Benelli Nova 3 vs SuperNova: Piece by Piece Breakdown

I’m both a shotgun nut and a Benelli fan. To be fair, you can’t be one without being the other. Benelli is primarily known for their semi-auto shotguns. However, they expanded into pump-action shotguns decades ago with the Nova series. The original Nova turned heads and was quickly followed up by the SuperNova, and finally, just recently, they unleashed the Nova 3.

I purchased a SuperNova at a great price point years ago and was blown away by the gun. It’s a true dark horse shotgun in the pump-action world. When Benelli announced the Nova 3, I jumped for joy. The SuperNova was great, but not perfect. Could they make a modern shotgun that could finally make a splash instead of a ripple?

Since I have both the SuperNova and the Nova 3, I figured it was a good time to lay them out and break them down piece by piece. What I found is interesting, and the primary reason why I want to compare these two is that while they are very similar, they are vastly different.

The SuperNova doesn’t seem like a 2nd Gen of the Nova series. It’s so much different from the Nova and Nova 3 that it feels more like an extension of the lineup. The Nova 3 feels like a direct sequel to the original Nova. Typically, when a new generation of the firearm emerges, the old generation fades away.

However, the SuperNova is so different from the Nova 3 that I can see the two coexisting side by side. Let’s break the two guns piece by piece to discuss what they have in common, but also where they differ vastly.

Spec Comparison

Benelli Nova 3

• Final Grade : B

Caliber 12 guage

Capacity 4

Barrel Length 28 in

Overall Length 49.5 in

Weight 6.9 lbs

Check Price

Benelli Supernova

• Final Grade : A-

Caliber 12 guage

Capacity 4

Barrel Length 28 in

Overall Length 49.5 in

Weight 7.9 lbs

Check Price

The History of the Nova Series

The original Nova premiered in 1999 and turned heads by using a ton of polymer. Handguns had embraced polymer decades ago, but pump shotguns? They were a new territory for polymer. The Benelli Nova featured a one-piece receiver and stock design that uses a metal skeleton covered by polymer. It’s a steel-reinforced polymer design.

This was the first time someone implemented polymer. Polymer allowed Benelli to reduce weight and cost. While most people were used to expensive Italian craftsmanship when purchasing Benelli shotguns, the Nova provided a much more affordable platform. The design came in both hunting and tactical configurations.

In 2006, Benelli introduced the 2nd Generation of the Nova, the SuperNova, which added the 3.5-inch chamber, thus earning the “super” name. The SuperNova came in various sporting and tactical configurations. In 2025, Benelli unleashed the Nova 3. The Nova series has always been fairly affordable guns and remains innovative in a world of pump shotguns designed in the 1950s.

Ergonomics

Let’s talk ergonomics, and we’ll go from rear to front. We’re starting at the rear because this is my biggest problem with Benelli ergonomics. They stick to these absurdly long lengths of pull. Both the Nova 3 and SuperNova come with stocks with a LOP that exceeds 14 inches. Most shooters are fairly comfortable in the 12.5-inch range.

At six feet five inches, I like a 13.5-inch length of pull. Anything that’s above 14 is nuts. So why not swap the stock? Benelli ditched the one-piece receiver and stock design with the SuperNova. This makes it possible to swap stocks, and Mesa Tactical Urbino stock offers a 12.5-inch length of pull.

With the Nova 3, they went to the one-piece stock and receiver design. Why? I’m not sure. I would have loved to swap the stock, or for Benelli to integrate a system to change the length of pull.

The Nova series famously has an extended pump, which is great. It allows people of all sizes to easily grab the action and work it. The Nova 3’s pump has a much more aggressive texture, which is absolutely fantastic. The SuperNova’s is fine, but the Nova 3’s is by far the better pump.

Both guns feature nicely sized controls that are nearly identical. No major differences. Both guns integrate a magazine cutoff as part of the pump. This allows you to press a button and eject a round from the chamber without ejecting a round from the magazine tube.

Benelli found a way to trim some significant weight from the Nova 3 series. A Nova 3 tactical weighs 5.9 pounds, and the SuperNova Tactical weighs 7.2 pounds. That’s a fair difference, and the Nova 3 is remarkably handy.

Reliability

In my experience shooting a ton of rounds from the Nova 3 and even more from the SuperNova, I’ve never run into reliability issues. Both guns feature a rotating bolt design similar to the Winchester 1300 series. This rotating bolt gives you both rotational force and rearward force to eject a cartridge.

The Nova 3 changes the bolt head to match the bolt head from the Benelli M4. I’m not sure if this makes a huge difference when it comes to the overall reliability of the firearm. Benelli claims it does, but from my experience, I just can’t tell. The SuperNova and Nova 3 both have the benefit of being simpler pump-action shotguns.

Modularity

Which gun is more modular? They both have their strengths. The SuperNova has a removable stock, which allows you to make the biggest change necessary to the gun. It’s easy to swap the stock and make the gun a little shorter and easier to square up behind the gun.

The Nova 3 series comes with a pump with M-LOK slots, which makes it easy to attach lights, lasers, and whatever else you want to add. The SuperNova doesn’t offer that, and you’ll have to find alternative ways to mount your accessories.

The Nova 3 comes with an optics rail, but the SuperNova is drilled and tapped to accept an optics rail. It’s nice that one comes stock with the Nova 3, and I’ll give you points for that. Additionally, the Nova 3 comes in 922R compliant models, which makes it easier to add accessories and stay within the law.

Overall, it’s tough to say if one is more modular than the other. If I had to pick one over the other, I’d prefer the ability to swap stocks with the SuperNova. I can find other ways to mount lights and accessories.

Chamber Size

The SuperNova allows you to shoot 3.5-inch rounds, and the Nova 3 does not. This isn’t a big deal for the majority of shooters. Duck and big bird hunters will be most affected. The benefit to using a 3.5-inch shell is the 3.5-inch ejection port and loading port.

It’s a larger loading port and thus easier to load. The ejection port gives more room for shells to boot, scoot, and boogie. Plus, a larger ejection port makes it easier to commit a port reload. With that said, Benelli was smart with the Nova 3 design.

The Nova 3 features a wide loading port that’s beveled for faster reloads. This makes it easy to do things like violin loads. It’s a bit of a mixed bag of good features.

At the Range

At the range, what do I notice between the two guns? Off the bat, the Nova 3 is less forgiving to poor form. If you’re not exercising a proper push/pull technique, the Nova 3 will beat you up a bit. The Nova 3 has two things going against it for recoil control.

First, it’s remarkably light. Second, it lacks the ComfortTech stock present on the SuperNova. If you exercise proper control with the Nova 3, it isn’t a problem. If you’re not careful, it could punch you in the face. The SuperNova is a bit heavier and doesn’t beat you up as bad.

The Nova 3 uses a 3-inch chamber, and the action movement is shorter accordingly. A shorter action with a rotating bolt makes shooting this thing fast easy. You can cycle through that seven-round tubular magazine incredibly quickly. Faster than the SuperNova, which is already a fast-cycling firearm.

Other than that, the two guns perform admirably. Both are very capable shotguns and a credit to pump shotgun design.

Which One?

I can’t pick for you, so you have to pick and choose which features between the two matter most to you. The SuperNova allows you to swap the stock and use 3.5-inch rounds. The Nova 3 offers M-LOK slots, a 922R design, and a very light profile.

I like both, so I own both.

With that in mind, let me know below which one you prefer!

Important Links and Videos

Here are some links to the Benelli website for each model discussed today and the owners manuals.

• Nova 3 Downloads
• SuperNova Manual

Here is a video how to care for you SuperNova or Nova3