20 gauge pump - 870 vs nova vs ???

[Desk Jockey]

Thinking about adding a 20 gauge pump to the stable for my 13 year old kid. He is tall so compact or youth stock is not needed. He has shot a 20 gauge double barrel fine. 12 is a bit too much recoil. Use would be bird, rabbit and maybe some sporting clays. Nothing too pretty or expensive so it won’t be an issue to drag it out into the field.

- my Remington experience has been very choppy the last several years but I was looking at an 870.

- I love my Benelli m2 so that is a plus. The nova 20 is under $500, which is as much as I want to spend.

leaning toward the nova due to some Remington QC concerns, but open to input op and other options In the $500 or less range.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I’ve bought 4 or 5 new Remington 870s and an 1187 over the last couple of years and haven’t had the first bit of trouble from any of them.

 

[slvrslngr]

Fit is more important than brand. Take your kiddo to a decent shop and let him handle some guns, then let him decide.

 

[Packin_packout]

Mine started off with the youth 870 20 gauge then switched over to a Weatherby sa-08. This let them start learning how to pick up doubles on the Clays course. They just didn't have the coordination to get another round off with the pump. I had no issues on the 20 gauge 870 but on the 12 gauge and I was running I had consistent issues with it locking up to where I couldn't clear a spent round.

Fit is everything.

 

[Treerat-sniper]

If you can find an older 870, especially a wingmaster consider one. Don't expect service out of big green anymore. I have multiple 20s (870, 500, Nova, Franchi, Baikal, H&R). My favorite 20 is my Franchi Affinity semi. If you have to have a pump my choice would be the Nova, I've seen them abused, used as boat paddles, dunked & generally mistreated. They are tough!

 

[Axlrod]

Nova for sure. Mine is a 12 and it has seen a lot of use with no trouble in the 20 years I have had it. It is my favorite hunting shotgun by far.

 

[Sandstrom]

I would go with the 870, I had thousands of problem free rounds and abuse through mine before I retired it. That being said I don’t have much experience with the Nova. I won one in a raffle and promptly got rid of it. I just couldn’t get over how weird it looked (kind of Star Wars ish). To me the 870 is the perfect combination of reliability and classic looks.

Ryan

 

[SDHNTR]

Winchester SXP

 

[SDHNTR]

Browning BPS

 

[Sandstrom]

Browning BPS

Unfortunately for me, I have seen the most problems with the BPS. 3 of the 3 that I have been around have had major feed issues and have had go back to the truck in the middle of a hunt to be taken apart to clear a jam. One of the three was bought back from the LGS that offers a guarantee on guns bought from them after they tried twice to fix it.

Ryan

 

[SDHNTR]

Unfortunately for me, I have seen the most problems with the BPS. 3 of the 3 that I have been around have had major feed issues and have had go back to the truck in the middle of a hunt to be taken apart to clear a jam. One of the three was bought back from the LGS that offers a guarantee on guns bought from them after they tried twice to fix it.

Ryan

Wow, that too bad. The one I had was flawless. I dearly regret selling it.

 

[FLS]

Find an older Wingmaster. Walnut and blued steel. They were some of the best pump guns ever made. I’ve owned and shot Ithaca’s, Browning’s, Winchester’s and Benellis. The Wingmasters (not the plywood and pot metal express) were much better.
I’ve still got a couple of novas and they point like a shovel, and feel about like one too. I used them for Heavy division in 3 gun. They’re tough are fast and easy to load and cheap enough you didn’t mind chopping it up to make it a gamer gun. They make a decent turkey gun because you’re aiming, lots better choices for wing shooting IMO.

 

[Jim1187]

While I have never experienced function failures in my 870 expresses, so perhaps I am in the minority and probably my first choice. The Nova's are nice and worth considering but I found Winchester's SXP a solid performer and would leave more room in your budget for gear for your kid, if the safety wasn't in the wrong spot I'd still have one or two.
A used wingmaster is/was probably one of the better deals going and would be more of a lifetime gun in my opinion. Yes they look pretty but with a bit of regular maintenance will outlive him, I even use mine when hunting the salt but try my best not to use any gun as a boat paddle.

 

[cmankingsley]

Have had a nova and an 870. I still shoot the 870. Nova was garbage.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Huntfish53]

I switched over to a Nova 20 from a Mossberg 835 for turkeys, I've been pleasantly surprised.