Hey brother, I can't speak for the Stoeger, but I do love my Nova. Try my favorite store, www.whitakerguns.com. You'll love the prices and mailorder is not a problem.
I'm currently using a JellyHead for coyotes and plan to use it again during turkey season.....just need to lighten the loads. Comp-n-choke is very popular too. As anyone will tell you, it's a process matching loads/chokes/application........all part of the fun.
I had a same problem a couple of weeks ago with my Benelli. I had installed a scope mount and the screws that replace the breach pins were a bit too tight. Once I backed them off a bit, it was fine. But, I will also agree that the Nova does need a harder pump to jack the shells than most other brands.
Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene(UHMW)......a high grade machinable plastic. Actually, I'm shooting coyote loads with this gun. I use it for the close-in dogs that slip in on me from the rear. My primary is a .257 Wetherby or a 22-250. But, like I said, sometimes they get too close and the shot shells are cheaper.
I will. I'll probably do one out of UHMW just to see it when done. But, for my applications, the original suits me fine......'yotes don't care how pretty you look.
Make that two Nova owners who are looking for stock alternatives. If anyone has any ideas before I start fabbing my own, please jump in.
BTW, where's the best site to order a magazine extension for this gun?