A lot of unstated considerations lurk beneath BP's suggestion of 12 ga "first double gun", not least of which is a weight range favorable to the first-doublegun-shooter. Someone mentioned the SKB280; wonderful little thing to carry and probably great for poke and snap but not everyone can get one going and keep it going without the yips.
I was sitting here trying to remember if I'd ever bought anything that WASN'T dubious junk for 5C. Decided I actually had: bought a reasonably good condition Brit boxlock (probably Webley & Scott) from BP for 650; 12 ga. Elsie FW 16 ga. 700$ from local consignment rack; 1911 Fox SW "pin gun" with the best faded case on the nicest "unpecked" (read unbashed, undinged, unabraded) action bar, nicest barrels, and solidest stock head innards I've seen on a SW for, let's see, yeh--500 dollars--also from consignment rack. Bought a 16 ga. Philly SW for 450 but there was a downside, external pitting. Pretty decent plain vanilla grade Charlin 12 from Thad Scott--$800. Another restocked and beavertailed (crotch black walnetto) Phila SW 12 840 from downstate gun shop. Ugartechea m221 (enhanced m30) from consignment rack 450. Very nice mid-30s NID: 850. I've had chances to buy both 12 and 20 ga. BSS sub-1k. Didn't bite; just didn't like em. AND, advice for the budget-conscious bottom feeder: mimimum customary FFL receiver fee in my neck of the woods: 25$; minimum long gun shipping: 25$ and that was a stretch coast to coast several yrs. back. Every thing you buy sight-unseen on "approval" and sometimes not at on-line auction has that 50-100$ penalty; it's still worth an occasional 75-100 mi. drive to shop or show.
jack
