You should at least look at the Mossberg. Mine has served me well, and was a really good deal ($189 new four years ago). Even though I've always been a Remington lover, I swear by Mossberg, and I've had a few. I even got good performance out of their old bolt guns as a kid. Some gun snobs might cringe, but you might also check out Charles Daly Field Hunter if you are set on a semi in the $400 range. My brother really likes his, and he's a die hard Remington lover as well. That Daly is one light and easy pointing shotgun.