Benelli Supernova owners input needed ASAP

[DMTJAGER]

Hello from a very very long tome observer and finally new member. This is my first post in this wonderful forum. Little background first. I am a 95% self taught turkey hunter who has been turkey hunting for 31 years. As I knew literally nothing when I began my first season in 1988 it wasn't until 4 years later I finally connected. In the fallowing 27 turkey season I have failed only 3 times to get my Tom, all 3 times I had my chance but fate intervened on behalf of the turkey. My best year ever I killed 3 Toms in Illinois, and one each in Indiana and Ohio. I had many years when I took 2-3 Toms in Illinois and one in my home state of Indiana.

Thankfully both my boys took an interest in turkey hunting and my youngest has gone 5 for 5 and my oldest despite two opportunities this year through no fault of his own failed to connect.

Now for my question. For the first time ever I found both my sons and myself all hunting together at the same time and I only own two two shotguns suitable for turkey hunting, so obviously I didn't hunt. Which lead me to decide to buy a third turkey shotgun. I was going back and forth between either a 870 turkey gun or a 835 when I stumbled across a exceptional deal on a new 12 gauge Benelli Tactical Supernova with a 23" VR barrel.

Although I never purposely researched it, everything I have ever read or heard about the Benelli Supernova pump shotgun claimed it to be one of if not the best made pump shotgun available, superior to both the 870 and 835. The price was actually slightly less the the equivalent 870 or 835 so I bought it.

As fate would have it a AFTER I bought the Supernova I went on Youtube to watch videos on how to disassemble and clean it as this NIB Supernova didn't come with an owners manual. That's when the the videos on how to fix three rather serious design flaws with the gun popped up. All three DIY fixes require you to disassemble the trigger assembly, one of which is a rather extensive disassembly, two of the three fixes requires you to modify a part by removing materiel from it. Not something I feel I should EVER have to do to a brand new gun.

Problem #One was describing how on heavy recoil the trigger stick and wont reset and you have to pull the trigger forward to reset it yourself.

Problem #2 is with the loading gate sticking in the up position and as a result cusses you to eject shells on to the ground instead of loading them.

Problem #3 is the gun won't fire due to light primer strikes, possibly due to extreme cold affecting a over lubricated firing pin but unlike the other two issues I didn't read where a definite cause for the light strikes was determined, just that it was wide spread enough that it's not an fluke isolated to a few Supernova's.

As one can understand I am more than just a little shocked and dismayed that Benelli one of the most famous and premiere shotgun manufacturers in the world top of the line pump shotgun has not one but 3 factory design defects.

I goggled theses problems/defects and sure enough a detailed explanation of the cause and fix for all three I found at the dedicated Benelli owners website/forum as well as at Youtube.

My concern is as the gun is still new and unfired I am seriously considering selling it and buying either a 870 or 835 turkey gun, for if I fire it to see if it suffers from one more of the issues it will loose value when I sell it. As it stands right now I can easily recover my initial investment and be able to buy a 870 or 835 and it will only cost me a few added $$$.

So my question is to those who own Benelli Supernova's how Likely am I to encounter one or more of these problems that are common to Supernova's?

Imagine my angst and complete astonishment that after owning three 870's that have digested countless 1000s of rounds of everything from 3.5" magnum turkey loads, 3" magnum Foster slugs, to the lightest trap loads without LITERALLY a SINGLE problem EVER I buy what is supposed to be one of the best pump shotguns from one of the worlds premier gun makers that is usually a more costly firearm and I come to find out is has multiple factory defects that can stop its functioning. 

My first 870 was a beautiful Wingmaster and was my gift for my 12th birthday and is chambered only for 2.75" shells and now serves as my dedicated Foster slug gun. My other two 870's are the cheaper Express models. All have functioned flawlessly with zero problems.

So how many Supernova Owners out there have experienced one or more of the problems with their guns?
I would greatly appreciate a rapid responce to my request for help as I have a opportunity at a great deal on both a 870 EX/SM and a 835 T/H and are concerned they will sell before I decide to buy.
Arthur.

[Ozarks Hillbilly]

Sounds like you have already made up your mind to get rid of the gun. I personally have never owned a Super Nova but good friend of mine ordered the exact gun you have. He ordered it without handling the gun just going off a picture and the quality Benelli is know for. After a six month wait the dealer got the gun in. My buddy was really disappointed with the gun from the start he really didn't like how big and clunky it was. His had a extremely heavy lawyer trigger as well as a forearm rattle. We screwed in a IC .665 and took it out to dial it in and had to put a set of adjustable rifle sights on it to correct POI. That seems to be a pretty common situation these days with the chokes and ammo we use today. Long story short he hunted with it some that next spring and killed a bird with it. He traded it off after that not that he had experienced any mechanical issue just didn't like the gun. He and I both are pretty much older Remington guys both the 870's and 11-87's. We do both own Benelli M2's and shot SBE's along with the Super Sport II. The Super Nova isn't the same category as the Benelli auto's IMO they just missed on the Super Nova.

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[Spurs Up]

Never experienced any of those problems with mine. For that matter, I'd never even heard of them until now. I wonder if those could be cleaning issues. If so, I'll say that there's no easier pump to disassemble and reassemble than a SuperNova. Great gun in my book and way better craftsmanship than any 870 I owned, including my Wingmaster. Probably the ugliest too...

[Jstocks]

 Not an owner. Have used several without an issue.

I'll echo: seems like you already made up your mind, and will have questions and doubt in the back of your mind moving forward about the gun. Best just to get rid of it now, rather than later.

All the ones I've seen shoot good patterns. They are rattly but that can be quieted with some tweaks.
Utility pump gun. The old adage "you get what you pay for"
It's not an SBE.

I'd say you'll be more satisfied purchasing an 870 from reading your post.

[the Ward]

Benelli.....A legend only in the mind of Benelli owners who drank the Kool-Aid. You won't go wrong within an 870......and check out the Winchester SXP pump, all sort's of options on both of those, and many happy users of both. I do love my Winchester's!

We have benelli's and never heard of this kool aide. What flavors does it come in? Nothing wrong with the supernova. A little heavier and a little fore end rattle, just like an 835 ultimag, one of the best turkey guns ever made. The trigger issue is mostly with high round count guns, and with a 10 year warranty, just send it back. But if you don't like it then you should find a gun you do. I used to try and research items on the internet and have found a lot of conflicting information, usually on forums by people who don't own and never used said items being researched, or those with a vested interest in selling a competing brand. We are living in great times for the huge variety of guns available for the sportsman. So if your not going to be happy with it, find a gun you do love. But you have to remember, a $600 pump gun is not the same as a $1500+ autoloader, just like a 870 express isn't a versamax pro, even though they are made by the same company. Good luck and 

[StruttinGobbler3]

A Benelli supernova was my first dedicated turkey gun when I didn't know any better. Although it did throw a decent pattern with hevi shot #6s and an Indian creek choke tube, it was certainly not an ideal turkey gun. It was heavy and clunky, and the forearm rattled worse than an empty wagon going down a dirt road. The fit felt unnatural and the pump action was not nearly as smooth as other guns. I've owned and enjoyed other Benelli shotguns, and have one that I will never part with, but the supernova was a disaster. Obviously very little forethought went into this design and it was created as their entry level, low budget gun for the masses, intended to compete with Remington and Mossberg. Well, they failed. With that said, I'd definitely trade or sell the gun quickly. Put that money toward a good 870. I made the switch to a Remington 870 turkey model that has rolled quite a few gobblers over the years without a hiccup. Handles and carries much better, and not as heavy. Mossberg makes a good one as well. Either will be an upgrade over the Benelli.

[Greg Massey]

Trade the gun .. get you 870 .... lot more options with the Remington ... I've never heard much good about the Nova for a turkey gun....

[Honolua]

He like many have said, get rid of it and get an 870. There is a reason more turkeys have been killed with 870's than everything else.

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[Spurs Up]

It's the diversity of opinions that makes this forum fun and sometimes even informative. I don't get the hate for the SuperNova. I've got one I use for duck hunting. Also have 2 870's, Mossy 500's and an 835, along with a BPS. The SuperNova is by far the best engineered and crafted of the bunch. Smoothest and easiest of all of them to field strip, clean and reassemble.