A regret and a lesson learned was at the expense of a Steven 16ga, 5100, forerunner of the 311.
I bought one 20 years ago , I had to take a bunch of guns from a seller, an all or none proposition. The Stevens had 28" barrels and was in about 90% condition, lot's of color left also. It cost me $100.
I was new to doubles and this was in one of the periods that short barrels were coming into favor. A friend took me woodcock hunting just before the acquisition, I used a 12ga Browning pump had a tough go of it. I then started doing some reading and found out that for the tough cover and short shots that most woodcock hunting is done in a double with all the choke cut out is the ideal gun.
I will say in my defense I did a very nice job of butchering that little gun, it's now 24", CYL/CYL, patterns well and I even filled in the space between the muzzles.
Never used it again, it sits on the rack as a reminder that when in need, get another gun.
