by Simon Lusk
My first shotgun I purchased a couple of seasons before Fish & Game changed the regulations to allow more than three shots with a semi automatic. I have a dominant left eye, so I needed a left handed gun which are not that easy to come by in New Zealand.
My mates in England told me the most cost effective good gun was the Beretta 686. There were not any in New Zealand in left hand so I ended up getting one with an adjustable comb. The model is a 686 E Sporting Memory System, which allows me to adjust the comb for others to use.
I put down a few roosters, a few quail and a few ducks with this gun before I started shooting seriously. When I was having a bad season with my Fabarm I went back to this gun and started shooting better, probably because it is quite a lot heavier than the Fabarm.
Now it only gets bought out for a few clay shoots occasionally, and as a loaner for someone I am taking shooting who does not have a gun.