I find a number of them 'handy'. Kinda sorta depends on a combination of what is gonna be hunted, where, what time of year[i.e., weather] mood [mine] and whether or not it requires my going to the ammo barn for munitions or battery to get the gun. Off hand, its a 20 of one sort or another for dove and a 12 for foul weather waterfowl or pheasant [mostly tower birds, but not all] almost 100% of the time. A 42 or other .410 for making a small limit of dove take all afternoon when the birds are about and shots within reason may be taken .. btw, it does not always work out to become a limit. 28's for quail when feeling particularly sporting whilst KNOWING that a 20 would do just as well, if not better and a whole lot more inexpensively. Jeep gun is sometimes an 1100 20.
A 16 model 12 with a small wristed stock and longish pistol grip for an all 'round shooter is hard to beat & it works on most all upland game with good effect. Too, there is this one particular old full choked Wingmaster with the chequering almost worn smooth that finds itself in service yet, in the foulest of weather.
Don't know that I have ever been able to actually decide whether it is the gun, the shooting, the dogs or the companionship that appeals the most. I've seen and had good, great and bad .. and so far would be unwilling to trade any of them. Just let me go, as a rule it is quite enough thank you.
This is not meant an elusive answer, rather an honest one. When you chase this stuff about [guns], shooting it becomes a part of the responsibilty, particularly if you are not a collector in the closet sense. Working collections require use, but if it were to come to one gun, I would probably pick a model 12 20ga. for the field and upland game. Terrible ain't it?, the truth. I also am bent toward a .410 Nitro for bunnys because it works and its fun. For the ducks and pheasant it would have to be an 870 or a 390 Silver Mallard Beretta w/the hump-backed receiver and the black synthetic stock. I'm talking nasty condition hard field use. Nice days, its nice doubles .. most all of the time.
The RBL has been wet a couple of times this season and is none the worse for the wear [exposure]. Two Miroku 20's go to South America w/me. One has been going a long time, the other only the last few years. At the target games when my game is 'off' with the double of the moment I'll go pickup an 1100 and go back to the basics for a while on the skeet field.
