This is an excellent shotgun. It is very sturdy and reliable. I bought a limited edition bps with a silver steel reciever. The bps is the smoothest operating shotgun that I have ever used. I have a win. 1300 and have used an 870 and neither gun is as smooth as the bps. It has many cool features that you do not commonly see on other pumps. The top tang safety and bottom ejection is awesome. I was a little hesitant about the bottom ejection but it is really quite handy, especially if you are a duck hunter. I find that the recoil is quite light. Alot of people do not like the bps because of the bottom ejection and it is a little heavy for upland hunting. Mine is a 12 gauge with the 26inch barrel and I have not had a single problem yet(I have only had it for one season). This is one of the prettiest pumps that I have ever seen. Another feature that I really like is the plastic magazine cut-off. You can just unscrew the top and the cut-off just slides out( it is merely a plastic rod). This spring I will be turning 16 and will be getting my liscense and this fall I will be going grouse hunting as much as I can. The bps will probably be my gun of choice unless I can save up for a Citori lightning by then. Then I will have to switch off!
Good luck to you and enjoy whatever you end up getting!