I really only have experience with one brand of shotgun (Mossberg Maverick), which I think is fantastic. Some of the other brands of shotguns include: Remington, Benelli, Ithaca, Browning, Beretta, Ruger, etc. What brand of shotgun you purchase is a question I don’t feel qualified to answer yet, so you’re on your own with that kiddos.
However, I can provide some information on gauge and choke. Shotgun gauges typically come in .410 shotshell (which would technically be around a 67 ga), 20 ga, 16ga, 12ga, and occasionally 10ga. There used to be more, but the are either exceptionally rare, or have been banned/phased out completely. My personal favorite, and what I recommend for almost all operational purposes is the 12ga. Ammunition is widely available, there’s an assortment of ammo types (slugs, buckshot, bird shot, specialty rounds), and there is good power behind it.
Barrel choke has to do with the internal bore near the end of the barrel. Generally, choke is designated as Cylinder Bore, Skeet, Improved Cylinder, Modified, Improved Modified, and Full Choke. (Taken from Stan Baker Co. via Chuckhawks) Cylinder Bore is completely level internally, has no rifling, and no choke. This gives the widest possible pattern distribution. This means the shot (e.g. birdshot) will be distributed across a very wide area. A Full Choke barrel is the most constrictive, and gives you the tightest shot pattern. The other chokes vary the pattern accordingly, but I don’t really feel like going through that right now. (If you have questions Google it and/or comment)
banditjack
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