Having owned a 870 Express Super Magnum before in a 12 gauge I'd get the Benelli hands down.

So from the info im getting here...its about 50-50. Come on guys, that aint no help[8D]

I have two Novas, they shoot great, a little noisy and clunky but bulletproof. The 870 of today is a far cry from the 870 of years ago. Todays model features the cheesiest stocks and poor fit that one could only dread. I've had both and if we are talking brand new, the Nova no doubt.

So maybe if I could find an older Remington?

Ive heard a lot better things about their older makes.

I have owned a BPS, Nova, Model 12, Ithaca, and Wingmaster. Of these I personally liked the the Model 12 best. Between the Wingmaster and Nova, I like the Wingmaser better - but only slightly. The reasoning is simple ... it fit "me" better. The Nova is set up as my turkey gun because it handles 3 1/2 inch shells. It is a slick action.

Knowing what I know now about the 870's if I was to get one it would more than likely be a Wingmaster. However, that being said I would still get the Nova over any of them. The only advantage I see to the 870 Wingmaster is I like the looks.

With the express it jammed a lot, needed work right of the box as it needed the chamber polished. This is a very common problem with expresses. Never heard of it with a wingmaster. It still jammed randomly way too often for me. It also had a pretty crappy finish on the stock and I don't think the finish on the barrel was all that great either. There have been reports of rust but I never experienced that.

That basically sums up why I didn't like the 870 I had and why I'd go with the Nova out of those two. The Browning BPS is another shotgun I'd consider if I wanted a pump. Heck more than likely I'd prick a Mossberg over the 870 although it wouldn't be anywhere near the top of my choices either.

Stay with your remington 870. I own one in 20 gauge and it is my only shotgun. That being because I can use it for everything. It also is not very expensive and easy to keep clean. I also dont feel as bad if I get it scratched out in the field as I would with a much more expensive gun.

Sorry, but I'm going to add to the 50-50 problem. I have both. I first bought the Nova combo with rifled cantilever deer barrel and bird barrel with 3 chokes. Got it for $400 BNIB, a real steal. It's almost impossible to find just the cantilever deer barrel for that price. My ONLY complaint about the Nova is the weight. The 3 1/2 magnum chamber makes it just a bit heavy. But I have no qualms about taking it out in the nastiest of weather. I'm typically also not a fan of the 'one-piece plastics' as someone else said, but I really like the feel and fit of the Nova stock. The weight might not be as much as an issue with the 20ga, but I only have the 12.

I subsequently got a used 870 with a cantilever rifled barrel and outfitted it with a Boyd's Thumbhole Stock and it is now my absolute go-to deer gun. I picked up a used bird barrel for the 870 at a great price, but have not tried it with the thumbhole stock. I'm just not sure how the thumbhole will work with wingshooting.
My son has the same thing in 20ga, and it too is a great setup.

They are both great guns, I'd personally go with what fits and feels best. That is ultimately what matters most, IMHO.