Whitey,
i too have bben bitten by the DR bug, and even bought a lower priced one....real nice to shoot. However this and other forums just opend up my desire for more. I found the conversion approach real interesting and bought the book even though I am not a machist of any kind. I did want to tell you that I have found several of the guys in different forums saying to get either a Sauer or one of many Belgium shotguns..seems the Belgiums use better steel that most. The link below has many many such shotguns a realy low prices and many having a greener cross bolt too

http://www.simpsonltd.com/index.php?cPath=350&osCsid=a89a5e60b6cc3fdfc0090d9e6fdeb28a

Thanks good luck and Im just behind you in years, and lice in colorado as well

TC