Benelli Nova
- Category
- Shotgun
- Barrel
- 711 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.40 kg
- Introduced
- 1999
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Benelli Nova is an innovatively designed pump-action shotgun featuring a one-piece receiver and buttstock molded from fiberglass-reinforced polymer over a steel skeleton, creating an exceptionally strong and lightweight platform. The 12-gauge model handles loads from light target to 3.5-inch magnum, while the 20-gauge shoots shells up to 3-inch magnum.
The Nova's revolutionary monolithic receiver/stock construction made it nearly indestructible, earning it a reputation as the toughest pump shotgun on the market.
MSRP: $449. One of the most affordable Benelli shotguns. Available in field and tactical configurations.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Benelli Armi SpA
- Category
- Shotgun
- Country
- Italy
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1999
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 711 mm
- Overall length
- 1257 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.40 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Pump action
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 4
- Magazine
- Tubular
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Polymer steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Matte black
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Effective range
- 50 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
No load solved for this record yetThe flight path is computed from a cartridge and a bullet. This record has no ammunition filed against its chambering, so there is nothing to solve.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Monolithic receiver stock- Steel skeleton polymer shell
3 5 inch chamber
Rotary bolt
Crio barrel
Shell stop
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 622 12 Gauge shotguns | 3.40 kg | 3.29 kg | Heavier than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 570 12 Gauge shotguns | 1257 mm | 1150 mm | Longer than about 90% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 650 12 Gauge shotguns | 711 mm | 711 mm | Longer than about 60% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 647 12 Gauge shotguns | 4 | 3 | Holds more rounds than about 60% |
Answers
Questions about the Benelli Nova
How much does the Benelli Nova weigh?
The Benelli Nova weighs 3.40 kg (7.50 lb) empty.
What caliber is the Benelli Nova?
The Benelli Nova is chambered in 12 Gauge and 20 Gauge.
How many rounds does the Benelli Nova hold?
The Benelli Nova holds 4 rounds, fed from a tubular magazine.
How long is the Benelli Nova?
The Benelli Nova is 1257 mm (49.5 in) long overall, with a 711 mm (28.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the Benelli Nova?
The Benelli Nova is made by Benelli Armi SpA (Italy).
When was the Benelli Nova introduced?
The Benelli Nova was introduced in 1999.
How does the Benelli Nova operate?
The Benelli Nova uses a pump action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
Provenance
Confidence in this record
80%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/benelli-nova' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "benelli-nova", "name": "Benelli Nova", "manufacturer": { "id": "benelli", "name": "Benelli Armi SpA", "countryCode": "IT", "foundedYear": 1967, "website": "https://www.benelliusa.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:43:40", "version": "5f08a63ece0051736f8d9999540da44cdb8fd0ff8028739abfd0a34bd79f0fdc" }, "category": { "id": "shotgun", "name": "Shotgun", "description": "Smoothbore firearms designed to fire shot or slugs" }, "country_of_origin": "IT", "year_introduced": 1999, "barrel_length_mm": 711, "weight_empty_g": 3402, "action_type": "pump_action"}