There is not much like a good LC Smith Long Range/Waterfowl except maybe a Fox HE! I foolishly missed the opportunity to buy an HE a few years ago.... I do however have a Long Range that drops a couple geese each year with Kent Impact. My problem is I had the gun refreshed to new condition and now it's too nice to drag into the duck boat!
My everyday fowling piece is a Winchester M23 Heavy Duck with Briley Chokes. With it I also shoot clays in the summer. It's a great gun. I also have an RBL-12 on order. With a BTFE and delivery the price was less than $3k.
There are many good buys in a SxS it you look. If you are willing to buy or relaod Non-Toxic ammo then find an old American SxS for $800 to $2000 and you won't look back. If you think you need to shoot Hevi Shot or steel then save for another year an buy an RBL, M23, or Beretta. You should be able to buy a nice Beretta for <$2k. While not specifically made for steel shot I've shot much Hevi Shot through a Merkel M8 with no problems. They are available at less than $1000. Have the forcing cones lengthened and it will handle 3" shells with only a slight pressure increase. Oh, better open the chokes or have Briley or Seminole chokes installed. One problem with the M8's is that 30" or longer barrels are hard to find.
Please note that once you have a good SxS fowler one will not be enough...
