Nova slug gun

[iwbwemf]

I want to deer hunt with my Benelli Nova this year and was wondering about the type of over under scope setup I should get, the power of the scope, and the type of ammo I should use. I have a smooth barrel and was figuring on using Remington rifled slugs called Sluggers. Any help with getting me setup would be appreciated.

[swamp]

I want to deer hunt with my Benelli Nova this year and was wondering about the type of over under scope setup I should get, the power of the scope, and the type of ammo I should use. I have a smooth barrel and was figuring on using Remington rifled slugs called Sluggers. Any help with getting me setup would be appreciated.

What is an over under scope setup?

[swamp]

they are referred to as "see through" scope mounts... they place the scope way UP there... so high that you can't get a solid cheek weld with the stock... in my opinion they are a bad concept... I'd say either use a scope on don't use a scope..

B Square makes see through mounts... I think...

[iwbwemf]

Yeah, that's what I meant. Not a good idea? They are that high? I figured it would be good if I needed to shoot close.

[Bayrat]

Ditto what Swamp said.

And, with the scope high enough to see under it, when you raise your head up to look through the scope, it's a good way to get a sore cheek with the heavy recoil of a slug gun !!!! Cheek weld, or cheek swelling with those mounts.

If you don't want open sights there are plenty of wide angle, low variable power scopes that work very well for slug guns in the thick stuff, yet have enough high power to take deer out beyond 100 yards.

Whatever sights you go with, it's a good idea to always set the gun up so that you have a proper cheek weld. Not only will it help with repeatable accuracy, a proper cheek weld can affect how you precive recoil.

Everybody's face shape is differant enough that cheek weld/sight alingnment should be checked. When the gun goes up to your shoulder, head on the stock, your eye should be right in line with the scope/sights every time without having to also use "head squirm" to get lined up.

Try mounting the gun with your eyes closed, then open your sighting eye and see where it is in relation to the sights/scope. Change either the scope position, and or, use a cheek pad to get good, repeatable alignment.

I prefer the lowest scope mounts that will fit, and I use cheek pads that the thickness of is adjusted to fit each gun so that my sighting eye is right in line with the scope center each time the gun is brought up.

Bayrat

[stinky]

How far are you going to shoot? My Nova will put make a clover leaf w/3 shots at 50 yards and the other 2 are about 2" out from them. I can't figure out why it won't hold em all in there as I know that it is not me.

It likes slugs at 1,500 fps and reduced recoil stuff only shoots to about the size of a volleyball. AND, make sure that your bore is clean.

I have no idea of how you'd put a scope on it as I can't use one on mine. But, I really like dot scopes.

[iwbwemf]

Thanks for all the info and recommendations guys. I'll stick with the recommendation of keeping the scope low.

I'm not sure how far I am gonna shoot, but I would hate to get out into the woods and not get the full distance that I can from the gun.

What do you guys think of this setup?
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0006213711770a&navCount=2&podId=0006213&parentId=cat601620&masterpathid=&navAction=push&cmCat=MainCatcat602006-cat601619-cat601620_TGP&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601620&hasJS=true

[iwbwemf]

Sorry, only for the Remington. Scratch that

[iwbwemf]

But here is a mount

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0006213710172a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=benelli+nova&Ntk=Product_liberal&sort=all&Go.y=0&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&Go.x=0&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

Just gotta find a good scope

[iwbwemf]

This seems like it would be good
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0044767712738a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=shotgun+scope&Ntk=Products&sort=all&Go.y=0&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&Go.x=0&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

[Bayrat]

Looks like your second mount is also for a Remington.

May be tough to find a Nova mount in Cabels. Have you tried Brownels ?

Former hunting buddy tried those reciever pin mounts for his Reminton 870 Sportsman. Found they loosened up and moved some while still sighting in the gun. He took it off because he didn't trust it. Got some type of side mount plate and drilled/tapped the left side of the reciever, then Locktite'd the screws in.

A variable scope in the 1.5 to 4, or 6 power will give a wider field of view at low power then most fixed 4X scopes. And some also give better visability in thick, dark brush, yet still plenty of high power for deer if you walk the edge of fields.

My 1.5-4.5X Tasco Bantum was not expensive. It has a very wide field of view at 1.5 and does a good job of light gathering in thick cover.

There are many other good deer gun scopes in that range of magnification.

Bayrat

[iwbwemf]

Bayrat, if you scroll down more on that scope mount, there are a bunch of guns that if fits including the Benelli nova. I think I'd like to try the pin type mount first, since it's pretty cheap and I don't need to put holes in my gun incase I change my mind about the slug gun.

Thank you for the scope recommendation. Looks like a good scope. I'll have to check it out when I get out to cabellas or dicks. What about the red dot scopes like Stinky talked about? I saw a couple of 1x30 red dots that might work.

[iwbwemf]

This one looks close to the bantum at 1.5-4.5X32
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0018873711683a&type=product&cmCat=cchart_riflescopes

[Bayrat]

Ok, I didn't scroll down far enough.

All my slug barrels are rifled and either canterlevered or iron sites. I can't say how well the B-Square mount will hold up other than my friend didn't like that it wouldn't hold point of aim after a few 12 ga slugs popped off. Said the screws were not snug enough fit in the pin holes that he could trust it for longer shots.

His deer stand was in a tree at the edge of woods at a corner of a large hay field the deer criss-crossed alot. He wanted to know he could hit a deer where it counted, out close to 100 yards if he had to. Back then, his Remington Sportsman with the early Active slugs was the most acurate smooth bore slug gun/ammo combo I've ever seen, and he wanted a scope and mount to make the most of it.



This one looks close to the bantum at 1.5-4.5X32
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0018873711683a&type=product&cmCat=cchart_riflescopes

The Cableas Tasco you linked to has the same specs as my Bantum. 1.5 -4.5 X 32 and the Pro-shot retical. Probably just the newer version of mine. I've used it on my 12 and 20 gauge slug guns with alot of off-season practice shooting. Hunting in rain and snow I've had no issues with it. Nice clear, wide field of view without spending alot of money.

I have a Tasco World Class 2-7 X 32 that is also very good for the money. And it's also got nice, clear, wide angle view that I use for woods small game hunting.

However, both are over ten years old. Back then, Tasco made some very nice scopes for the money and some not so nice in their cheapest line. I have no idea what Tasco's quality is these days. Maybe someone with more up to date experiance can chime in.

The good news is there are alot of low variable power, wide angle scope choices that should hold up to slug gun recoil without being expensive.

Hopefully other will list some.

Red Dot scopes are good, especially in low light. Plus, some have a nice wide view. However I don't do well with them. I find the dot distracting and I don't look past it at the target as quickly as I should to track a moving target.

Guess I'm too easily dazzeled by pretty lights ! :D

Bayrat

[iwbwemf]

I'm gonna stop by Cabelas this week and probably pick up the B-Square mount to try it out since it is pretty inexpensive. Looks like it uses the existing pins in the side of my Nova so I can't see it moving at all, but we'll see. I may also pick up that Tasco scope. All the others are out of my price range right now and the Tasco seems like a good scope. I will check it out more while I am there. It has a 4" eye relief so I shouldn't end up with a black eye with that one. Thanks for all the help everyone.

[Sabre]

I've seen quite a few Tasco scopes ruined with fewer than 50 shots on 12 gauge slug guns. Mounted two of those Bantams on my Mossberg 500 one year {the first one crapped out after 10 shots and was replaced by the dealer}and neither made it through sight in before the crosshairs came loose from the erector tube. Tasco's are cheap for a reason. They may work fine for years on a light recoiling gun but I wouldn't put one on any slug gun of mine if it were given to me.

[swamp]

I'm gonna stop by Cabelas this week and probably pick up the B-Square mount to try it out since it is pretty inexpensive. Looks like it uses the existing pins in the side of my Nova so I can't see it moving at all, but we'll see. I may also pick up that Tasco scope. All the others are out of my price range right now and the Tasco seems like a good scope. I will check it out more while I am there. It has a 4" eye relief so I shouldn't end up with a black eye with that one. Thanks for all the help everyone.

As far as an economical scope the weaver might be a better choice... the cabelas website has customer product reviews worth reading