As far as patterning goes, I would be astonished if you could prove a significant difference. Words like "flat" and "even" have very little place in describing a pattern; from any gun. Cool, unique, etc.? Yep. Pattern? Nope. I know of only one guy who can really manage light, low swing effort (low MOI) guns. I strongly advise shooting a borrowed gun long enough to tell if you can really manage such guns before buy.
DDA
Don, have you ever put an Ithaca SKB Model 100 20ga, 25" barrels, on your machine? They're quite common, and they seem to have almost a cult following among grouse hunters. Personally, I've owned a few, and while they always "feel" good, I don't do well at all with them at skeet. Make that a Model 200 or 280 20ga with 25" barrels, different story. The additional weight from the beavertail (plus maybe some from the ejectors) seems to smooth out the swing. However . . . in the grouse woods, swing is not as critical as it is on open country birds. Which is why I think quite a few grouse hunters gravitate in the direction of short, light doubles.
