Danger Dan:

An Ithaca NID Super Ten 2-7/8" 10g, Field Grade or Grade 1 can possibly be found in the price range you seek. They are much livelier guns than the 10g 3-1/2" Mag, which by my lights should come equipped with a wheels and a caisson. My NID Super Ten has 32" barrels but only weighs 9 pounds - 3-1/2" mags can run over 11 pounds.

The only drawback is that 2-7/8"has very few factory sources - Bismuth cartridge makes some, and I think there are some English firms loading them. Most of us have to make our own, but as Sherman Bell demonstrates in his "Finding out For Myself" articles, the 2-7/8 is a great waterfowl cartridge, well worth the effort.

Good Luck in your quest

Regards

GKT

Texas Declaration of Independence 1836 -The Indictment against the dictatorship, Para.16:"It has demanded us to deliver up our arms, which are essential to our defence, the rightful property of freemen, and formidable only to tyrannical governments."