Ted, for smacking doves and preserve chukars (while often trying to keep up with the 55 gallon drum of testosterone-Lab known as Jelly Bean)I have found 7/8 oz. field loads out of 28" tubes to be the perfect medicine. I have a 1946 Model 37 twenty with 26" modified barrel and it doesn't swing as smoothly as the longer barreled gun. I think I got a good buy on the Mod. 17 at $225.
I've been looking for one for a long time and it's not an easy gun to find. Only advantage to living where I do (Peoples' Republic of Illinois) is that the guns you find are often very little used --- mostly closet queens from the days when the Lake Zurich area was rural. Glad you liked my 17. Chopper
