I like the 12 Gauge...other than that I don't much care about other guages. The .410 is cool for squirrel though.
12 gauge is cool. I like the 20 gauge and 16 gauge as well. Mostly because they were there and I felt like buying them. Any and all is my motto.
Depends on the use. If it entails buckshot, 12 is the only way to go. Remington is making a 1 oz 20 ga slug, so if you shoot a few birds or squirrels, and need a slug occasionally, a 20 can do the job. http://www.remington.com/NR/exeres/00001649wetanuqwswjcanfk/press.asp?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=%2Fwhatsnew%2Fpress%2F2005%2Fam_buckhammerslug.htm&NRNODEGUID={77A491A3-8E71-4865-8BB1-332CA75811DA}&NRQUERYTERMINATOR=1&cookie_test=1
Whatever you can handle. This is kinda like the 9mm and .45 debate, doesn't do any good to shoot a 12 if you can't handle the recoil.
I am task specific in my choice. I prefer a .410 or 28 guage for quail, a 20 for dove and woodcock, a 12 for most other shotgunning tasks from sporting clays to home-invaders, and a 10 for geese and turkey. I have only one 16, an old browning sweet 16 that I like to drag into the fild occassionally to play with too. I prefer winchester model 12 pumps above all others, but my Ithica featherlites are favorites too. I love my browning satori (O&U) but it will never replace my bernadelli side by side. my old winchester 97 gets out a lot as does my 1100 remington...the benelli super is becomming my favorite semi-auto...and some days you just can't beat the nostalgic little stage-coach....hmmm....I think I'm starting to see a patern here....I think Justin Wilson was correct when asked what wine to serve with dinner "What kinda wine you gots?"
I have always really liked the short double barrel coach guns. I have always thought they were really cool. Good for snakes with legs and without.
Next to racking a pump gun, hearing exposed hammers clacked back will draw some attention. Too bad there are only two clacks.