POS, I bought my side-by-side as my first firearm purchase back in the early 1960's. It was is you describe -- simple. It's a 20 ga Savage. It has never failed and if I had notched the stock for every squirrel, rabbit, dove, snipe, woodcock, duck, goose and yes -- deer, I have killed with the shotgun it would be a double-barreled pistol with 27 in barrels.

It's barreled full and modified. I papered it when I bought it and at the 30 yds the shot was well distributed and true. Chambered 2-3/4 and a stock long enough for a man. Cost me about $75, IIRC. That was a lot of lawns, newspapers, and coke bottles.

I saw a Brazilian double 12 ga chambered for 3" that looked well made. Don't recall the mfr but it was under $500, iirc.