Buddy and I were talking the awesome 10 ga.

Not the paper hull 2-7/8" Keith touted as thor's hammer but the modern 3.5" 2-1/4 oz. 80 yd. big bird de-plucker. A modern 10 is something to behold, a .76 caliber shot cannon. Now we did drift to the relatively new 3-1/2" 12 ga. It can be the equal and perhaps a little better in outright performance BUT it requires the right barrel. The 12 ga. shot column is much like the tiny 3" .410, exposing a lot more pellets to the bore and choke in firing. Mossberg's fantastic 835 has superb technology with it's back bored barrel. Basically a 10 ga. barrel with a 12 ga. chamber, and muzzlebrake to boot. At a price point that is astonishing. IT has no peers in my view. Recoil is horrifically vicious but that is expected shooting a 1000 gr. payload at 1400+ fps. (you count the shot and wads too)

I've had a few H&R/NEF 176 single shots. Even used ones if you can find them run $400-600. My old Spanish Double 10 is now close to four digits in price used. The superb Browning BPS is good too but easily double a good Mossberg 835 12. If you ever get a chance to play with a 10 it will not disappoint. A fair deal will let you get in, play, and get back out for about straight money. Have some fun and experience it! Five or six rounds in an afternoon is plenty of fun.