[berettafan]

snipe the secret is that the 28 ga is often cited as being a better clay/bird busting load than the diameter of the bbl would cause one to think. that is to say you might be surprised just how well you'd do with one.

Frenchy you are not being honest here. The BEST shooters in the world can pick up a round bbl, beadless shotgun and hit anything with just about any load. But for the overwhelming majority of shooters (even very, very good ones), be they bird or clay, ribs and beads serve as a peripheral clue. I never said one should look AT the rib when sighting and YOU KNOW i didn't mean that.

Have no idea what you mean by saying choke selection is a gimmick. I suppose double triggers are as well in your book.

I am very pleased to hear you have spent time with Holland & Holland. Have visited their showroom in NYC and thought their guns were just lovely. It seems they have done a good job teaching you the basics of shotgun snobbery (beads are for pussies, ribs are a joke, all you need is a single trigger full/full 24" sxs for any/all shooting). But i have to say that from my limited experience in NSCA some years back the best shooters in the game were pretty darned practiced at changing chokes in guns w/ vent ribs. Didn't see too many hoity toity guns at the time save for the occasional Kreighoff. In fact at the time the best in the business were shooting $800 Beretta 390's w/ all manner of 'gimmicks' like vent ribs, palm swells, white beads (some even had red/orange beads!), heavy weight extended magazine caps, etc etc.

it comes down to muscle memory and ANYTHING that aids in getting the gun to the same spot every single time you mount it is a positive feature. stock fit is a major tool (certainly the most important) but not the ONLY tool.