JNewell

With Benellis in general and the Nova/Super Nova in particular, that is clearly urgently correct advice. Great guns, and the Nova is a bargain, but only if you get what you want the first time around.

I thought there was an issue with the chrome-lined barrels - like the plating chips or something similar? I could be mistaken. If it isn't a problem, I would HIGHLY recommend Mike Orlen in Amherst, MA. He did an 870 barrel for me recently. He did the work the same day he received the barrel and shipped it back the next day. The work was very reasonably priced and was better than the factory job in terms of fit and flush.

I have owned 870s for years and recently bought a Nova Tactical with GRS and T&E'd an Express Tactical with the factory extension and threaded (for tubes) barrel. I think you've got it about right...the only thing I added to the Nova was a Nordic extension and a LimbSaver pad (but the Remington pad needs to be swapped for a Supercell pad, which is made by Sims, to be equivalent). Both are great guns. I paid $325 OTD after rebate for the Nova Tactical GRS. I think it is a screaming good deal at that price. If you're not allergic to adding a different brand shotgun, the Nova is great. Note that aftermarket buttstocks for the Benellis are limited in choice (none at all for the regular Nova) and expen$ive, if that's a factor for truck storage.

Good luck (I mean that)...used ones are very scarce...new ones are almost as much as a whole new shotgun, especially with the rebates currently running.

I looked back at some older catalogs - I think the tactical Nova never came with an 18.5" barrel and interchangeable chokes. I can only find "sporting" models with tubes.

You might want to double-check that. My very new Nova tac has a fixed choke. The major difference, as I remember, is that the stock on the Super can be removed whereas the stock of the Nova is integral and can't be removed. Given the extreme cost of Benelli replacement stocks and the lack of any third-party options, I don't see that as a big factor - you should pick what you want carefully, since buying a replacement stock (or barrel) costs nearly as much as a whole new shotgun. I believe the top of the receiver on the Super is also drilled and tapped for a rail - might be wrong about that. You can get either rifle or ghost ring sights for either. My Nova tac has GRS.

That's perfect. Ya know, removing the bolt is so easy it took me a few tries to figure it out. Much easier than a Winbergington.

I hope that didn't come across as busting your chops - it was meant with a smile. The Nova is just about the easiest, quickest, most trouble-free shotgun to field-strip I've ever owned or seen. You'll have no problems or worries.

Never owned a Remington, Winchester or Mossberg, eh? They all use similar arrangements with pins...none of them provide a tool... The pins are totally secure and will not become loose over time. The pin or teat on the end of the mag cap is polymer, I believe, and it fits the pins like a charm. Put it on, push, then use the little lip on the inside to pull it out from the other side. No one else I know of provides a tool on the gun to remove pins - Benelli is way out front on this. I don't remember what the SN receiver is on the outside. The Nova is polymer-clad (think Glock). It shouldn't slip, but if you goof and the pin does, it might leave some slightly brighter mark on the receiver, but I've slipped a few times with mine and nothing shows at all.

It couldn't be much easier. Remove the barrel. Use the tip of the mag cap to press out the trigger group pins and remove the trigger assembly. Reach in and remove the bolt. Slide the forend off. That's from memory but I'm pretty sure that's it and that it is in the right order. It is very simple to strip these guns down for thorough cleaning.

If you're comfortable with a smoothbore for deer hunting, it would work quite well. Around here (MA), where the modern firearms season is shotgun-only, 20-22" smoothbore barrels are the rule. The 18 1/2" Nova Tac barrel would work great, either with rifle or ghost ring sights. Be advised that additional barrels are very expensive, so make sure you're happy before you put your cash down.

It may well be the case that it's cheaper to buy a whole shotgun than to buy the barrel.

I have this gun and the Nordic extender. It works flawlessly.

Unless you wind up with the wrong gun? I confess I'm a little unclear on how the OP wound up with the wrong gun. Was it an online purchase? I can't imagine this happening with an in-person, in-store purchase. But goodness knows I've managed to click the wrong button or not read all of an item's description more than once myself...

Not true. Both the regular and SteadyGrip versions of the Nova and the Super Nova are available with ghost ring sights. http://www.benelliusa.com/shotguns/benelli_defense_models.php