870 vs Sevens vs Nova

[Oconeeguy]

I have been touring the pawn shops around Ga as i travel, and have found Benelli Nova black synthetic priced at $250, several nice looking Stevens pumps for $175 each and 870 Wingmasters (wood & restocked in black synth) for around $300. All these guns are 12 gauge.

My questions are,

1 - are these prices reasonable or better yet, are any of these prices GOOD ?

2 - why can't i find more info on Stevens guns? They look and feel kinda like an Ithaca. Feel really nice in hand.

a fairly new turkey hunter

[nyhunter]

Yes that a good price for the Benelli, and Remington. I dont know anything about the Stevens. I have 2 Remington's that shoot very well. So that would be my choice.

[R AJ]

Stevens are the Remington Express version of the 870 and made by Savage Arms. I had one in a 20 ga 3" years ago and if I remember correctly the wood was birch , not walnut , and there was no engraving for starters. Plain barrel,no rib, and may have had a plastic trigger housing but not sure.

I do not see bargain in any of those prices as you can buy a good used Rem express for less than $300 . I would pay $300 for a "real" 870 Wingmaster in good shape before paying $250 for a Nova as far as later value goes.
If you are into deer hunting the Nova is useful as a rattling mechanism for the rut. 

[rempumpman]

Those savage shotguns you mentioned will do as good as any other gun made; made not be up there "with the jones' " but will get the job done; you can buy a good remington express used for less than 225.00 here; if you can get a good rem wingmaster with good wood for 300.00 then that's not a bad deal if it is a 3 in mag with a rib barrel; the nova's? I won't comment on those as I want to stay on the good side of these folks on old gobbler........

Whatever feels good to you and if the guns fits, then buy it; no problems with savage shotguns; you might want to remember the mossberg 500 model as well; good luck.......rem

[allaboutshooting]

I have been touring the pawn shops around Ga as i travel, and have found Benelli Nova black synthetic priced at $250, several nice looking Stevens pumps for $175 each and 870 Wingmasters (wood & restocked in black synth) for around $300. All these guns are 12 gauge.

My questions are,

1 - are these prices reasonable or better yet, are any of these prices GOOD ?

2 - why can't i find more info on Stevens guns? They look and feel kinda like an Ithaca. Feel really nice in hand.

a fairly new turkey hunter

First of all welcome to OG. We look forward to hearing more from you.

It all depends upon the part of the country that you're in it appears. Those would be pretty good prices around here for the Remingtons and the Benelli, especially if there's any bargaining room.

I'm a fan of both the 870 and the Nova because of my experiences with them. They both pattern well and have been very reliable guns. I've used them for many purposes, waterfowl, upland game, turkeys, deer and still target competition.  They've worked well.

We see a lot of the Stevens guns at card shoots here. They are inexpensive but solid guns. They used to be available, used for about $125.00 but are harder to find now, in this part of the world for less than the $175.00 you're seeing them for there. Most are rebarreled and have trigger work done to them for the card shoots.

What's really important is to find something that you like and that fits you.

Best of luck in your search.

Thanks,
Clark

[tyelper]

look at new prices , here in indiana, i havent found a new black nova less than 429.00
 
now i know you said wing master but unless you put an express barrel on it or you like the fixed full choke,,you cant change chokes and a new 870 express here camo is 329,00,,in my opinion if the nova is in good shape with shiny bore its well worth 250 and you know on the remington,,,,,,,but this is my opinion only,,