GaGunner

Made this tool for the times I need to change a choke. Gun is a Benelli Super Nova with a +8 mag tube on it. Tool is made from aluminum flat stock 15 inch long 5/8 wide and 1/8 thick. The tool has an overall length of 13 1/2 inches. It makes changing a choke tube much easier. I took the original Benelli choke tool and cut it to fit in between the aluminum stock. Make sure it is square to the aluminum. Picture 2, shows the two red head fasteners, they are approximately 4 inch apart, center to center. If you notice, just below the bottom red head fastener, you see the threads for the bottom black head fastener shown in Picture 3. The red and black fasteners are approximately 3/4 inch apart. This was the maximum distance between the two fasteners I could go and still have good metal around the fasteners. The thickness of the original choke tool will cause a gap between the two pieces of the aluminum stock. The point where the gap can be closed is where the second red head fastener was placed. The two black head fasteners shown in Picture 3 are 8 1/2 inches center to center. The second black fastener is just for looks. It does not hold the handle on. When I originally made this tool, I fitted the aluminum stock to the handle and drilled through the handle and the aluminum at the same time. This ensured the two holes lined up , but left a mess of cutting oil in the handle. Foolishly, I used acetone to remove the oil. It softened the plastic and the handle came apart. When I replaced the handle and drilled it this time, I missed my mark and the screw would not go into the aluminum stock. It is a no harm, no fowl, thing as the handle is a tight friction fit, but if I was to do it now, I would drill the handle on the aluminum stock, but stop when I just touched the aluminum, then remove the handle and drill the aluminum. Last Picture shows how I shaped the aluminum stock so it would go into the handle. The handle is a file handle and, in theory, you could shape the aluminum so it would fit into a handle inserts. I am not that patient. The handle is a Nicholson 21474 available from Homedepot. I have about 15 dollars into this and that is with me replacing the original handle and buying a second handle (just in case). Hope this helps someone.

I bought my first Safariland 774-308 rifle magazine when I was just starting 3 gun in the heavy metal class, but shortly after starting, I ran out of steel safe bullets. I could not afford to purchase commercial .308 ammo and, having a large ammo of .223 ammo, decided to switch to the Tactical Iron sight class and use my AR. Now I was looking at having to buy a new magazine pouch, until on a whim, I inserted an AR magazine in the 774 pouch. I quickly saw the AR magazine would fit fine front to back, but there was too much side space. So I made a spacer to fill the empty side space. This worked great. You can use the magazine pouch tension screws to fine tune the tension and you still get the great features of the unmodified magazine pouch. The first picture shows the spacer installed in the magazine pouch. Yes, it will rub on your AR magazine, but I don't find that a problem as the wear is on the upper 3rd of the magazine. The same area your getting magazine well wear. The second picture show an AR magazine in the modified pouch. NOTE: I use aluminum GI magazines so I cannot say if there are problems with plastic magazines. I used aluminum flat stock for the spacer. My spacer measures ( all measurements approximate) 2.5 inch long, 1/4 thick, and 5/8 wide. To get the correct thickness I had to glue two pieces of the flat stock together using JB Cold Weld. My mounting holes are 1.5 inches apart center to center. I used original Safariland Allen head bolts. The heads on the Safariland bolts are big enough a washer is not needed on the outside of the holster. Mounting holes on the magazine pouch are big enough you have wiggle room. Additionally, as the pictures show, the magazine pouches are recessed where the spacers go which provide clearance. When using AR magazines I mount my spacers on the outside wall of the holster. The third photograph shows the two AR spacers outside of the holsters and how I bent the Safariland Allen wrench to allow for installation and adjustment of the spacers and the pouch tension. While rifle reloads are rare, I like to have a spare magazine available for any gun I am shooting in case a magazine gremlin jumps up. I did not want to use up belt space with two separate magazines, so I joined my two 774 pouches together. This was very simple. To join the two magazines, I used an old corner reinforcement strap which measures 2 1/4 long, 1/2 wide and 1/8 thick. I had to drill one new hole. The fourth and fifth pictures show it, and how I used the Safariland bolts and nuts. The bolt heads will rub on the M1/M14 magazines, but you can use the magazine pouch tension adjustment to fine tune the tension. I have experienced no problems using the two pouches joined in this manner. I use the outside pouch to hold the magazine I will load to the rifle and the inside pouch holds the spare magazine. This connector is only needed when using M1A/M14 magazines. When using two AR magazines, the second spacer joins the two pouches together. I am back to shooting Heavy Metal. I finally was able to buy some steel safe bullets and I am reloading again for .308. Yet, it is nice to know that if the cost of powder kills me, or I just want to run the AR, I have the ability to use my 774-308 pouch for either magazines.

I searched the web and can not find an extended safety for the Super Nova, does any one know if it is made or if the extended safety for other Benelli products would fit? And now for the truth, I want the extension on the left side. I have no trouble taking the safety off, but I missed it at my last match and DQed. This may be a training problem, but I am thinking if there was a bigger target to hit when putting the safety back on, that would be a good thing.

Triloyd, I have a Super Nova with the 24 inch barrel. I went with a Nordic 8 round extension (one piece). I goes past the barrel by 8 and 1/4 inches. The length from the original magazine tube end is approximately 20 inches. With one in the chamber, I can have 12 in the tube. Like you I originally did not want the extension tube to go past the barrel, but my 3 gun mentor strongly suggested that is was worth the extra length to be able to plus up (quad load) to 12 at the start of a large shotgun stage. I am glad I did this. It has proven useful. I thought the SG would be a little harder to handle in close stages, but have not found that to be true. The new overall length of the SG is the longest that will fit into my Midway gun bag. If it matters to you, powder on the extension tube is not an issue. Originally changing choke tubes was a problem, I made a tool and now I can change the chokes as quick as if the tube was even with the muzzle. The Nordic web site gives approximate length add for the increase in shells, for example they say a +5 is going to add 11.6 to 12 inches. I would not recommend trying to add magazine tube extensions at a match, especially if you are just starting out. There is much to do before each stage and I would not want to worry about changing a mag tube extension. I originally looked at "hogging out" the loading port, but after practicing a while I found it was not necessary. I did bevel the right side of the forearm to keep it out of the way during a quad load. However working with the gun will tell you if you need to do that for yourself. I like the Super Nova and the adjustment shims are big help as I need them to raise the strike of my pattern. Other than the magazine tube extension, I would recommend a Match SaverZ extra shell holder. It is kinda of expensive for something that holds one extra round, but when you are one round short, then it is worth it. I mounted mine with two screws vice the screw and Velcro they show. I had to use a spacer, but it is close to the chamber and the extra round slides right in. I think you will find the Super Nova to be a nice SG.

Again thanks for all the replies: I AM NOT buying any new chokes for a while, and possibly never. I changed the drop on my Super Nova to raise the pattern. Before the main shot charge, with a 6:00 hold, was low. I like 6:00 holds with long guns. The new drop now puts the main shot pattern about 50% above and below the point of aim, depending on distance. At close range it is a true 6:00 hold. I also re-checked my patterns and confirmed at 25 yards my IC pattern is getting ragged with clay size holes on the edges. It will still break a clay or put steel down, but I am at the limit of this choke. If a clay or steel is past 25 yards, I might have to change to the Mod, but only after a lot of thought. My IC is clearly more accurate with slugs and it will be the standard choke I run for now. After shooting my last match, I realized chokes are not the limiting factory in my shotgun game. They are sufficient for my current skill level. I would be better served by using my range time to practice my shotgun shooting vs patterning a new choke.

Thanks everyone for our thoughts on chokes. It is appreciated and I really major shooters giving me their thoughts. I also appreciate the worm can of thoughts about how shotgun targets should be set and calibrated. Being new to 3 gun and a 3 Gun Nation member, I have just gone with the flow of what every match I have been at. I like the idea that you could face any thing from multiple steel to flying clays. That challenge is what got me to thinking about expanding my choke selection. So, please keep the discussion going.

I have the standard chokes, full, modified, and improved cylinder, and was wondering if I should add either a diffuser choke, cylinder choke, or a skeet choke. I have been running the IC, but would like to open the pattern up for close in shots. I am only shooting club matches and most of the shotgun stuff is fairly close. I have a 24 inch Super Nova and I using Federal Field and Target, 71/2 or 8. (I favor #8) The box says it is 3 Dram, 11/8, velocity of 1200 fps. This is the 100 shell bulk packs sold at Wal-Mart and other fine retailers. Suggestions?