I voted pump, only because I am taking into account purchase cost of something decent and inexpensive and am considering the person to be totally new to guns. Otherwise, I would break HD/SD, hunting and clays into different categories. IF is was upland and clays mostly - an O/U. IF it was waterfowl and clays, a semi. IF it was HD/SD and waterfowl, a pump.
While the pump, with various options and barrels might be considered by many to be the best choice, IMO, it is a jack-of-all-trades, master of none situation. But then, as a FIRST gun, it will do, as long as you follow it up with more use-specific oriented hardware.....
