Thanks for the replies and input. Some comments:
I shoot informally today, probably 1000 shells or so a year but in the past have run over 4-5000 per year through my guns. Job and timing prevent a more extensive shoot schedule currently but I have hopes to get back to “higher mileage” in the future. Realistically, the gun needs to be able to sustain about 1000 rounds a year with very high reliability and very consistent trigger pulls, a major issue with me on a target gun. Currently I shoot a variety of guns including an SO4, Browning 425 and a heavily modified Rem 1100 at sporting clays as well as a Rem 3200, BSS and Ruger Woodside with reworked triggers) at skeet.
I had not looked at SKBs, although the 385 would certainly fit the bill but I have never really been fond of the look of their guns. Not a Japanese thing on my part as I really like my BSS - but it has a different look. However, I will find a 385 to handle as my opinion has been largely made on the basis of O/Us.
I have been to CSMC several times, most recently on Monday. While there, I did look at both a Win 21 with 30” barrels ($8K) as well as an RBL with 32” barrels & vent rib. I did not like the vent rib as it has no filing or other means to knock down glare on the rib - as well as costing $450 over the standard rib which looked better to me. The gun was a little nose heavy, not bad on a clays gun and I was told it has an adjustment in the stock to change the balance point. The “engraving” is a little less obnoxious (to me) than the earlier 20 ga RBLs I had seen and the case colors were nice - so overall it would be a reasonable choice. Just don’t know the trigger performance or longevity. The Mdl 21 was very pleasant to handle and seemed to move well in the showroom whereas the RBL is a little more ponderous. Not a major issue, just a difference.
I don’t have an issue with a “project” gun but if I dump $3-4000 into a project, I would hope to be able to get out about neutral. My experience with older guns and this type of modification is that I would be lucky to get back about half of my actual cost of modification.
Regarding a SxS vs. O/U for longevity, I don’t think that the action type makes a great deal of difference. O/Us only became popular in the 1930s or so and until then the SxS guns dominated the clays area as well as for several years thereafter. The narrower sight plane of an O/U has some advantage on some clay sports but it is interesting that in the most difficult of “target games” - live birds - SxS are still very popular.
Hope this helps a little and thanks again for all of the feedback.
Thanks
Z
