I would also go with the S&W. I have never been a fan of non selecting single trigger double barrels. It defeats the entire purpose of shooting a double barrel. Also if your friend is new to side by sides he will likely like an ejector model better. A lot of people who are not used to extractors don't like them due to they have to think about extracting shells when they are not used to it. Also the type of hunting will dictate if ejectors are better. If you are shooting and need quick reloads, the ejector is the way to go. You can always learn to catch the shells so they are not laying all over the ground. On older guns they can be a pain if they break, but on a new gun you should not have to worry about it for a very long time. From what I have seen, they both are well built, but in my opinion I think the S&W clearly wins out due to the selective barrel feature, and ejectors.