Mark,
I have been to Argentina for h.v. doves twice in the last six years. I took a new Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon II Sporting on the first trip, along with a back-up gun which I never fired, and on the second trip took the same gun again. It was a 20 gauge, but a twelve should show no difference in reliability. It is a pity, though, that twenty gauge shells are not available for you, because the twenty would be a much better all-around gauge for your trip than a twelve. That may sound odd, since you are going to be shooting ducks as well as other birds, but with lead, a twenty would be plenty of gun and would be much better for the really high volume stuff, the doves.
That aside, my SP II has digested over 9000 rounds of Argentine shells without a breakdown. The shells I have used down there are remarkably reliable. My only failures to eject well were when, after maybe 500 rounds without cleaning the chambers would build up a bit with plastic residue. A few quick strokes with a stainless tornado brush cures it instantly and returns it to perfect ejection. I really think this is mostly caused by the rapid firing and heat build-up in the chambers. Not a single misfire on the entire last trip, over 5000 rounds. That's reliability, AND good shells.
Best wishes, Stan
