My first shotgun was a Miroku (Charles Dailey) gauge over/under. It has blued barrels and high gloss walnut stock. I killed a pile of ducks and some geese with it. Its biggest disadvantage was that it has fixed chokes (Mod/Full).


As an avid Trap and Skeet shooter, I favor over/unders, but about 30 years ago a local sporting goods store had Rem 870s with the black barrel and black plastic stock for about $200. It came with a Modified choke, and I bought an extra Skeet choke. I call it my "ugly" gun, but its fine for any kind of bird hunting in any kind of weather. Ducks won't see the black color. Its also good enough to run a line or two of Skeet if I do my part.


A few years ago I bought a scoped, cantilevered, rifled barrel for it for deer hunting in weapons restricted areas. Mossburg made that barrel, and I think I paid Cabela's $200 for it.


I've shot several thousand shells through that Rem 870. Along with it being a good entry level shotgun, it also performs very well.