[Jeff Higgins]

The world of shotguns is generally divided into two distinctly different categories. There are "upland" bird guns and "waterfowl" guns. The former tend to be light and lively in the hands, the latter tend to be heavier and slower.

Shotgun competitions have traditionally followed these divisions as well, with "skeet" guns following the upland gun pattern, and "trap" guns following more the waterfowl gun pattern. Sporting clays has now kind of blurred the lines, providing targets suited to both guns, but forcing one to use just one.

Traditional upland guns are doubles, with side by sides being the most traditional. Traditional waterfowl guns are pumps and autos. The over/under seems to be the one most successful at bridging the gap and filling both rolls, both in the field and in competition.

Shotgun manufacturers put a bit more pride and effort into the doubles, especially the side by sides. Where a decent over/under can be had for about a grand, a decent side by side will triple that. Pumps and autos are a dime a dozen in comparison. They are seen more as "working" guns and tend to not have the fit and finish of the doubles. Not many are considered "classic" and most never will be. Yes, they are passed from father to son and down through the generations, but I don't think they ever attain the "heirloom" status of an over/under, much less a fine side by side.

I don't follow the current side by side market, so someone else will have to chine in on those. All I know is there are no low end or medium priced players left in the game that are remotely worthwhile. As far as the over/unders, I think Beretta and Browning fairly well dominate the market. Can't go wrong with either.

On the pump and autoloader end, you'll be looking at the broadest variety of guns and manufacturers. All of the big players are in this game. You can get anything from fine blued steel and walnut to plastic and camo finishes. I would lean towards the more traditional wood/steel finishes, and away from the plastic stocked camo guns as a potential heirloom piece. Also, as an "all around" gun, I would stay away from the big 3 1/2" 12 gauge or the 10 gauge. They are not only useless in a blind, they are even more so outside of one.

I would look for something in the seven to eight pound range, in 12 gauge, with 3" chambers. Choke tubes are on every modern shotgun outside of the very expensive doubles but, keep in mind, changing chokes on a ten or eleven pound waterfowl gun will never make it an upland gun. Nor will changing chokes on a six pound upland gun make it a waterfowl gun. So, look in the middle ground. You will find that's where over/unders seen to live. Their fit and finish is generally superior to the pumps and autos, giving them more of an "heirloom" quality.