Benelli introduced its pump-action Nova shotguns in the May 1999 issue of Guns & Ammo, hunting models first and then tactical models. The Nova found favor for its ergonomic design, Benelli’s trademark aesthetics and reliability, all for the entry-level price of $357.
The Nova was the first predominantly polymer shotgun offering, featuring an overmolded steel chassis and a one-piece receiver and stock. The polymer frame offered excellent resistance to scuffs and scratches, and protected against inclement weather. One of the most under-appreciated features of the Nova was the forend cutoff button. Pushing the button and pulling the forend back allows shooters to eject a shell from the chamber without the action loading another shell from the magazine tube. Imagine hunting ducks as a flight of geese approach. Using the Nova’s forend cutoff button, shooters can port-feed a goose load without having to fumble with another duck shell trying to enter the chamber from the magazine. For tactical applications, a police officer could port-feed a slug instead of having to load it into the magazine tube.
After the Nova came the SuperNova in 2005. It featured a two-piece receiver and stock that enabled users to add a pistol grip, which some prefer on a tactical shotgun. The Nova and SuperNova have 3½-inch chambers. The Nova 3 gets its name not because it’s the third generation of Nova, but because of its 3-inch chamber. (There is no “Nova 2.”) The Nova 3 also shares design elements of Benelli’s popular M4, which is a tactical shotgun designed in 1998 around the same time as the Nova.
Similar, But Different
Before considering the differences in the Nova 3 Hunting model and the Tactical version, let’s examine the similarities: Both are slide-action shotguns chambered for 12-gauge ammunition and both will feed either 2¾- or 3-inch shells. The receivers still feature polymer where the action isn’t stressed.
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The Nova 3 breaks from the original Nova series in that it does not have a skeletonized frame. Instead, the framework is entirely polymer. The only metal in the receiver is where it is drilled and tapped for mounting optics. According to Bret Maffett, Benelli senior project manager, this approach was possible due to advancements in polymer technology. The one-piece techno-polymer receiver and stock were designed to withstand stress and heat, while also being resistant to chemicals. Polymer is also lighter.
The polymer frame of the Nova 3 saved about a pound versus the overmolded steel chassis on the original Nova. A shotgun can get heavy fast in the field, and weight savings eases fatigue. A light shotgun is also easier to wield, so getting on target is faster and more precise.
How can a shotgun with an all-polymer frame be strong enough to fire a shell? The Nova 3 has an M4-inspired two-lug rotating bolt that interlocks with the barrel for metal-to-metal contact. The bolt face features more surface area and ensures even more reliability than the older Nova. According to Benelli, the 3-inch chamber also results in a 14-percent shorter cycling stroke compared to the original.
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The Nova 3 is equipped with the “Ergo Evolved Diamond Grip” stock. The look is distinctive, but the grip is better too. The Nova 3 is even easier to control and more instinctive to handle.
The layout of controls on the Nova 3 should be familiar to Benelli users. The action release is a thin, flared button marked with an exposed red dot when the action is locked and ready to fire. The action release is on the right side at the front of the triggerguard. It’s within reach of a right-handed shooter’s trigger finger, but requires the finger to come off the trigger; some will have to forfeit their grip to reach it. The crossbolt safety is positioned between the trigger and the action release. Pressing the button to the right engages the safety; pressing it to the left disengages it.
As any shotgunner can attest, felt recoil can be a deal breaker. Excessive felt recoil can make shooting uncomfortable, leading to fatigue and misses due to flinching in anticipation of it. Knowing this, Benelli redesigned the recoil pad on the Nova 3, and gave the cushion a denser foam for a more comfortable shooting experience.
There’s a big difference between a shotgun designed for hunting and one developed for tactical use. The most recognizable difference is that a hunting shotgun tends to have a longer barrel. Oftentimes, hunting shotguns also wear camo to imitate the environment. For the same reason, tactical shotguns tend to be black, and short barrels are easier to store, retrieve, carry and employ in tight, dynamic environments.
Practical & Tactical
The Nova 3 Hunting shotgun is offered in black, Realtree Max-7 or Mossy Oak Bottomland. A 26-inch and 28-inch-barrel is available for each finish, equating to an overall length of 45½ to 49½ inches. The length of pull for all Nova 3 models is 14 1/8 inches. In terms of weight comparisons, the short-barrel Nova 3 weighs 6 pounds, 9 ounces, and the long-barrel version weighs 2 ounces more.
The Nova 3 Hunting guns are ribbed with a long sighting plane. These come with an Improved Cylinder (IC), Modified (M), Full (F) and Mobil choke, giving users the option of adjusting the pattern and range when hunting different species at different locations with birdshot.
The red fiber-optic front sight on the Hunting models provide a clear indication of where the muzzle is oriented in relation to the target. As hunters expect, there’s no rear sight because our focus should be on the target, which is usually in flight.
The Nova 3 Tactical is available in five configurations, each having an overall length of 40¼ inches. Barrels are 18½ inches. The Tactical models weigh a svelte 5 pounds, 14 ounces, and length of pull is 141⁄8 inches. All have a drift-adjustable ghost-ring rear aperature sight with an elevation-adjustable front sight post. The front sight post contains a white dot, while the rear sight sports a dot on either side of the ring.
A sling is a critical accessory for tactical shotguns, so Benelli gave the Nova 3 Tactical flush, quick-detach (QD) sling cups on both sides of the stock. There are also sling-swivel mounts on the bottom of the stock, and a barrel clamp as on the Nova 3 Hunting. Further, a sling and light can be attached to one of six M-Lok slots on the forend where you prefer.
The Tactical model has a fixed cylinder choke. The black and MultiCam Black models come with a fixed Modified (M) choke. The 922r models — which are available in black and MultiCam Black — include a Modified Mobil choke and a Cylinder choke that’s externally threaded to accept a breaching device.
All but the 922r models have a four-plus-one capacity. The 922r has an extended magazine tube that ups capacity to a formidable seven-plus-one. A Picatinny rail atop the receiver further distinguishes the 922r from other Nova 3 Tactical models. The rear sight assembly can be removed for an unobstructed view of a low-profile optic, which is quickly becoming the norm for tactical shotguns.
Performance
I patterned both Benelli Nova 3 Hunting and Tactical models from a bench at 40 yards. The target contained a 30-inch outer circle and a 21¼-inch inner circle divided into four quadrants. Counting the number of pellet holes in each quadrant reveals how the shotgun patterns and reveals any barrel bias.
I used Federal’s Prairie Storm FS Lead load in No. 4 to test the Hunting model, and Federal’s Frangible 00 Buck in the Nova 3 Tactical 922r version. Both were intuitive to shoot. The triggers felt a little stiff, but the pull weight on each measured about half of the 8-pound tested pull from the original Nova.
The Nova 3 is comfortable to shoot offhand, and there is a considerable reduction in felt recoil. You could shoot slugs from the Nova 3 Tactical shotgun, but since these have smooth bores, accuracy at distance can be unpredictable. The Nova 3 Tactical shotguns are best suited for use with buckshot, which was devastatingly effective in close-quarter testing. Buckshot is also less likely to over-penetrate than slugs, which is why it remains a popular option among police and law-abiding citizens for home-defense.
The Nova 3 grip texture and scalloped forend aided in my ability to control recoil, and this made it easier to work the action in a hurry. Due to the shape of the forend, which is wider toward the rear, the Nova 3 was easier to port load over the top of the receiver rather than underneath it.
Value-Added
Whether you’re interested in a hunting or tactical pump-action shotgun, the Benelli Nova 3 is at the top. Economically priced, the list of features suggest that we should expect to pay more. More importantly, the Nova 3 doesn’t handle or perform like an entry-level shotgun.
Not to be dismissed, the Nova 3 is backed by a 10-year warranty, which covers the cost of parts, labor and shipping should something go awry under normal use. The peace of mind provided by this warranty is eclipsed only by the secure feeling of a Nova 3 in your hands.
Benelli Nova 3 Hunting
- Type: Pump action
- Gauge: 12, 3-in. chamber
- Capacity: 4+1 shells
- Barrel: 26 in. or 28 in. (tested)
- Overall Length: 49.5 in.
- Length of Pull: 14.13 in.
- Drop at Heel: 2.38 in.
- Drop at Comb: 1.38 in.
- Stock: Polymer; Ergo evolved; diamond-pattern texture
- Weight: 6 lbs., 11 oz. (tested)
- Receiver: Polymer
- Finish: Realtree Max-7 (tested)
- Sights: Fiber optic, red
- Trigger: 3 lbs., 14 oz. (tested)
- Safety: Cross bolt
- Accessories: Improved Cylinder (IC), Modified (M), Full (F) Mobil chokes and wrench
- MSRP: $629
- Importer: Benelli, benelliusa.com
Benelli Nova 3 Tactical (922r)
- Type: Pump action
- Gauge: 12, 3-in. chamber
- Capacity: 7+1 shells
- Barrel: 18.5 in.
- Overall Length: 40.25 in.
- Length of Pull: 14.13 in.
- Drop at Heel: 2.38 in.
- Drop at Comb: 1.5 in.
- Stock: Polymer; Ergo evolved; diamond-pattern texture
- Weight: 5 lbs., 14 oz. (tested)
- Receiver: Polymer, Picatinny rail
- Finish: Multi-Cam Black
- Sights: 3 white dot; post, adj. (front), aperature, drift adj. (rear)
- Trigger: 4 lbs., 2 oz. (tested)
- Safety: Cross bolt
- Accessories: Modified Mobil; cylinder externally threaded for breaching device). wrench
- MSRP: $849
- Manufacturer: Benelli, Urbino, Italy
- Importer: Benelli, benelliusa.com
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