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Training.

Get a bone stock pump shotgun made by any of the big 4 , Rem, Win, Mossberg,or Ithaca. Get an experienced shooter to teach you the basic safe handling, how to pattern/ group the shotgun for loads YOUR gun likes.

Take that basic shotgun to a training class. You will learn what works, what does not, what is needed for a task and what is a waste of money.

FWIW - Good shooters are made, not born. - Misseldine

Good shooters spend more money on ammo than the price of the firearm. Most spend more money on training, lessons and range fees.

The firearm is only a tool. NO tool is ever any better than the operator of said tool. Be it a Firearm, hand held can opener, scapel, screwdriver, motor vehicle or pocket knife.

Once you have attended training, had some trigger time ( live and dry fire) - then- and only then should you consider with knowledge gained, and actually having tried as instructed - change anything for you task. Be it platform, side-saddles, mag extensions, lights or fuzzy dice.

Too many folks have for too many years been using a bone stock 870, 1300, Model 12, Ithaca 37, Model '97 Win - pump guns are NOT ammo dependent.

Gas guns have improved. The SX1 is still my favorite and most reliable, Brister thought the same. The Humback , the 1100 and SX2 are proven as well.

Tis the archer not the arrow that hits the mark. One cannot buy skill and targets.

This applies to HD, target/ clay shooting, bird hunting, or deer hunting.

Attend / take lessons and for clay games - the O/U rules. The Gas guns like 390/391 are next up.

Upland hunting - say Gentleman Quail, Two bbl shotguns ( O/U, SxS ) in 28 ga and .410 rules.

Waterfowl. The SX2 and 870s rule

Deer and Turkey - Gonna see SX2 and similar, with the pump gun as well.

There is no Holy Grail. What is a common useful tool for less than a weeks wages is the pump gun. You may be scorned for showing up with one for a Georgia Quail hunt,you may be looked down on at a Trap Shoot with a 870...fact is - it will fell them if you do your part.

Some folks do not mind taking a $1200 gun out in freezing cold and using as boat paddle to fell waterfowl, or getting dinged and scratched out Deer , turkey hunting. Who cares if a $200 870 Express gets banged, scratched, wet or muddy?

Whatcha gonna do with a shotgun? You gonna fondle and caress, leave in a safe and type feel good stuff? Or you gonna have a use and try to be the best you can for that purpose?

My shotguns have character. Got one with over 200k rds thru it. Some might call them dings, scratches, worn bluing. Nope - them are characters and memories.