Benelli Nova

     Notes: Though conventional in design, the Nova, when it was introduced, made marks for its light weight and ergonomic design.  Though most have a black finish to their metalwork and have stocks and pump slides of black synthetic material, other finishes are available, including Mossy Oak Bottomland and Realtree Max-7.  Designed primarily for hunting and sport shooting, Novas have nonetheless found their way into some law enforcement inventories and military stocks.  Furniture is of synthetic polymer, with Barrels range from 14 inches to 28 inches, and may be rifled or smoothbore.

     Other than its ergonomic design, the Nova has several interesting features.  The stock is steel-reinforced; in addition, the light alloy frame is over a steel skeleton, and the stock and receiver are joined together into a single unit, increasing the Nova’s structural strength.  The chamber can be emptied without emptying the magazine, using a button on the underside of the receiver.

     The standard Nova is, as stated above, a shotgun of conventional design and ergonomic construction.  Barrels range from 24 to 28 inches, with interchangeable chokes of Improved Cylinder and Modified and a bore choke of Full.  An optional choke set expands this to include Cylindrical, Improved Modified, and Extra Full. Versions with 26 or 28-inch barrels can use ammunition of 2.75, 3, or 3.5 inches, except for 20-gauge.  Stocks are of standard configuration with a pistol grip wrist, with the pump slide and grip being grooved to improve grip. The barrel has a ventilated sighting rib above it, with the end of the rib having a fiberoptic front sight.  Most models of the standard version are finished in black with black furniture, but Mossy Oak Bottomland and Realtree Max-7 is also available.

     The Nova Tactical is designed for law-enforcement and home defense use, and differs primarily in having a shorter 18.5-inch barrel and rifle-type sights or ghost-ring sights instead of a front bead and sighting rib.  The Tactical also comes only in black. A variant, the H2O, has an electroless nickel finish and is meant for use by boaters for self defense. The barrels come only in a fixed Cylinder choke. Some military concerns and police departments use an extended tubular magazine, but this is not normally sold to civilians and is not found on Benelli’s web site for sale.

     The SuperNova differs from the standard Nova primarily in employing the ComforTech recoil reduction system, which uses a gel recoil pad and comb pad to take up some of the Nova’s high recoil.  (The light weight of a standard Nova has its advantages, but a standard Nova does have a lot of kick.)  The SuperNova’s stock drop and cast is user-adjustable with a set of shims.  The Another improvement is a larger trigger guard, for use with gloves that are overstuffed.  The native choke is full, but interchangeable choke tubes of Improved Cylinder and Modified are included; optionally, the shooter may buy an expanded set of choke tubes, with Cylinder, Improved Modified, and Extra Full chokes.  Another option is a set of shims to increase length of pull, and a pair of raised comb pads.

     The SuperNova Tactical is similar in concept to the Nova Tactical, but with the improvements of the SuperNova above.  The barrel is a little shorter than that of the Nova Tactical at 18 inches even. Models with Ghost Ring sights have the option of tritium inserts for their front and rear sights. The receivers are drilled and tapped for scopes or other optics. An option is a stock with a pistol grip instead of the pistol grip wrist; this model does not have the ComforTech butt, and has a Ghost Ring rear sight instead of the rifle sight of the standard SuperNova Tactical.  Versions with extended magazines exist, used by several police and military forces.  A notable variant is the Royal Thai Police version; this has a chopped 14-inch barrel, an adjustable-length stock, and a foregrip on the pump slide for faster racking and control when firing.

     While many shotgun enthusiasts agree that the Nova is not a good-looking gun, they also agree that the Nova is tough and reliable.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

Nova (26” Barrel)

12 Gauge 2.75”, 3”, 3.5”

3.58 kg

4 Tubular

$1033

Nova (28” Barrel)

12 Gauge 2.75”, 3”, 3.5”

3.63 kg

4 Tubular

$1043

Nova (24” Barrel)

20 Gauge 2.75” and 3”

2.9 kg

4 Tubular

$683

Nova (26” Barrel)

20 Gauge 2.75” and 3”

2.95 kg

4 Tubular

$693

Nova Tactical

12 Gauge 2.75”, 3”, 3.5”

3.27 kg

4 Tubular

$995

Nova Tactical (Extended Magazine)

12 Gauge 2.75”, 3”, 3.5”

3.3 kg

6 Tubular

$997

SuperNova (24” Barrel)

12 Gauge 2.75”, 3”, 3.5”

3.54 kg

4 Tubular

$1099

SuperNova (26” Barrel)

12 Gauge 2.75”, 3”, 3.5”

3.58 kg

4 Tubular

$1109

SuperNova (28” Barrel)

12 Gauge 2.75”, 3”, 3.5”

3.63 kg

4 Tubular

$1119

SuperNova Tactical

12 Gauge 2.75”, 3”, 3.5”

3.45 kg

4 Tubular

$1068

SuperNova Tactical (Pistol Grip Stock)

12 Gauge 2.75”, 3”, 3.5”

3.45 kg

4 Tubular

$993

SuperNova Tactical (Extended Magazine)

12 Gauge 2.75”, 3”, 3.5”

3.48 kg

7 Tubular

$1071

SuperNova Tactical (Royal Thai Police)

12 Gauge 2.75”, 3”, 3.5”

3.34 kg

4 Tubular

$1142

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

Nova (26”, 12 Gauge, 2.75”)

PA

5/1d6x32 or 2d6x8

2-3-Nil/Nil or Nil

7

5

Nil

57

Nova (26”, 12 Gauge, 3”)

PA

5/1d6x32 or 2d6x8

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

7

5

Nil

65

Nova (26”, 12 Gauge, 3.5”)

PA

5/1d6x36 or 2d6x8

2-4-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

7

6

Nil

71

Nova (28”, 12 Gauge, 2.75”)

PA

5/1d6x32 or 2d6x8

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

8

5

Nil

62

Nova (28”, 12 Gauge, 3”)

PA

5/1d6x32 or 2d6x8

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

8

6

Nil

70

Nova (28”, 12 Gauge, 3.5”)

PA

5/1d6x36 or 2d6x8

2-4-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

8

6

Nil

77

Nova (24”, 20 Gauge, 2.75”)

PA

4/1d6x20 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

7

5

Nil

44

Nova (24”, 20 Gauge, 3”)

PA

4/1d6x24 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

7

5

Nil

50

Nova (26”, 20 Gauge, 2.75”)

PA

4/1d6x20 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

7

5

Nil

48

Nova (26”, 20 Gauge, 3”)

PA

4/1d6x24 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

7

5

Nil

55

Nova Tactical (2.75”)

PA

4/1d6x24 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

6

5

Nil

39

Nova Tactical (3”)

PA

4/1d6x28 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or Nil

6

5

Nil

45

Nova Tactical (3.5”)

PA

4/1d6x28 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or Nil

6

5

Nil

49

SuperNova (24”, 12 Gauge, 2.75”)

PA

4/1d6x28 or 2d6x8

2-3-Nil/Nil or Nil

7

4

Nil

53

SuperNova (24”, 12 Gauge, 3”)

PA

5/1d6x32 or 2d6x8

2-3-Nil/Nil or Nil

7

4

Nil

60

SuperNova (24”, 12 Gauge, 3.5”)

PA

5/1d6x32 or 2d6x8

2-4-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

7

5

Nil

66

SuperNova (26”, 12 Gauge, 2.75”)

PA

5/1d6x32 or 2d6x8

2-3-Nil/Nil or Nil

8

4

Nil

57

SuperNova (26”, 12 Gauge, 3”)

PA

5/1d6x32 or 2d6x8

2-4-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

8

4

Nil

65

SuperNova (26”, 12 Gauge, 3.5”)

PA

5/1d6x36 or 2d6x8

2-4-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

8

5

Nil

72

SuperNova (28”, 12 Gauge, 2.75”)

PA

5/1d6x32 or 2d6x8

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

8

4

Nil

62

SuperNova (28”, 12 Gauge, 3”)

PA

5/1d6x32 or 2d6x8

2-4-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

8

5

Nil

71

SuperNova (28”, 12 Gauge, 3.5”)

PA

5/1d6x36 or 2d6x8

2-4-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

8

5

Nil

77

SuperNova Tactical (2.75”)

PA

4/1d6x24 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

6

4

Nil

39

SuperNova Tactical (3”)

PA

4/1d6x24 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

6

4

Nil

44

SuperNova Tactical (3.5”)

PA

4/1d6x28 or 2d6x8

2-3-Nil/Nil or Nil

6

4

Nil

48

SuperNova Tactical (2.75”, Pistol Grip Stock)

PA

4/1d6x24 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

6

5

Nil

39

SuperNova Tactical (3”, Pistol Grip Stock)

PA

4/1d6x28 or 2d6x8

2-3-Nil/Nil or Nil

6

5

Nil

44

SuperNova Tactical (3.5”, Pistol Grip Stock)

PA

4/1d6x28 or 2d6x8

2-3-Nil/Nil or Nil

6

5

Nil

48

SuperNova Tactical (2.75”, Royal Thai Police)

PA

4/1d6x20 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

4/5

4

Nil

27

SuperNova Tactical (3”, Royal Thai Police)

PA

4/1d6x24 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

4/5

4

Nil

30

SuperNova Tactical (3.5”, Royal Thai Police)

PA

4/1d6x24 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

4/5

4

Nil

33

 

Benelli Super Black Eagle

     Notes: This is a hunting shotgun designed to throw the most powerful loads available, big 3 1/2-inch magnum shells. It is especially meant for hunting, with a strengthened barrel for slugs and a scope mount. The stock has a thick recoil pad. The finish is normally camouflage, but is also often black.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon is not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

Super Black Eagle

12 Gauge 3 1/2-inch

3.31 kg

4 Tubular

$1097

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

Super Black Eagle

PA

6/1d6x32 or 2d6x8

2-4-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

7

5

Nil

45

 

Bernardelli B-4 And B-4/B

     Notes: This is an Italian-made shotgun that found some acceptance in civilian, police, and military markets worldwide. The weapon, except for the barrel, is made from high-grade aluminum (the barrel is made from steel). It is magazine fed. Some of the users include the US military (in very small numbers), various police departments in the world, and the Italian military. The B-4 may be fired in both pump-action and semiautomatic modes; the B-4/B may be fired in pump action mode only. The folding stock is a thick strut-type with a buttplate. The rear sight is contained in a carrying handle which can also accept AR-15/M-16-type optics and night-vision devices; the front sight is a protected post.

     The B-4 and B-4/B are marketed by Springfield in the US and North America, but not built there.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: In at least one engagement between US and Italian forces, these shotguns were used by both sides.

     Merc 2000 Notes: This promising weapon fell victim to budget cuts in the late 1990s and those that had been produced up to that point were all that were ever made.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

B-4

12 Gauge 2.75"

3.45 kg

3, 5, 8

$556

B-4/B

12 Gauge 2.75"

3 kg

3, 5, 8

$762

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

B-4

PA/SA

4/1d6x24 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

5/6

4

Nil

41

B-4/B

PA

4/1d6x24 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

5/6

4

Nil

41

 

Valtro PM-5

     Notes: Designed in the late 1980s, the PM-5 stopped production for a short period in the 1990s when Valtro went out of business.  The design rights were then bought by Brixia, who sold the PM-5 in an identical form (their PM-5s were literally built on the same production line, as the production line and tooling as well as the design were bought from Valtro). The PM-5 is used by the French Navy and by the Kaibiles special operation force of the Guatemalan Army. The PM-5 saw action being used by unnamed elements in Afghanistan, and some special operations forces of various militaries have the PM-5 in their armories. Some law enforcement use worldwide is also noted. The PM-5 is fed by removable box magazines, with the magazine greatly contributing to the balance of the weapon, being at the center of gravity of the PM-5. The tube under the barrel does not hold ammunition, but is instead a guide rod for actuating the action.  The PM-5 did not sell well amongst civilians due to its high RL price. The PM-5 is available with a fixed stock or a folding stock; the folding stock is particularly common on the PM-5-350. Folding stocks, unusually fold over the top on the PM-5, to the left of the sight line. The fixed stock may be standard type or have a pistol grip, but both are of synthetic material.  The standard PM-5 has a 20-inch barrel, but the PM-5-350 uses a shorter 14-inch barrel (the 350 in the designation refers to the 355-millimeter barrel length, sort of). Rifle-type sights are found on most PM-5s, though a sighting rib and bead front sight can be found on some PM-5s, and some use a fiberoptic front sight with a ghost ring rear sight. Some have ported barrels; all have the ability to take screw-in choke tubes; the base choke is Improved Cylinder, and a PM-5 usually comes with choke tubes for Cylinder, Modified, Full, and Rifled. (The Rifled choke tube that comes with the PM-5 is regarded as worthless or less than worthless by most reviewing shooters.) The PM-5 is equipped with a crossbolt manual safety and a passive magazine safety. One rocks the magazine into position then locks it, like a Kalashnikov-type weapon. Seven-round magazines are most common, with 10-round magazines being relatively rare.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

PM-5 (Fixed Stock)

12 Gauge 3"

3.27 kg

7, 10

$879

PM-5 (Folding Stock)

12 Gauge 3"

3.27 kg

7, 10

$899

PM-5 (Fixed Stock, Ported Barrel)

12 Gauge 3"

3.27 kg

7, 10

$929

PM-5 (Folding Stock, Ported Barrel)

12 Gauge 3"

3.27 kg

7, 10

$949

PM-5-350 (Fixed Stock)

12 Gauge 3"

3 kg

7, 10

$844

PM-5-350 (Folding Stock)

12 Gauge 3"

3 kg

7, 10

$864

PM-5-350 (Fixed Stock, Ported Barrel)

12 Gauge 3"

3 kg

7, 10

$894

PM-5-350 (Folding Stock, Ported Barrel)

12 Gauge 3"

3 kg

7, 10

$914

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

PM-5 (Fixed Stock)

PA

4/1d6x28 or 2d6x8

2-3-Nil/Nil or Nil

6

4

Nil

49

PM-5 (Folding Stock)

PA

4/1d6x28 or 2d6x8

2-3-Nil/Nil or Nil

5/6

4

Nil

49

PM-5 (Fixed Stock, Ported Barrel)

PA

4/1d6x28 or 2d6x8

2-3-Nil/Nil or Nil

6

3

Nil

49

PM-5 (Folding Stock, Ported Barrel)

PA

4/1d6x28 or 2d6x8

2-3-Nil/Nil or Nil

5/6

3

Nil

49

PM-5-350 (Fixed Stock)

PA

4/1d6x24 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

5

4

Nil

30

PM-5-350 (Folding Stock)

PA

4/1d6x24 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

4/5

4

Nil

30

PM-5-350 (Fixed Stock, Ported Barrel)

PA

4/1d6x24 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

5

3

Nil

30

PM-5-350 (Folding Stock, Ported Barrel)

PA

4/1d6x24 or 2d6x4

2-3-Nil/Nil or 1-Nil

4/5

3

Nil

30