I've had and shoot one from time to time since they were introduced [mid 70's?] No side ribs, common & very simple, but stout extractor & the stock & forearm is a walnut stained birch, if I'm not mistaken. Birch is actually harder than walnut, JIC anyone is interested. Wot attracted me to the gun was the large opening in the trigger guard, meaning it lent itself to the use of heavy gloves w/no interference and the 'speed' trigger provides an even faster instant available selection of chokes than two triggers, if you can get past it's looks. Most people didn't/couldn't. Also, I found the extractor attractive as I don't enjoy searching for spent hulls when afield and I'm not wont to leave them. Goes w/o saying that the light weight is a real asset when carrying the gun much more than shooting it. Have never experienced the awkwardness you mention w/the speed trigger. To me, the finger naturally 'moves' from top to bottom or more open choke to tighter when shooting, but it is no issue to reverse w/a conscious decision to use the tighter choked bbl. first.

My suggestion is to not shoot a lot of rounds through it at any one time, like doing a hundred skeet targets. Rather, take it to a sporty clays course where you can shoot perhaps a box of cartridges, take a break or have lunch and then perhaps go shoot another box and call it a day. Shoot it low-gun as sporty clays was originally set up & designed to be played. Afield, you are not going to shoot w/a pre-mounted gun, so why abuse yourself doing so to acclimate yourself to the use of a new one?

I think you will grow to quite enjoy that gun when used for its intended purpose. Not many of them around, so always a FUN conversation piece as well.

If you reload, look into some of the 24 gram or 7/8oz. loads and use hard #7 shot at up to 1200fps for taking smaller game birds and experiencing negligible recoil, you will be ever so politely rewarded for doing so.

I think they are pretty neat guns for trudging about the fields in cold weather. Most found them ugly rather than looking at wot they actually had to offer. They are 'sleepers'; battle ship stout using a long proven action w/good bbl.'s and quick handling. Wots not to like? Oh, there is that unusual looking trigger!? I've never experienced any issue w/mine & I've never read nor heard of anyone else who has had a problem w/one either.

addendum: Whot kinda dog? Cat hair?