Can be. I shot a pump for years and never had any problems other than accuracy issues (in fact, I seem to still have relapses of those problems, espeically on floating singles when everyone is watching me whiff three times).

Costs a little less, and the Nova is very easy to break down and clean. Just make sure you don't let the inside metal rust... salt water can be a real killer on them very fast.

There again, swing'em for yourself. You'll know the right one when you find it!