The H&R is a great gun! My cousin has the plain wood stock- I think it is pretty nice. However, the laminate stock will probably hold up better in the long run, so I'd call it a toss-up - pick which one you like.
I'd highly recommend considering the 20 gauge as opposed to the 12. My cousin has the 20 gauge, and it is not heavy at all, points & balances well and the recoil is very mild for a slug gun. He's taken deer out to 125 yards with it - so its not lacking the power department either.