[MRM]

My older son and have been members of a local gun club for a couple of years and have gotten to enjoy trap and skeet shooting quite a bit. We've gotten to the point where we both need to buy guns (we've been renting or borrowing until now). We're looking for good, solid all around guns that we can keep for a while and not be embarrassed to pass on to the next generation someday. So I started researching and looking for guns. I have enjoyed the search, but I have come to realize one thing: I don't know enough about shotguns to make an intelligent selection. Every shotgun forum discussion on gun selection seems to devolve into "Porsche vs. Mustang" type arguments. Everyone is sure the gun they selected is the best for their needs.

What I'm looking for isn't so much a recommendation of what guns out there would make a good all around sporting model at a reasonable price; I'm more looking for an education in the differences between types, styles, makes, and models so that I can intelligently select a gun for each of us that fits.

Obviously, generally speaking, there are pumps, autos, single shots, over-unders, and side by sides. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? What makes over-unders the gun of choice for sporting clays? What differentiates an expensive over-under from a cheap one? What qualities differentiate good guns from cheap ones? I'm willing to pay a decent price for our guns; I'm just not sure what I should be looking for in a shotgun. Something tells me that the Pelican Parts Braintrust knows a thing or two about shotguns, er, spoons.