I fully agree with NoDak Scotty's and Clif's posts that guns exist to be shot, but for me there is one nuance to be considered. While "best" guns were designed and built to be shot hard in those foul conditions the Brits call weather, shooting driven game (or even walk up game) in the UK is a far cry from thrashing around in the US grouse coverts or chasing chukars up and/or falling down scree slopes. Replacing a broken stock or dented barrels on one of those guns is the equivalent of a couple of good trips to Argentina.
So to Buzz's OP, if it were me (and sadly this is not yet my problem) I would take a best gun to chase dove, quail and phez, but I would leave it at home when headed into the woods or up the scree slopes.
