Big 8 - Guess you have never been tempted by a very nice, but ill conceived "tweener" ... maybe a 26" M/F O framed 16ga Parker or similar 20ga Fox or Superposed Superlite, etc., etc. Certainly not duck guns or even decent pheasant guns, but might well work well in grouse woods. I personally use Briley and have no experience with Mike O., but would not disparage his work. I would not alter a prestine high grade gun, but have never hesitated to make a lot of very nice original (Parker VH, M21, Supers, etc.)guns "better" for my purposes.