The last 2 weeks I've hunted a couple days alongside a guy carrying a 20 ga Ringneck. He's been getting one-shot kills on pheasants over his setter.

You could go far worse than the Ringneck.

I will also put in a pitch for the Dickinson, but in 28. Cabelas has the 28 ga with 30 inch barrels and it is a beautifully smooth-swinging gun. One of the guys who works in the back room there and is an excellent shot and instructor bought one for himself. He told me it was probably the best-handling gun in the store. Having pawed over most of their merchandise, I have to agree.

fiery, dependable, occasionally transcendent