Ken, if you have the opportunity to acquire a Purdey pigeon in good shape at an affordable price, then I would urge you to do it. As British guns go, they are heavier than a 2 1/2 game gun, but are fairly close to most American SxS's of the period. They feel solid in the hand as opposed to heavy and offer a broad range of versatility if huns, pheasant and wildfowl are in your hunting plans. As noted in a previous post, spreaders work pretty well on tight chokes for closer clays targets. Your Purdey will never be a grouse gun and is a bit heavy for quail, but for almost everything else what a wonderful and durable thing.
