you can do a lot better.

Having said all that, some people seem to like them--you could definitely look for a trade.

 

[Clean Break]

I have and use one for goose hunting. Where/how I hunt is pass shooting... the geese are not coming to land, just flying overhead as they head from water to shore to feed. The Western Canada geese are large (up to 16 lbs. with a 6+ ft. wingspan) and are TOUGH birds to drop. I shoot T or BBB shot and get it done. 35 yds. is a close shot, 50 common and yes, out towards 70 on occasion. My Nova works way more reliably than my Mossberg 835 Ultimag did and my Remington 11-87 was never up to the task (totally unreliable, sold after one season). The stock and reciever are one piece, mostly plastic and ideal for the 140" of rain we get annually where I hunt in the fine, silty river mud. Recoil with goose loads of steel shot is nothing compared to the Hell a 2 1/4 oz. of turkey shot unleashes on you (hardest recoiling load I've ever shot, to include .375 H & H magnums).

The action is LONG, making the overall length long too. The gun is not heavy at all ( I too have the 28" bbl). I would not think of trying to make it a riot gun. A shorter action with its shorter pump stroke would be handier. In fact, for urban/combat purposes, I'd prefer a 2 3/4" load to even a 3" load; certainly not a 3.5" . If you really don't want it, trade it off for something else. For an utterly reliable goose gun at a reasonable price, nothing else compares. I really like the long "Roman Candle" rounds.

All that said, someday I hope to replace it with a Benelli Super Black Eagle (also chambers 3.5") - I am more of a semi - auto guy at heart. But at nearly $1,500, it may not happen anytime soon. C.B.