I know what you mean Bramble, the first shotgun I could afford when I was 14 (the licence you got from a post office for 50 pence I think) was a Mossberg pump 12 bore with 24 1/2" barrels, UK minimum was 24". It took me 9 months to save the Ł92 it cost me. It sure wouldn't win any pretty prizes but it worked at the local clay club. Had to sell it when I was at university as strapped for cash. Wish I knew where it was now, I'd pay a lot lot more than it's worth to have it back. Same goes for the Bavaria BSF 55 .22 air rifle I shot my first duck with......memories, best, Mike