Winchester SXP or Benelli Nova 3 - informal clays, general target shooting

[u/HackDartBreakHeart]

Hello friends, I'm getting a refund because a shotgun broke and the manufacturer couldn't repair it. Therefore, I get to pick a replacement shotgun to use up the hundreds of rounds of 12 Ga I purchased.

I will be shooting random target/plinking inna woods and at my local club, as well as shooting informal clays (not a properly setup trap or skeet course). At this time, I am not interested in hunting. I mostly just shoot for fun and I'm not a super great shot.

I am replacing a Norinco 1897, which I LOVED because it was fun and had character (action spills out, slam firing, unique look to it) but alas, it broke after 20 rounds and I can't quite trust it enough to get a second one.

I'm stuck between the Winchester SXP (likely Trap or HG Field model) and the Benelli Nova 3. Either one would likely be a 28" barrel. The minor price difference is no biggie, as this will be mostly covered by my refund.

The Benelli seems to be of higher quality, but I'm concerned about the abundance of polymer and the smoothness of the action. The SXP has the intertia recoil assistance which seems amazing, but is apparently a little lower quality.

[u/Dantheislander]

Benelli every time. I’ve seen ancient semis from them held together with duct tape cycle target loads from extended mag tubes.

[u/msdtyu]

Benelli and its not even close

[u/Joeyjackhammer]

Some think pasta is Italy’s gift to the world. It’s actually shotguns.

[u/sdr26]

Benelli. I have a supernova and know others that have had them 10+ years. Ugly and bulky but they go bang every time with any shells with basic cleaning / maintenance. All Benellis come with a 10 year warranty.

[u/Expert_Ad_9423]

May i suggest the benelli nova the italian classic ifykyk

[u/Dantheislander → u/Expert_Ad_9423]

Or a 2nd gen montefeltro for the discerning gentleman but still great value.

[u/georgeofthejungle71]

Nova. Hands down. All day every day.

I love mine.

[u/airchinapilot]

SXP is cheaper - still good for the value. The inertia assist can be tricky if you had previous pumps before as the rhythm takes a bit to get used to. Whether the speed is worth it to you is up to your use case. I had one for many years for duck hunting and treated it like crap and it was fine.

I don't have any experience with the Nova 3 but I know people who had the Super Nova and loved it.

[u/HackDartBreakHeart]

It sounds like everyone votes for Italy? Specifically the Nova 3, not the SuperNova.

I'm attracted by the intertia assist in the SXP, and they make a specific Trap gun - but if the Benelli is just a straight-up better firearm then that's the better choice.

[u/LananasCourageux → u/HackDartBreakHeart]

Supernovas are just Novas that take 3.5" shells. As for the polymer, the receiver is steel, it's just got a polymer overmould to protect it from the elements. But also try one out for yourself, I think that inertia system you're referring to is just marketing wank. Benellis are lighning fast and smooth as butter to cycle and load.

[u/Foreign_Active_7991 → u/LananasCourageux]

The inertia system is kinda fun if you like doing dumb shit like shooting one-handed, mine will completely open the action and eject the hull, and with a bit of practice you can flick the action back closed. Neat for larping that one hand/arm has been disabled but you still have to shoot something.

[u/ExplorerEnjoyer]

SXP is a Turkish manufactured gun with questionable reliability looking at reviews so the Benelli every time

[u/gspotcowboy → u/ExplorerEnjoyer]

My SXP started double feeding like 100 rounds in. I pawned it at my LGS for store credit and stocked up on 10/22 mags and ammo lol

It worked great, until it didn't 🤷‍♂️

[u/Pro7o7ype]

Benelli, simply a superior product. However the SXP is good, but has this feature that I can't get behind, intertia assisted action. "Four massive ROTARY BOLT LUGS provide support, strength and solid lockup in the barrel of the lightning-fast Super X Pump. Under recoil, the mass of the shooter slows the rearward travel of the shotgun, while the inertial motion of the bolt, slide and forearm continue cycling the action to give a head start ejecting the fired shell."

Aka, when fired it automatically unlocks and starts to slide the action back, speeding up reloading.

[u/Otherwise_Rub_9515]

That's like asking Ford or Toyota 

[u/HackDartBreakHeart → u/Otherwise_Rub_9515]

So, Ford or Toyota?

[u/Otherwise_Rub_9515 → u/HackDartBreakHeart]

Winchester sxp is a Ford. Ford is not good. 

[u/Response-Cheap]

I love my Benelli. SXP is cheap crap compared to any Benelli. Italian shotguns are the best you can get.

[u/SHAREtheEXPERIENCE]

I can't speak on the SXP but one benefit for the Supernova over the Nova 3 is adjustability of the stock. Nova 3 has a one piece polymer stock and receiver which is really light but offers 0 adjustment. That said, I have a Nova 3 and love it so far

[u/itsyaboi6909]

I love my SN I’ve put probably 1000 through it from target load to 3.5 goose loads with no issues. I’ve also hunted with a Nova before that’s pushing 20 years old and seen thousands of rounds. Benelli all the way.