WINNERS
Best Hunting Shotgun
Smith & Wesson Gold Elite
S&W puts a beautifully made 20-gauge double in the hands of uplanders for much less than you would expect to pay for a gun of htis quality. Made in Turkey, this trigger-plate-action double has crisp, hand-cut checkering and nicely shaped wod. True bone case color decorates a receiver accented with a touch of engraving. 800-331-0852. smith-wesson.com.

Price: $2,380
Gauge: 3-inch 20
Weight: 6 1/ 4 pounds
Barrel: 28-inch, fixed choke
Stock: oil-finish walnut
Action: trigger-plate break action

Best Target Shotgun
Caesar Guerini Summit Sporter .410
We swooned over this .410 sporter. Ceasar Guerini's Summit has 32-inch barrels that push its balance point far enough forward so that it's remarkably easy to shoot well. Fit and finish is outstanding, as it si on every Guerini, and it functioned perfectly. An adjustable comb lets you tailor the fit to your proportions. 410-901-1131. gueriniusa.com.

Price: $3,669
Gauge: .410
Weight: 7 1/ 2 pounds
Barrel: 32-inch barrels with extended choke tubes
Stock: Satin-finish walnut
Action: break action O/U

Best Value
CZ Partridge
This Turkish side-by-side offers the lines and double triggers of a classic double. Three-inch chambers and five choke tubes give this gun great versatility. cz-usa.com

Price: $765
Gauge: 12 and 20
Weight: 7.0 lbs (12ga) and 6.2 lbs (20ga)
Barrel: 28", chrome lined; each gun comes with 5 screw in choke tubes
F,IM,M,IC,C
Stock: Straight English grip made from Turkish walnut, matte finish
Action: Side-by-side with white chrome plated receiver with scroll
engraving, traditional double triggers

OTHER TESTER PICKS

Browning 625
A forcing cone is added to the Citori's overbored barrels, and Invector-plus choke tubes further improve pattern performance. It's well made and nicely finished. • browning.com

Price: 2,229.00 (field); 3,499.00 (sporting)
Gauge: 12, 3-inch (field) 2 3/ 4 inch (sporting)
Weight: 8 pounds (30-inch Sporting model)
Barrel: 26, 28 inches, flush-mounted Invector Plus chokes (field); 28, 30, 32 inches, extended Invector Plus chokes (sporting)
Stock: gloss-oil finished walnut
Action: break action O/U

Beretta UGB 25
An innovative recoil-operated auto, the UGB breaks open for loading the first shell. The second goes in a carrier on the receiver. Shells eject out the bottom. • berettausa.com

Price: 3,875.00
Gauge: 12, 2 3/ 4
Weight: 8 1/ 2 pounds
Barrel: 30, 32 inches
Stock: Satin-finish walnut
Action: Short-recoil operated semi-automatic

Benelli Ultra Light 20 gauge
With its shorter magazine tube, 24-inch barrel, and carbon-fiber rib, Benelli's Ultra Light weighs 5¼ pounds in 20 gauge. It's easy to shoot well and a joy to carry. benelliusa.com

Price: $1445
Gauge: 3-inch 20
Weight: 5 pounds, 3 ounces
Barrel: 24 inches, 28-inches, comes with IC, M, F Crio chokes
Stock: WeatherCoat finished walnut
Action: Inertia-operated semi-automatic