Hi Jim-the South Side of Chicago, the baddest part of town"-- Yup, a Ho shore ain't a gardening tool there buddy- and pronouncing Fox (I assume the AH Fox variety) can be fun- if you recall the German words "Die Weistul Fuchs" for FM Irwin Rommel-
Had a duck hunting pal named William Fuchs years ago-you can fill in the blanks here.
I agree with the 12 gauge idea- you can shoot lighter loads in a 12- ammo cheaper and easier to find (here anyway) than the bastard gauge 16-20 gauges are fine, but I'd still go with the std. 12.
I'd suggest this gent. visit both the LeFever and the Ithaca sites and shop there, possibly also GunBroker-and get a friend to advise him. The Ithaca mfg. LeFever Nitro Special is a real workhorse shotgun, not much for looks but hell for stout. A friend has a 20 ga. with 28" barrels and a single non-selective trigger his uncle bought new in the 1930's- he's shot tons of reloads in it-still works fine, just ain't a Purdy or a Parker-
