it is true waterfowl hunting is hard on guns. synthetic stocks are good cuz they are tuff. i havew never known a person not happy with an 870. mossbergs are cheap, but in my experience like to jam, hard to clean,etc. you cant really go wrong with remington, winchester, browning... i'd buy a cheaper gun that shoulders good and later if u git into it hardcore go out and invest in a performance choke