Maverick 88 or benelli nova?

[mrbigjohn]

Looking for something in practice and range shooting. The mav 88 is cheaper, but the nova happens to have had a huge price cut recently and the ability to fire 2 3/4 up to 3 1/2 inch sounds like a lot of versatility. Which would you choose and why?

[JAvendan]

I have a Benelli Nova that I bought before the '16 election and it's my first shotgun.

My friends had variants of the Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 and both shot fine to me not having any experience with any shotgun.

I went to my LGS, North County Firearms - before they moved, and they had both the Mossberg and Remington. Prices were similar. I saw the Nova and asked about it and the counter guy said, "Be careful... you might like it."

Yep, to me the action was smooth.

It was a lot more because it was the marine version but I bought it.

Afterwards, I found that you can by-pass shells that are in the tube by depressing the button on the fore-end and load a different round. I really like that feature and practice doing that.

I don't know about the Maverick but for the Nova there is little to NO aftermarket support.

So, if you want to trick your shotgun out... get a Mossberg or Remington.

Just to get an extension tube that matched the nickel/marine finish I had to search Ebay for a few weeks but found a factory Benelli nickel extension tube... cost a lot more.

Also, the Nova can handle up to 3.5" shells. I am not a fan of 3.5" slugs but you can shoot those if needed.

Joel

[estrom]

I don't know anything about the Maverick regarding build/life expectancy/etc..., other than it's less expensive. The Nova is a good gun will last a long, long time.

[eviioiive]

I’d take a nova over any other pump

[Limeman]

Against the Maverick 88, there is no comparison. Get the Benelli Nova or Supernova. If you want to accessorize your shotgun to absurdity, then look at Mossberg or Reynolds. If you want the best shotgun in your perceived price range, again, get a Benelli.

Here is a great article on accessorizing the Benelli Supernova: https://noisefarmusa.com/supernova-review-%2B-build

[BOBGBA]

Get the Nova. I wouldn't even consider the other one.

Where did you see the huge price cut?

[DArBad]

Get the Benelli Nova.

[k1dude]

No comparison.

The Nova is in an entirely different quality and performance class than an 88.

Nova all the way.

[RandyCat]

A300 Wink Wink

[plumbum]

Maverick 88 = Mossberg 500
The Nova is a great gun, but there isn’t much you can “trick” it out with... if that’s your thing. The ability to use 3.5” shells is really unnecessary, unless you are reaching for geese.
If you can afford a Nova, go for it - for HD work, won’t need anything more than a +2 magazine and a sling.

[meno377]

Function wise you can't compare the two. The nova is miles better than the maverick. I have both and I really like the maverick also, however since I have both, I would grab the nova first in a defense situation and at the same time I can go out and shoot skeet, trap, sporting clays with ease. The maverick can do all that, but IMO not as gracefully.

The biggest advantage with the nova is the rotating bolt design. Just like a winchester, the pump is fast. You can't get that with the maverick or any mossberg flavor for that matter.

[hardcore4sure]

+1 for the Nova Tactical. You get 3 shell size options and the shell stop. Action is smooth. FTW

[waveslayer]

Benelli Super nova, for the very fact you can hold the button on the pump to avoid ejecting a shell makes it all worth it

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

[ZX9ALLDAY]

The maverick 88 is cheap chinese/ turkish junk imported by Mossberg. Spend the extra 50$ and get a made in USA Mossberg 500. Made with less “pot metal” and plastic parts. Ive owned numerous maverick 88s and mossberg 500s. I once bought a brand new mav 88, took it to the range to find that it had a defected lifter that would poop shells onto the floor. Advice, buy an older Mossberg 500 or Remington 870.

[LeadPilot]

Nova all day every day! I bought mine in ‘99 and it still works like new with almost zero maintenance.