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Here are a few things to seriously consider:

1.) Purpose: since you are thinking of skeet shooting, you need to decide on a shotgun that best meets that need. Over and Unders are the choice for serious skeet shooters, as are autoloaders. Both have advantages/disadvantages.

2.) Hold the shotgun. Pick a target in the store, eyeball it. Now, throw the shotgun to your shoulder. Did you automatically go on target, or did you have to adjust yourself, shoulder, head, etc? If you did, find another brand. You need one that you can shoulder, point and fire in one smooth, fluid motion. This cannot be compromised.

3.) Make absolutely sure it comes with interchangable chokes and buy a few extra chokes. Your dealer will help you decide which ones you need.

4.) For what you are willing to spend, there are many choices available to you. Beretta makes a good O/U, as does Ruger. Browning, Benelli and Stoeger are all owned by Beretta, just the more expensive the gun, the better tolerances, wood, etc you get. Unless you are planning on an heirloom, stay away from fancy engravings and fine details, this does nothing for the shooting ability of the shotgun.

5.) If you go with an O/U, decide on extractors or ejectors. Extractors, you manually remove the shotshell; ejectors, you may be running down hulls behind you.:)

I bought a new one myself recently, and I tried the 1800$ Browning Citori, but could not shoulder it properly when I tried to get on target. I bought a 400$ Stoeger Condor Supreme, and shoulder, get on target and fire in one, crisp, smooth motion.

Anyway, find something that fits from a dealer. Don’t go to Walmart or something like that. Find a skeet shooter and have them help fit you to the shotgun, not the other way around.