Wow-- My 12 gauge 3"Mag M12 Heavy Duck has a super-snug factory full choke- made in 1949- 30" Full solid rib. I removed the lead from the butt cavity, to maintain the muzzle forward feel that most all unaltered M12's seem to have. For pass shooting on waterfowl, tukeys and crows, gangbusters, with steel or lead loads. I often carry a box of WRA 1 ounce steel no 7 shot in my waterfowling carry seat- if the day turns "blue-birdy" and the farms I frequent have loads of pigeons and crows, I switch from the heavy No. 2 steel loads to the light loads, and devastate overhead soaring crows and poopsters- A frined has a similar M12 3" full, but his has the rare 32" barrel- But the older Remington M31's and then the M870's are great pumps as well, just that the slide release and the safety button on the trigger guard assembly is "bass-ackwards" from the M12's I tend to favor.
Hard to argue that both Rudy and his father, Fred Etchen, were shotgunning legends, on clays, box pigeons, and game birds-- Rudy had many fine shotguns (Purdey-not too shabby) but his "go-to" shotgun was a 12 gauge Rem 870. That speaks volumes to me.
Glad to see that you are getting back "into the game" Sounds from all I read here that it was a real freak accident, and thanks to the help from some good friends, and the doctors in the Girard area, you survived. In this time of national crisis with Covid, that is, indeed great good news. Stay well, amigo-best to Jean and your sons and grandsons. (PS- and any daughters and granddaughters as well) RWTF
