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 Novas 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 Benellis 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 Novas high recoil. (The light
weight of a standard Nova has its advantages, but a standard Nova does have a
lot of kick.) The SuperNovas 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 |