Benelli Nova 20 gauge rifled barrel?

tykempster · 10-14-2005, 07:03 PM

The dealer I got my Nova from said he can special order a 20 gauge rifled barrel for me but for a lot of money. Around $250. I can't find them anywhere online, does anyone know where I can get one cheaper? I was planning on taking my 20 gauge hunting for deer until I get a rifle but smoothbores aren't that great. Neither is spending $250 for a barrel.

longrifle1000 · 10-14-2005, 08:38 PM

I highly doubt you will find one cheaper. You can watch gunsamerica.com and gunbroker.com, but this close to season it might be tough. Good luck.

Paul L Mohr · 10-15-2005, 10:18 AM

From what I have seen that is a pretty good deal. I thought they were closer to 300-350. I have never priced one though, just heard others talking about it.

You can easlily pay 250 for a 870 barrel as well, so I don't think that is a bad price.

For that kind of money you can get a H&R Ultra Slug gun though.

Paul

tykempster · 10-15-2005, 12:15 PM

870 Slug barrels go down below $150 in Cabelas. They have the 12 gauge barrels for $144 so why not the 20 gauge?I likeH&R's but single-shot isn't what I would want to deer hunt with.

jcchartboy · 10-15-2005, 12:23 PM

I would never waste 250$ on that barrel. For that money you could get a dedicated slug gun. Heck if you save up another 100 bucks you can even get a Savage 210 bolt action 12ga!

tykempster · 10-15-2005, 12:39 PM

The more I look at the H&R the more I like it. And it's less than a barrel for the Nova...if I got it it would probably be in 12 gauge,. much more powerful than 20 gauge. Do they make 12 gauge smoothbore barrels for it? Then I could hunt all kinds of stuff with it.

tykempster · 10-15-2005, 01:12 PM

WOW! I just looked at the price of new barrels for the H&R and prices are amazing, like $30. It wasn't fully clear though, could I mount a barrel on the slug gun or not? I cant get a 20 gauge rifled barrel but will smoothbores work?

Paul L Mohr · 10-15-2005, 03:09 PM

Actually when you compare them there is not a huge difference between the 12 and 20 guage in slug performance. I mean there is, but it's not huge. And from what I have seen and heard the 20's tend to be a bit more accurate. They have a faster twist in the H&R's which might help with the faster bullets.

And if you get one of the Ultra's in 12 gauge you cannot swap out barrels. They take a 10 gauge barrel bored to 12 guage, that is how they get the heavy barrel. You can swap barrels, but only with a 10 gauge smooth bore barrel becuase they use the SB2 frame. And they are Heavy!

If you get the Ultra in a 20 gauge you can swap any smooth bore barrel in 12 or 20 gauge onto it. You would need a different fore grip as well. Or you could get a standard H&R shotgun or centerfire and swap a 20 gauge heavy barrel onto it. When you order the heavy barrels they come with the fore grip. keep in mind the standard shotgun will be lighter and kick a bit harder. However you can add the weight to the stock. All they use is a steel bar.

If I had it to do over again I would have gotten the 20 guage Ultra Deluxe instead. Then I could have gotten a turkey barrel for it as well.

And yes you can get a rifled barrel that cheap for an 870, but you can spend 200 and up on them as well depending on where you get them from or what they are. Are they worth the extra money? Probably not, some of the better hastings might be, but I've never shot one. I have a buddy that just got a rifled cantilever barrel from remington for his 870 and it was more than 200 I think. And I was not overly impressed with the quality or anything. It shoots good though, and is very light. And if you wanted a camo one it would be even more I think.

Also something to keep in mind if you get a dedicated slug gun like a H&R or Savage is the trigger will be better than a standard shotgun. Shotguns are not made to be triggered the same way a rifle is, so the triggers have a different pull to them. At least the ones I have shot anyway.

Paul

jcchartboy · 10-15-2005, 04:33 PM

Just wanted to thank Paul for his input...

Paul you have become a real asset to this board when it comes to the Ultras. It would take any individual alot of hard work to complile the information you just presented in a single paragraph.

TYK,

You really can't go wrong with the Ultra if you can handle the extra weight....

Paul L Mohr · 10-15-2005, 05:13 PM

The Graybeard forums have a TON of info on anything H&R related. Most of my info comes from there. I've also called H&R a few times to ask questions.

But thanks for the compliment.

Paul