RE: My first gun
I bought a Remington Express 12 gauge combo about 20 years ago. 28 inch barrel with Rem Choke and a smooth bore deer barrel with rifle sights. Other than the cheap wood that came on mine the shotgun has been great. I eventually put a Remington synthetic stock and forearm I bought from Cabelas. I don't know how the combos come packaged these days but you might just buy the gun separate and then find a rifled barrel with a cantilever scope mount. Remingtom might offer the combo this way now, I don't know. But check first, you'll get a better deal on the combo. There has probably been more game killed with a 870 than any other shotgun and I'm pretty sure it's the best selling shotgun out there. You won't be sorry.