You can find the 870 black syntheticsuper mag on sale for under $300. Don't buy a wood stock.I would definately go with the super mag, in case you want to shoot 3 1/2 inch shells. This is the perfect waterfowl gun. It will kill just as many ducks as a $1000 Benelli, I guarantee you. Go with the 26 inch barrel and an IC choke. A 28 inch barrel will be okay, but the 26 is bestfor steel.