I am now considering a Benelli Nova pump (3 1/2).
1. How does the Benelli recoil reducer work and how well, has anybody tried it??? Is just the extra weight working or does the mercury reducer really help too??
2. I would change the stock recoil pad to a Kick Eze or Sims Vibration material pad. I know from experience that the Kick Eze works very well.
3. Would a choke that is ported help considerably OR NOT???
I shot my son in law's Remington 870 3 1/2 and it really wasn't bad, however I did have a heavy coat on and was concentrating on a goose.
I Emailed Benelli over a month ago asking some of these questions and NO answer so far. I hope they don't conduct all of their business this slow!! Thanks Ray

Most 3 1/2" 12 ga. guns are a couple pounds lighter than the 10 ga. and seem to kick me more. But I've only shot the Browning and Remington autoloaders in 10 ga. so I can't say that applies to all of them. I accept the 12 ga. recoil as the price to pay for not having to tote the extra weight when turkey or duck hunting, plus you have the versatility of using any 12 ga. load. Mine's an 870. I use 3 1/2' shells for turkey and geese and, occasionally, as the third shell (BBB) when hunting ducks in open fields.

I've shot 3 1/2" turkey loads in a Nova alongside a Mossberg 835 and the Remington and couldn't tell a lot of difference in felt recoil. Where they belt me is different: Mossbergs hit me in the nose, the Nova and Remington hit me in the cheekbone and, if I don't pay attention to my grip, make me hit myself in the nose with my right thumb. I've got long arms and apparently a pencil neck and creep the stock on everything I shoot. Adding a slip-on pad (the regular old Pachmayer rubber one) gets the length of pull about right for me and reduces felt recoil; adding a sorbothane cheek pad takes the bite out of the comb. I may try one of the LimbSaver slip-ons this year. Pretty? Nope, but functional, which is what a turkey and duck gun's supposed to be.

I never notice the recoil shooting waterfowl unless I don't keep my head down, in which case I miss and the "Ouch!" lets me know why. I do occasionally feel the recoil shooting at a turkey, probably because you often have to shoot from a less than ideal position. -WSJ

My questions here took on a serious new meaning as I purchased a Nova today, a 2003 model, also bought the recoil reducer. I also plan to install a better recoil pad, Cabelas lists one for "benelli" but don't know if it will fit the Nova, the Super Black Eagle may be different, but the catalog just says "Benelli". The stock pad just snaps off, does not screw on at all. Anyone know if the SVL pad will work on my Nova???? Any other pad that will work????
People keep telling me how light the Nova is. It weighs 8 lbs with the 28 in barrel which I have, that is 1/2 lb heavier than the Super Black Eagle and the Remington 870 pump. This is by respective catalogs.
So I still have Q's and they are now much more pressing!!
1. Will the SVL pad work on my Nova?
2. Will any other pad work?
3. Anyone had experience with a slotted/ported choke as to recoil reduction??
4. Any experiences with the Benelli recoil reducer??
Thanks Ray

For recoil reduction (no matter what shotgun it is) try having your barrel ported, unless this is already done. I have shoot 10ga magnums with them being ported and a good recoil pad the shoot like a 16ga. When it comes to 12ga 3" mags it will shoot like a 20ga.

My 2 cents worth.

Ray

Thanks for info. Your info was very helpful. Does anyone have any info on the Gobblin Thunder choke? Is the recoil reduction from it significant?? I did buy the benelli recoil reducer. It is a 14 oz tube filled with mercury that required a bracket to go in the stock. The guy at the store claimed a 30% recoil reduction, but it would have to have a minimum 12.8% reduction (1 lb weight, 8/1 = 12.8%). I wanted the gun for waterfowl as well as turkey, prob two chokes required.
Thanks ray

Newtoot: I see in Midway that SVL has a pre-fit LimbSaver pad listed for the Benelli Super Black Eagle. You might check with the shop where you bought your Nova and see if the factory pad from a Black Eagle fits the Nova and if so, have them order the pre-fit pad.

Or order the grind-to-fit pad and just have them do it so it's right. Won't cost that much more, you'll be supporting your local 'smith, and you'll probably be more satisfied. -WSJ

Benelli has a new model ( auto)which has a gel filled recoil pad and other things to reduce recoil.

LOTS of new things according to the lastest issue of American Rifleman, including a wholly redesigned stock with recoil dampening thingies and cheekpiece. But probably not adaptable to a Nova.

This whole recoil pad thing can be complicated. There are no screws with the stock pad and no where for screws to fit in the stock. The pad is "snap in". SVL stated in a return Email (might mention they gave me two fast return Emails -- less than a day) that they have a slip on pad, 10547 Medium, that will fit the Nova and it has been tested by them to show as good a recoil reduction as a fitted pad.
Unless I come across something better, I'll prob go this route. As I stated before, I did buy the Benelli recoil reducer and bracket and now have it installed. Kick EEZ, finally got the spelling right, says they currently do NOT have a pad to fit the Nova but do have a design project going on the Nova pad but won't even venture to guess when it will be available. Still haven't heard much on experiences with the Benelli recoil reducer, any comments, PLEASE!! Thanks Ray