I know I'm gonna take a beating here for this one from all the gunners with money to blow, but here it is...

Ever looked at aStoeger? I got a Stoeger Condor Supreme (O/U 12ga) last year and really like it so far. The gun fits me well and I didn't have to spend $1000 on it so I'm not afraid to actually take it out into the field. That being said, I've done a bit of shooting witha Ruger Red Label 12 and really enjoyed it too. It's a smoother gun to break open and looks nice but for the money, the Stoeger ain't a bad gun.

Most importantly, just make sure you get a gun that fits you. Just because your buddy shoots well with one model/make, doesn't mean you will. I traded my Beretta AL390 for the Stoeger because the Beretta didn't fit me right. Works for me...