that's right Hog. everyone talks of their 40yd pattern. i'd rather talk about my 15-20yd pattern.

as far as the question, you'll get an overwhelming vote fot the 870. mostly cause of the price, second for the reputation. most folk won't go for the high price guns. I'm not knocking the 870, i own 4 of them, but i have since moved on. i don't use them anymore, well i do use one, it's a 24" that was used and i bought it for a beater gun, sent it off to get camoed and keep it for the days it's raining out and down want to use my better guns.

in your price range my top pick would be the winchester sx2. Y? cause #1 it is gas opperated, 2 it is a better gun than the Browning and cheaper. if turkey only i'd get the universal hunter, it's drilled and tapped, 26". next would be the SBE (my top hunting gun for anything other than turkey or deer do to recoil). it's light weight and most dependable. third would be the beretta xtrema.

NOTE: no remingtons!