No hunters in my family so I went with the gun that I could afford with the fanciest brand name, a Winchester Model 37 "Steelbilt" .410 from our local hardware store. Still have it, after almost 65 years, and still take it hunting at least once a season.
Cost a whole $23.50 plus tax (a fortune at 25 cents a full lug box for hand-pickin' walnuts and prunes), and the shells were over a dollar a box! It's killed quail, grouse, wood ducks, hawks, crows, squirrels, bunnies, rats, and snakes in 11 states!