The idea for a lighter gun than my 6 1/2 lb. Browning BSS-sidelock 12 bore, came from shoulder surgery and the fact that I'm not getting younger. Since I shoot 1 oz. loads anyway, a light 2 1/2" English gun made sense. My Brownings and Merkels are all choked ic/mod, so the .003/.011 chokes made sense for close work.
Man, October seems so far away!
Karl