Really hard to beat the Remington 870 Express for both price & performance.
... should be $ 400 or under, not including tax.
Parts, chokes, accessories and aftermarket stuff available almost everywhere. A Remington 870 Express rifle sights/ fully-rifled slug barrel
is availab le for just a little over $ 200 if that's a factor - and not nearly so inexpensive if you want one from Stoeger, Benelli or the like. No complaints with those guns - they're just not as versatile as the Remington for the money.
Have had one for about 15 years. Replaced the eventually beat-up ( yeah, I'm a waterfowler - takes a toll on virtually any gun ) hardwood stock & forend with a synthetic Max-4HD camo aftermarket set (Ramline) , adjusting for drop & cast-off at the time. The aftermarket stock shape is actually more comfortable to shoot than the original. Different pad & overall stock shape - and a much better pistol grip dimension and cross section.
This gun's been out west, down into the States and to Cuba 4 times - it's lived a hard life in the snow and rain here in the north & salt-water mangroves in the Tropics. It's NEVER missed a beat and has never let me down. Even won a few "Pumpgun Only" Sporting Clay Shoots with it ( Prizes have totalled more than the gun was or is now worth - including winning another Rem. 870 as one HOA Shoot prize ! )
They ain't pretty, but they are very reliable. Like a Timex Watch - "takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin' ". Get some help in making it fit you. Not hard to change in respect of drop at comb/heel and obtaing the required cast-off. Fit is essential ... the gun has to shoot where you're looking, and add weight to achieve a neutral balance at a point directly under the extractor slot. Most 870's are otherwise, a tad muzzle heavy, which is counterproductive to fast handling and a good, smooth swing.
Supplied in either 26" or 28" barrel lengths. For the bulk of the hunting you describe hold out for the 26" length - much more suited to skeet & the uplands, and only a slight disadvantage for waterfowling & trap. Invest in a few additional chokes - particularly a Skeet & I/C (the Express comes only with a MOD. choke) - for Turkey, pick up either one of Remington's Turkey Chokes, or an aftermarket make of your choice. I'd also stick with the 12 gauge as a "starter" gun.
No, I don't work for Remington ... and as my sign line suggests, I'm a big Beretta fan. ( Primary target gun is a Beretta, but I have a few other small bore shotguns from other makers as well )
Good luck ... and practice lots ! One of the best "shooting coaches" is about10 flats of light target loads at Skeet. You'll come to understand fit, balance, swing and forward allowance in short order.
