My first 12 ga.

I’m fairly new to hunting and I want to invest in my first 12 gauge. I will mainly be using it for hunting turkeys, but I also want to do a lot of upland bird hunting. I’d like the option of puttin a slug in it in the future as well and chase some deer around.

I’m pretty sure my price range is going to limit me to a pump, and the research I’ve done has pretty much narrowed it down to a Remy 870 Express Super Mag and a Benelli Super Nova.

Any preference out there for what I’m using it for? Any problems with either gun? Has anyone had issues with smaller bird loads (2 3/4)? I’m sort of leaning towards the Benelli, but I’m interested in hearing others’ opinions.

Thanks for the help!

Welcome to the site galzk001! I’m not a big shot gun guy, but I’m sure someone on the site will have the answers for you! I have a Mossberg 12 gauge that I use mainly for turkeys…that’s if I can’t bag one with a bow of course!

You will not be disappointed in either of the guns you’ve narrowed it down to. I’ve owned both and had tremendous luck with each of them. Is it a Ford/Chevy thing? Maybe. My advice would be to get your paws on both of them in the gun shop of your choosing – practice pulling them up again and again. One of them will likely “fit” better than the other.

There is one advantage to the Nova I’d call you attention to – the gun is way, way easier to field strip and clean. Very simple design, no tools needed to tear it down for a thorough cleaning after a day in the swamp. Oh, it also has the magazine bypass feature. Neat for when you start hearing geese while you’re sitting over your spread of mallard deeks.

Good luck to you, let us know what you decide.

Welcome! My first was an 870 and still my favorite!

i’ve always been a remington fan until i bought a benelli

good luck in making a choice. Both those guns are very dependable. I currently shoot a Benelli super black eagle, which i love. I know several people who have the older model Novas (only a couple years old) and they seem to like them. One thing is that the pump seems to be a little loose, making for a bit noisier handling. 870 are always classic and realiable.

Thanks for the tips so far! I’ve heard it’s like a ford/chevy debate.

I’ve actually held both guns and that’s why I’m leanin’ towards benelli, but I’ve held 2 SuperNovas and both forends had a little rattle to them. Didn’t seem like a big issue, but it will be if it costs me a turkey. I’ve also heard you can tighten the forend down with an allen wrench to solve this. Have you Benelli owners had this issue? If so is it pretty fixable?

Welcome to the site My 1st 12 ga. was an 870… still going today, that was 20 years ago… I just won a Benelli SuperNova at Hunters last fall…. haven’t had a chance to shoot it yet, but it seems pretty well put together. My forend seems tight ? I have seen and heard that the plain Novas had the issue…. Either way, nothing more special than your first 12 ga ‘cept maybe your first bow

big G

welcome aboard

my 1st remington 870 express interchangable barrels for birds or deer nice gun still going strong

I’ll have to check back with you before deer season then. Once the gun’s paid off the bow is next

Thanks again all, cheers!

have a 870 and i works great

Derrick

They are both really good guns. I shoot a Benelli Super Black Eagle right now and I love it. Many of my buddies shoot the Nova which is a really dependable gun. A few of them have been on the bottom of the slough and river and still work great. Before you buy one check them both out. See how both pull up to your shoulder and how the gun fits you.
Good Luck

Check out the Mossberg 500. I’ve had mine about 20 years. I hunt everything with it, deer turkey waterfowl dove etc..
I like the way the controls are layed out and the fact that it hold 6 rounds instead of 5.
The chokes are about the least expensive of all. You can buy extra barells and chokes and still have plenty of $$$ left to buy ammo.
I have heard that a lot of gunsmiths don’t like to or will not work on Benneli if something goes wrong.

Welcome to IDO galzk001! We are glad you joined us and we look forward to seeing a picture of that new shotgun when you get it!

I’ve posted this before and I’ll post it again. NOVA!

I’ve had mine for 7 or 8 years and the damn thing won’t stop working. I alomost stricly waterfowl hunt and it takes a beating. You won’t be disapointed.

OH as for the the loose rattle. I had to tighten mine about three years ago. No problems since. That’s the noce part about these guns. Almost anything can be fixed in the field.

Good choices. If you go the 870 route I would consider a wingmaster. The materials used along with fit and finish is something you will appreiciate years down the road.

I’ve heard good things about the wingmaster, but I don’t know if it’s in my price range. It has a shinier finish as well, correct? I like the camo and matte finishes of the regular 870 since it will be a turkey gun.

Waiting for Cabela’s “spend 500, get 100 back” deal so keep the comments coming. I held an 870 this weekend and I’m starting to lean that way now…

Thanks for the help fellas.

Here it is fellers. Went with the 870 Super Mag, it felt great and it helped that the price dropped $50 the week I was buying it.

Already have it patterned for G-season turkeys!

Thanks to all for the help, I appreciate it.

Looks good Good luck with the “G” season

looks good good luck breaking it in

Excellent! Congrats! We are looking forward to hearing how it performs! Good luck!

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Here it is fellers. Went with the 870 Super Mag, it felt great and it helped that the price dropped $50 the week I was buying it.

Already have it patterned for G-season turkeys!

Thanks to all for the help, I appreciate it.

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Jake:

Are you cereal? How many beer references can you fit in one firearm picture?

Killing a turkey with you is going to be harder than I thought.

Joel

That was a test, I do enjoy a cold one on occasion (most occasions actually), but never mixed with firearms. You passed with flying colors so I give you permission to guide my first turkey hunt

I’m hopin the beers will be consumed in celebration and not dissapointment. I guess I should start takin’ notes from my guide the turkey whisperer; congrats on the B-season gobbler!