Originally Posted by MikeL2
I've accumulated a few candidates. L to R: Rem 870 12ga, Rem 870 12ga, Ithaca Deerslayer 12ga, Ithaca Deerslayer 12ga, Ithaca Featherweight 16ga. SO...I'd probably recommend an old Remington 870 or Ithaca 37
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Yep, those are two great choices. Only problem is that Remington isn't quite Remington anymore. Not like it was when those were made. So, today, it's a bit of a crap shoot if you go with a new Remington. Might be better off buying a mechanically nice used one from twenty or so years ago.

Ithaca is also a new company, i.e., another company bought the name and design and is manufacturing them at a different location. But I hear they are doing a great job of it.