r/canadaguns • u/HackDartBreakHeart • 25d ago
Buy recommendations Winchester SXP or Benelli Nova 3 - informal clays, general target shooting
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.