Chuck D Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 Hi: I'm looking for a reliable and reasonably priced 12g pump for 3 Gun. My budget limit is 500 dollars and the gun must hold or be capable of adding a mag tube extension for a minimum of 7 plus 1...8 plus 1 would be preferred and I'd like a decent synthetic stock and forearm and a 22-24 inch barrel. Here is what i've come up why so far... Remington 870 Benelli Super Nova Mossberg 500/590 Winchester SXP (although I can not find out if anyone makes a mag tube extension for one) If you were me what would you buy and why ? Thanks for your input ! Chuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattYvip Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 I'd personally go with the 870. Nothing against the rest of them but I've used several 870s at work and a personally owned one for hunting and none of them have had anything close to a hiccup. I can't speak to the rest of the ones on your list as I haven't used them (except the nova and I shot one once so I can't offer an educated opinion). I don't think you'll ever have an issue with the 870 and there are tons of upgrades and aftermarket parts available. I assume you're shooting heavy metal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeltFed Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 +1 for the 870. Not that there is anything wrong with the others, but the 870 is a shotgun I could operate in my sleep, and there are plenty of accesories and technical support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missalot Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 Super Nova - easiest and fastest to reload. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan 45 Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 Hands down the best pump shotgun for Heavy Metal is a Benelli Nova or Super Nova. I've hunted w/ 870s for years, but after shooting a Nova, the 870 sits in the safe on match day. Load one and try to argue otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck D Posted December 14, 2012 Author Share Posted December 14, 2012 I'm new to 3 Gun and I'm not shooting Heavy Metal Division. Actually two clubs in my area shoot IDPA DMG matches and I want to shoot in SSG Division which requires a pump. Plus there are lots of USPSA matches that shoot shotgun side matches with a pump gun category. The Benelli Super Nova is a NEAT looking gun. That may be a viable option for me as MSRP is roughly 549.00. Can someone provide me with some insight as to how much I should pay for one and why they are easier and quicker to load then say an 870 ? Thanks again for all the help ! Chuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 I got a 26" Super Nova last year for He Man. It loads easier because the loading port is huge, it's chambered for 3 1/2" shells, and the lifter stays down out of the way even when you go for more shells. They're kinda ugly, but, they work! Kinda like Glocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Tompkins Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 +1 for the 870. Not that there is anything wrong with the others, but the 870 is a shotgun I could operate in my sleep, and there are plenty of accesories and technical support. +2. I run an 870 with 21' barrel w/ extended choke tube and +4 mag tube. BTW shotgun stages are won / lost with reloading and accuracy (that avoides extra reloads). What ever you get practice reloads (recommend w/ dummy shells). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
co-exprs Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 Supernova all the way. Easiest to load by far, lowest felt recoil, swings well, accurate with slugs, modular internals makes tear down really easy. 870 is a good shotgun. Supernova a great competition shotgun. I've owned 500's, 870's, BPS. They were all excellent field guns. Supernova is an excellent field gun and and excellent competition gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt1911 Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 You're not going to beat the Benelli Super Nova. 870's are the worst shotguns on the planet. I've owned 3 and each was a pos that would bind and lock up during cycling. Before you ask, yes one of them was the glorified 870P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattYvip Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 You're not going to beat the Benelli Super Nova. 870's are the worst shotguns on the planet. I've owned 3 and each was a pos that would bind and lock up during cycling. Before you ask, yes one of them was the glorified 870P That sucks, sorry to hear that. I've used literally hundreds of different ones (all work guns except the one thats mine) and they all functioned perfectly. Were they all factory? I think scattergun technologies works on ours that may be the difference or I may be really lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nj mike Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 Check your local shops for used also if you can go with the super nova for the above reasons. good luck on your search,ask some fellow shooters to try there shotguns and see whats better for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1911vm Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 Hi: I'm looking for a reliable and reasonably priced 12g pump for 3 Gun. My budget limit is 500 dollars and the gun must hold or be capable of adding a mag tube extension for a minimum of 7 plus 1...8 plus 1 would be preferred and I'd like a decent synthetic stock and forearm and a 22-24 inch barrel. Here is what i've come up why so far... Remington 870 Benelli Super Nova Mossberg 500/590 Winchester SXP (although I can not find out if anyone makes a mag tube extension for one) If you were me what would you buy and why ? Thanks for your input ! Chuck I love my 870s I use them for everything. Granted mine are all old school magnum wingmasters. I have never had one go down during a match or class. That said if you are starting fresh and specifically for 3gun Get a Nova the reloading is much easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWBackus Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 +1 for the Benelli Super Nova... I've shot mine plenty with no hiccups... As others have said, nice big loading port, loading gate stays out of the way, points and shoots nicely. Michael Backus via Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRush Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 Coming from a guy who has and loves 2 870s, another vote for the supernova. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lead-Head Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 (edited) Nova is the easiest to load. 870 is probably easiest to cycle, once broke in. I have several 870s, police and hunting variety. Kuan Watson makes one work for him in HM division. But, if you look at the majority or winning pump/manual SG competitors, I think you will find a nova in their hands. Those things seem to suck shells up into them. I used one in limited division for years until I folded and started shooting a semi auto. Edited December 15, 2012 by Lead-Head Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael1778 Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 For a pump gun, I love my 24" Supernova. Loading is very easy as reported. Unfortunately, i don't use mine at all. Added the Nordic +4 extension very easily. Shot my first match with it in March of this year. Then I went insane and decided to shoot Open. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.E. Kelley Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 Super Nova! I too, have, and used in competition the 870, BPS, Win 1300 (US made SXP). I played with anice Nova but the fact that the stock is not adjustable to fit me nixed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
partyboy424 Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 I use a Winchester 1300 for Heavy Metal when shotgun only and then in regular 3gun against semi autos. The bolt is designed in a way that when the gun is fired, it cycles halfway automatically. So, all you have to worry about is throwing the forend forward again. Very smooth cycling and I picked mine up for 200 bucks. Multiple types of barrels and mag extensions available. I know they make it now under a different name, maybe it's the SXP? In a regular 3 gun match where the shotgun parts of a stage are usually 8 shots or under, a semi auto wins hands down. During the shotgun only stages though, where it's 16+ shots, I was amazed this year at how many jams semi auto guys had. If you practice with a pump, unless something literally breaks, it will work everytime. I couldn't believe how poor the reliability was on all of the semi auto's in my squads this year. I didn't see a single guy have a clean match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbon9 Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 If a Nova points well for you get one and save the $$$. If it doesn't, get the SuperNova as the stock is adjustable on it(like P.Kelley said). I was lucky enough the Nova works well for me. I have been running it in Tac Limited instead of my M2 just to get used to it and my times aren't too far off from the guys running semi-autos. For example, the last Tactical Shotgun and Carbine Match at Rio I took overall between the pump and semi categories. The last Rio multi-gun match I took second in TL and 12th overall including Open and T-Optics. Run the heck out of your pump and then switch to a semi and you'll really go to town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
co-exprs Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 (edited) Yeah, my super nova loads so fast that I was able to post atop 10% finish overalll on RM3G all shotgun 2012 ... Against everyone. My raw time was in the top 5%. In a long shotgun stage reloading counts for a lot. 1300 is great too. Just harder to find. If I ever come across a 26" 1200 or 1300 I'll snap it up and run it like a three legged pack mule. Super nova's gonna be tough to beat though. Edited December 15, 2012 by co-exprs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeE Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 +1 Remington 870, the most reliable of all the previous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRider Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 Another vote for Benelli. I was fortunate that the Nova fits me, but if it doesn't fit you, the Super Nova has the removable stock and can be adjusted. I grew up hunting with a Remington 870, I really like them (I still have 3 of them), but I believe my 24" Nova is a better competition shotgun. Hurley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSnSC Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 I have several 870's and a Nova. I can shoot my 870 better. It points better, cycles smoother, the controls are easier to use, and it's a slug shooting machine, BUT the Nova is much easier to reload. Using the load two method on both, I can load the Nova 20% faster because Im not fighting the lifter, and the loading port is much larger. On a long shotgun stage its more of a reloading race. With IDPA's low round count, that may be less of a factor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbon9 Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 I have several 870's and a Nova. I can shoot my 870 better. It points better, cycles smoother, the controls are easier to use, and it's a slug shooting machine, BUT the Nova is much easier to reload. Using the load two method on both, I can load the Nova 20% faster because Im not fighting the lifter, and the loading port is much larger. On a long shotgun stage its more of a reloading race. With IDPA's low round count, that may be less of a factor. Polish the action bars and the magazine tube where the pump slides on your Nova. I also polished all the trigger components. Big difference!!! The only control I am not used to is the safety placement in comparison to my M2. The trigger will do the same thing as the "action release lever"(not sure what to call it) when appropriate. After I did some polishing I sent mine to Trapr and he polished a little more, worked some more magic and did a short stroke mod to it and a XS rear sight for a very fair, yet still minimal amount of $$$. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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