You can encapsulate the No. 1 rule in buying a shotgun with a single word: suitability.

There are so many varieties of shotguns available for wing and clays shooting, it's easy to get overwhelmed, if not downright confused, by the choices. That's why you really need to assess your own expectations and intentions about your shotgun of choice.

For starters, sporting shotguns are available in four primary configurations:

1. Over/under

A classic over/under shotgun. As you can see, the shotgun cracks open to make loading and cleaning easy. Over/unders are popular because of ease-of-use and low maintenance.

2. Side by side

Side-by-side shotguns were the first kind of shotgun to be invented and so are generally favored by wingshooters with a penchant for tradition. Side by sides can be slightly more difficult to shoot because of the view down the barrel and because many of them come with two triggers (one for each barrel).

3. Semi-automatic

The semi-automatic shotgun automatically loads the next shot into the chamber for firing. The use of recoil or discharged gasses from the shotgun shell to power this mechanism generally redirects the impact of the "kick" from the shooter into the shotgun itself for a more comfortable shooting experience.

A lot of people prefer semi-automatic shotguns as they are typically less expensive than the previous two types of shotguns. The downside of semi-automatics is they can be more difficult to clean and maintain.

4. Pumps

The pump shotgun got its name from the necessity to "shuck" the forend in order to load the next shell into the chamber for discharge. This manual mechanism contributes to the pump's legendary reliability. Pump guns are prized in rugged environments like waterfowl hunting for their simplicity and reliability.

To further complicate matters, over/unders and semi-automatics in particular are specialized for individual sports. There are shotguns designed for wingshooting (upland and waterfowl), skeet, trap and sporting clays. Side by sides, meanwhile, are typically configured for hunting game birds over dogs.

If you want to participate in all of those shotgunning activities there are plenty of general-purpose guns available. However, it can be more difficult to excel at any of those sports with a shotgun that can be used for wing and clays. Still, a general-purpose shotgun will offer a high level of enjoyment regardless of your pursuit.

Within those categories, shotguns come in different gauges. Starting with the biggest and most powerful, there is the 12 gauge. Then you step down in firepower with a 16 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge and the tiniest called the .410.

There is a direct correlation between gauge size and recoil — something to seriously consider in your purchase. Lots of shooters buy a big 12 gauge and are shocked at the kick to their face and shoulder.

Although gauge size typically determines recoil, equally as important is how the shotgun fits you. If it's too long or short, or doesn't fit properly under your cheekbone, expect to get walloped after you fire the shot. However, if you purchase a well-fitting shotgun, the recoil can be virtually nonexistent.

So the first step in buying a shotgun is to ask yourself: "What do I want to use this shotgun for?" With that settled, the next decision is budget.

When it comes to spending money on a shotgun, there are two schools of thought — especially for new shooters. One of them says you should buy the lowest-cost shotgun to determine your commitment to wing and clays shooting. After a few months, you may not like it and decide to sell the shotgun.

On the other side of the argument are advocates of buying the best shotgun you can afford. They say that if you take baby steps moving up to better shotguns over the years, you'll end up spending more money on inferior shotguns than buying the better shotgun in the first place.

With that in mind, you should know the more money you spend on a shotgun, the higher quality the underlying mechanics. The trigger will be smoother and easier, it will probably be better balanced for effective swings to the target, and the machine tolerances of the components will be more accurate for improved reliability.

Personally speaking, I believe in buying premium used shotguns. The advantage in buying a pre-owned shotgun is that, depending on the dealer, he/she may let you shoot it before writing the check.

You really want to see if the shotgun fits comfortably and if you can hit targets with it. There's nothing more discouraging than purchasing a shotgun and discovering that for whatever reason it doesn't respond to you. Yes, it's true: There are some shotguns just not meant for you regardless of how much you like the way they look and feel.

Now that you've bought your new shotgun, you may have to be patient when it comes to fully realizing its potential. There's something called the "new shotgun phenomenon" in which you crush targets when test-shooting it and after a while your scores go down the veritable toilet. A good deal of that change is actually rooted in your mind. Trying a new shotgun makes you more alert, focused and enthusiastic — ultimately making for a successful round.

So expect to have your scores dip for a while as you adjust to the sight picture of the targets and overall feel of the shotgun, and make fit adjustments to the shotgun if necessary.

Most important, though, is have fun and be safe.