I'm not sure what you mean by "870 express and all that crap", I'd consider the 870 express equal to or better than anything Mossburg puts out, but to each their own.

If you can spend in the $500.00 range, you might take a look at the Beretta auto that Walmart sells. It's a no frills auto that quality made and will last you a lifetime of hard use. You'll get a ton of different information. When asked "what to buy" people tend to tell you whatever they own is "the best". Personally I'd stick with something from Benelli, Beretta, Remington, Browning, Mossburg, etc. but avoid most of the Russian and South American made guns. I've seen too many of the cheap guns break from hard use on the trap or skeet ranges. But the average hunter would probably never wear one out.