It has been a crazy week for someone you hopefully think of as at least a marginally talented guns and outdoors writer (me).
As I have told you before, I am sometimes torn as to the flavor of the writing that I bring to you in “Guns and Cornbread” each week. I hope you dear readers know that I appreciate all of you, and there is certainly a wide variety in the type of material that some of you seem to want.
Some seem to want the story-type columns with a bit of nostalgia on hunting and the outdoors, and others want the hardcore gun-related columns (and the more technical stuff, the better). Still others say they want to learn more about what is out there in the way of new firearms and other gear for you sportsmen (that means ladies, too).
Well, remembering what Abe Lincoln said about pleasing people, it was brought to my attention (rather bluntly) that a couple weeks ago I mentioned we would revisit some of the guns and gear I saw at the SHOT Show in the tourism mecca of Las Vegas. So here goes.
Benelli announces the Nova 3 hunting shotgun: Like many (ahem) older shooters and hunters, I usually don’t like change. No, make that almost never. If something is good to begin with and has stood the test of time, I say leave it alone. This goes for boots, truck, hunting vests and shotguns.
Especially shotguns.
Benelli has been making the Nova pump-action shotgun for a long time. The Nova was brought out in the 1990s and soon gained a loyal following. I happen to have a friend in our 49th state who travels all over its vast wilderness for the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. He goes to some pretty remote places and can sometimes be exposed to some bears, both the big brown ones (grizzlies) and the smaller black bears. Any of these bears may or may not decide to chew on you on any given day.
(READ MORE: What’s brewing with the good news, bad news on bears?)
My friend Sam has served in the U.S. Marine Corps (I never know whether to say ex-Marine or not), is a very avid shooter and is very well trained, including from multiple trips to Gunsite Academy in Arizona. He has a lot of shotguns — a lot — but most of the time he carries an older Benelli Nova pump-action model. This gun has had thousands of rounds put through it with not much cleaning. It is one heck of a shotgun.
Well, the people at Benelli announced at last month’s SHOT Show that they are offering an improved model of the Nova, a third-generation version called the Nova 3. This gun will have improvements on the loading port, a faster cycling rate, some improved ergonomics on the stock and forearm, and an enlarged trigger guard (among other things). I have not got my sticky little fingers on the Nova 3 yet, but you will be hearing more on this later.
I am even going to predict that Sam will like it.
AP photo by Michael Conroy / Guests browse firearms in the Benelli display area at an NRA meeting in Indianapolis, April 16, 2023. Benelli announced at last month’s SHOT Show in Las Vegas that it has developed a third-generation of its Nova pump-action shotgun, the Nova 3.Stoeger adds dedicated turkey models to its famed M3000 series of shotguns: I happen to like Stoeger shotguns and have told you about that in this space more than twice.
Some will remember the time I was hidden in a rain-flooded ditch near Lake Erie hunting big Canada geese. The Stoeger M3000 shotgun I was using that day in Ohio got dunked in about two feet of water, but we simply poured out the H20, reloaded and continued to bang away at the honkers.
(READ MORE: Wild goose chase in Ohio was a rewarding journey)
Stoeger has given a nod this year to the turkey hunters (dear to my heart, being as I am one) and configured an M3000 and an M3020 model just for them. The new M3000 Turkey Edition and the M3020 Turkey Edition come chambered in 12-gauge, 2 3/4-inch and 20-gauge, 3-inch. With their four-plus-one capacity and included extra-full turkey choke, these Turkey Edition shotguns have what it takes to deliver payloads with quick, accurate authority.
Apex and Woodhaven introduce Next Level Ninja turkey loads: We have talked about Tungsten Super Shot more than a few times. There are lots of companies out there now making different loads with TSS, and there is no doubt that TSS is an advantage to the hunter.
Apex Ammunition from Mississippi always seems to be on the cutting edge of finding new ways to improve shotgun loads for hunters. Now Apex has partnered with Woodhaven Custom Calls in Alabama to offer a new TSS-based load for waterfowl and turkey hunters. The Next Level Ninja load features a combination of No. 8.5 and No. 9.5 TSS, offering the perfect balance between pattern density and knockdown power.
This load is the result of feedback from avid turkey hunters and was developed in collaboration with Woodhaven, and its premium blend delivers optimized lethality at varied distances, ensuring versatility in numerous hunting situations.
“Guns & Cornbread” is written by Larry Case, who lives in Fayette County, W.Va. You can write to him at larryocase3@gmail.com.