Ted,

Your reasons for not taking an expensive gun afield makes sense. I bet you have a few nice ones, though.

I have three levels of shotguns, from best guns to mass produced pumps. I like them all as long as it is an honest gun. I use and shoot all three quality level guns during bird season, dependent on weather and field conditions and where I am hunting. Ironically, it seems that my best guns get scratched and banged up the most but I generally shoot a custom fitted, right weighted, gun better. However, at this point in time in my life, I am not unhappy to miss a bird and watch it fly away to safety.