Shotgun or birds, I prefer semi-auto, smoother shooting, less recoil specially with all the new high velocity shells on the market. I alway say, buy the best you can afford and take care of it, it will save you money in a long run. I now shooting a Benilli SBE 2, very well shooting gun with minimal recoil. My other friend just got a Benilli Vinci, which is the new redesigned version of the SBE 2. For your big game rifle, 30-06, 7mm, 300mag, 300wsm... Don't really matter too much but make sure you get a gun with a clip, drop plate sucks!! If you only going to get 1 rile for all your big game hunting, I would suggest you for a 300mag or 300wsm. With a 180gr bullet, it will knock down bear, deer, moose, elk bison. Some people will say that is over kill for deer, wasting too much meat.. But who cars, deer down is a deer down, so what you lost couple packs of burger or steak... It's better to have some waste rather then the trophy class deer that got away wounded.