I have fired both the 870 and the Nova. I decided on the Nova becuase I preferred the site picture on the nova a little more. It's true that the Nova is a bulkier weapon, so if you have smaller hands, the Nova may not be the best choice. I personally liked the Nova better. It had a smoother action, it seemed lighter, and I liked the look of the Nova more. They are both great weapons and you couldn't go wrong with either. For those posting the near useless negative ratings, I would like to hear *WHY* it sucks so bad. Liking one weapon doesn't mean you have to hate its competitors. It's affordable, has a smooth action, and easy to use/clean, and its reliable (all of the aforementioned weapons maintain the highest standards of reliability in my mind).