Shotgun refer wanted

[h2ofowlr]

I would just get a 20 gauge O/U if you want reliability and ease of cleaning.  The O/U are typically set for rising birds a 80/20 pattern and they work great.  You don't have to worry about getting powder in your eye which semi-auto's can do from time to time.  Look at the Brownings, Berretta, or there are lesser ones along the Mossberg range.

[Intruder]

20 g O/U or Auto is a great upland gun!  You don't really need anything else.  The Brownings and SKBs are nice and in your price range... a used Red Label is a pretty good value.  I've been handling some of the autos lately... thinking of getting 1 for my daughter.  Man, there are some really nice handling ones out there these days.  If I remember, Berreta has one that I really like for about 800-900, I think. 

[Jburke]

At the lower end of your price range are the mossbergs and some of the charles dalys.  Both are pretty god guns for the money.  Remington 1187s are also a great gun and the old lady wont kick you out for it either.

[jeff100]

Benelli Montefeltro.  It's one of my favorite shotguns.  It's my favorite semi auto. 

I'm a big fan of Franchi O/U shotguns (Veloce, although it's out of production now) as well.

Both of these are within your 1200.00 budget limit.

[jackelope]

I have an SKB built Ithaca model 500 featherweight 20 gauge O/U that i love. i just wish it had choke tubes. it is fixed mod over full.