{"id":4608,"date":"2026-01-02T03:10:42","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T03:10:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/review-benelli-nova-3-tactical-shotgun\/"},"modified":"2026-01-02T03:10:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T03:10:42","slug":"review-benelli-nova-3-tactical-shotgun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/review-benelli-nova-3-tactical-shotgun\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Benelli Nova 3 Tactical Shotgun"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I remember when the original Benelli Nova was introduced way back around the year 2000. I\u2019d been hunting ducks with Benelli\u2019s Super Black Eagle since it was released about eight years earlier, and so I was a fan of the company in general, but I didn\u2019t much care for its futuristic-looking polymer pump. One of my hunting buddies bought one, and though I didn\u2019t tell him, it just felt cheap to me, like plastic sliding against plastic whenever I worked its action. Very light for any shotgun, much less one capable of shooting 3.5-inch magnum loads, it also kicked like a mule. So, when I was asked by the editors of this magazine to review Benelli\u2019s new Nova 3 Tactical version now, 25 years later, I wasn\u2019t all that, uh, pumped.<\/p>\n

But, before I get to the guts of this story, I\u2019ll tell you that after reviewing it I was pleasantly surprised. Although the overall look of the original and the new version remain similar, the new Nova 3 is upgraded with enough features to make it a truly new gun (although it loses a couple things, too) and it should serve as an excellent home defender.<\/p>\n

In essence, the Nova 3 Tactical is a 12-gauge, pump-action shotgun featuring an 18.5-inch barrel, an extended seven-shot magazine (after the included mag-tube extension is installed by the user), ghost-ring sights, a Multicam Black finish and a bunch of other features. But, let\u2019s begin with the gun\u2019s overall build.
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Most notably, the Nova 3 uses a combination of polymer and steel to create a single, monolithic, one-piece receiver and buttstock assembly. Benelli calls its construction \u201cPoly Mod.\u201d This construction aims to improve efficiency in manufacturing, assembly and maintenance, while also making the shotgun lighter and incredibly strong for its weight. In essence, the steel forms a cage in the shape of the gun\u2019s stock and receiver that is reinforced\u2014and protected from the elements\u2014by the polymer molded all around it. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\n
\n The shrouded front-post sight contains a dot for an aiming reference, which is easily acquired through the rear, ghost-ring sight flanked by two white dots \u2022 A rail atop the receiver makes it simple to mount a reflex sight \u2022 With a tapered design for ease of operation and M-Lok slots to mount accessories, the pump itself is well designed \u2022 The Nova 3 tactical is one of the fastest-operating pump shotguns available \u2022 Scallops and raised checkering provide ample purchase along the grip \u2022 The Nova 3 Tactical\u2019s buttpad is effective, though not as cushioned as the previous iteration\u2019s ComforTech gel pad \u2022 Seemingly borrowed from Benelli\u2019s M4 semi-auto, the bolt is spring loaded, helping make the gun faster to operate and highly reliable.
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While I can\u2019t argue with this modern manufacturing technique for its simplicity, durability and cost efficiency, I do believe it has several downsides. One is aesthetics: Just as the gun\u2019s futuristic, all-polymer look was shocking 25 years ago, it hasn\u2019t aged well, in my view. Back then, it looked like something from a \u201cRoboCop\u201d movie, and it\u2019s still an ugly duckling to those of us who prefer a more traditional look. But, more importantly in terms of practicality, the new monolithic stock\/receiver does away with the old Nova\u2019s optional ComforTech stock that contained a gel-comb insert that helped reduce felt recoil. I can only guess at the reasoning for the Nova 3\u2019s omission of this feature, but I\u2019d bet it has to do with the cost and complications of incorporating this technology now that the stock and receiver are made as one piece. The new buttstock does feature an effective buttpad, of course, but I sure miss the cushy comb.<\/p>\n

The other feature that it eliminates is any chance for a shim kit\/stock-fit adjustment. Because Benelli\u2019s shim kits are designed to change the angle of the stock where it mates to the rear of the receiver and therefore the drop-at-comb\/drop-at-heel measurements, the monolithic design of this new stock and receiver prevents installing any such shims. That said, the Nova 3\u2019s fixed stock measurements (2.38-inch drop-at-heel, 1.5-inch drop-at-comb) fit me just fine and, based on pure averages, will likely fit you, too. But, the gun\u2019s inability to be adjusted must be mentioned. As for positives, the new stock features aggressive, molded grip panels on the pistol grip, as well as two integral options for mounting a sling.<\/p>\n

Likely the central defining feature of the Nova 3 is its return to a 3-inch action, rather than the 3.5-inch action of the Super Nova. The 3.5-inch shell is all but dead for everyone except the most eccentric turkey hunters. This is great news for home defenders, because what the longer action did was make the gun longer overall by elongating the action, which means more time spent sliding the action back and sliding the action forward when working the pump. While a half of an inch of both sides of the cycle might not seem like much on paper, you can immediately tell it both in terms of quickness and effort expended on the tactical range.<\/p>\n

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\"Benelli<\/p>\n


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\n Thanks to a three-round extension, the Nova 3 Tactical has a capacity of seven shells in its tubular magazine, making it an excellent option for home defense \u2022 Fire controls are located close to each other, facilitating a simple manual of arms, while the magazine cutoff button smartly resides in a recess in the fore-end \u2022 Defensive shotgun triggers are not nearly as important as those on rifles or even handguns, but the Nova 3 Tactical\u2019s unit proved solid in testing \u2022 Though not adjustable, the stock proved comfortable and includes a QD socket.
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Internally, the Nova 3 incorporates a rotating bolt head borrowed from Benelli\u2019s M4 bolt. While I can\u2019t definitively state that this bolt is more reliable in terms of lockup or strength, it is spring loaded, something that helps initiate the pumping action and therefore makes it slightly faster, much like Winchester\u2019s tried-and-true \u201cSpeed Pump\u201d design. Indeed, when holding the gun pointed up or horizontally, one push of the action-release button causes the action to slide halfway open on its own. The action itself features dual steel action arms that disappear into hollow recesses formed by the receiver\u2019s polymer build, but for whatever reason, the Nova 3 doesn\u2019t have nearly the plastic-on-plastic feel of its predecessor when the action is worked.<\/p>\n

Regarding the fire-control system, both the crossbolt safety and the action-release button are located on the forward portion of the polymer trigger guard. This is fine for people with big hands, but I personally don\u2019t prefer it, instead preferring the safety to be positioned on the rear portion of the trigger guard so I can reach it easily without releasing my grip. The trigger itself is typical for a shotgun; it\u2019s reliable, but nothing to wow anyone.<\/p>\n

Finally, the action comes with a 4.5-inch Picatinny rail mounted atop it, as well as a robust polymer adjustable rear ghost-ring sight installed. The sight is quality, with the adjustment screws being recessed and the steel ring being protected by curving polymer wings.<\/p>\n

While I bagged on the gun\u2019s redesigned buttstock a bit, I commend its redesigned molded polymer fore-end that incorporates several new features rather than omitting any. First, it is molded in a way that features two thicknesses; a thicker portion at its rear and a thinner portion at the front, with a transition that serves as a grippy point of reference for the hand to find in the same manner each time. The forward portion of the fore-end contains six M-Lok slots\u2014two on the right, two on the left and two underneath\u2014for accoutrements such as a flashlight. Finally, the underside of the stock features a unique recess that houses the action\u2019s magazine-cutoff button.<\/p>\n

I love this feature. It allows the shooter to quickly unload the shell that\u2019s in the chamber without messing with the shells in the magazine\u2014all without changing grip. It\u2019s exceptionally well done, and could become the standard when it comes to magazine-cutoff buttons on shotguns.<\/p>\n

The Nova 3 Tactical (all versions) comes with an 18.5-inch barrel that wears a shrouded front sight and is threaded for its included choke tube (on some models, or a standard fixed-cylinder choke on others). The barrel is thin, light and of the high-quality befitting a Benelli shotgun. The test unit I chose was the 922(r)-compliant model that comes with a three-round mag-tube extension that increases the shotgun\u2019s magazine capacity from four to seven rounds.<\/p>\n

In testing the Nova 3 Tactical, I was pleasantly surprised. First, the shotgun, at right around 6 pounds, is incredibly light, nimble and easy to maneuver. But, light weight often comes at the cost of increased recoil. And, let me not mince words here: the Nova 3 does exhibit serious recoil\u2014just as any pump gun does\u2014when loaded with full-power loads. But, it was not as bad as I was expecting. Its grip, stock fit and recoil pad obviously do a good job of mitigating recoil as well as can be expected. While the gun\u2019s light weight was a downside for most waterfowlers who shoot lots and lots of very heavy loads, for the average home defender I think lightweight at the cost of a little more recoil is desirable. The shotgun is so light, in fact, that I can actually hold and fire it using only my trigger hand. I could see how this could come in handy during a real emergency.<\/p>\n

The other area in which I was pleasantly surprised was the new Nova\u2019s action; specifically a couple of its features: First, the action just feels better, both in terms of its solid, smooth feel and the fact that the new rotating bolt head actually initiates the pump action for you after each shot. Inasmuch, I believe it\u2019s one of the naturally faster pump actions on the market. Reloading was also made much quicker compared with most shotguns thanks to the design of its loading gate\/elevator. I know this may sound wimpish, but historically most loading gates\u2014including my beloved Super Black Eagle\u2014feature a gap in the gate where it meets the receiver\u2019s edge that is just big enough to pinch my thumb if I\u2019m not careful. It sounds trivial, but it\u2019s not; it\u2019s why most competitive shooters take a Dremel tool to their shotgun\u2019s loading gate so they can reload as fast as possible without fear of losing a thumbnail.<\/p>\n

Benelli engineers took a different tack, however. Instead of reshaping the gate, they designed it to remain in the up position when it is first pushed up by the initial shell to be reloaded. In this way, it never comes in contact with the reloading thumb at all. It\u2019s glorious.<\/p>\n

Finally, the magazine cut-off button is a necessary feature for any shotgun and one I use often whether on the range, loading the gun for home-defense staging and even for hunting. For example, if you wish to swap a buckshot round that\u2019s in the chamber for a slug round without dumping and then reloading the whole magazine, you can easily do it. Most cutoff buttons are located on the trigger guard where an extra movement must be made to use it. I love the ingenious location of the Nova 3\u2019s button. It\u2019s recessed enough that it won\u2019t be pushed inadvertently, but central enough that it\u2019s intuitive with practice.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In testing the gun, I shot 350 rounds without a jam, a misfire or even a hang-up. Spent hulls ejected with authority, and the new Nova 3 Tactical delivered pellet-rich patterns to its sights\u2019 point-of-aim time after time. The only complaint I had was my personal taste in safety locations\u2014it was a stretch for me to depress.<\/p>\n

All in all, the Benelli Nova 3 Tactical is one of the lightest, easiest-to-reload pump shotguns I\u2019ve fired. It\u2019s also damn-near impervious to the elements due to its polymer build (though certainly you shouldn\u2019t be fooled into thinking its internal metal workings can be neglected). Also, I think its subtle Multicam paint job looks cool. Perhaps best of all, it doesn\u2019t wear the extreme price tag of most Benellis. This one\u2019s actually affordable. Thanks at least in part to that, it has suddenly become a whole lot more attractive.<\/p>\n

\"Benelli<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Read the full article here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I remember when the original Benelli Nova was introduced way back around the year 2000. I\u2019d been hunting ducks with Benelli\u2019s Super Black Eagle since it was released about eight years earlier, and so I was a fan of the company in general, but I didn\u2019t much care for its futuristic-looking polymer pump. One of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4609,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.shootingillustrated.com\/media\/13lc5ceg\/nova.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-guns"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4608","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4608"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4608\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4610,"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4608\/revisions\/4610"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4609"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}