EW
As much as I like sxs, I shoot over/unders for clays. You are on the right track to get an over/under for your first gun. I prefer Beretta over Browning as well, not so much for country of origin but for the better handling of the Berettas.
There was a recent posting on sxs in which some of us aired on views on the subject. It's in the archives. For $2,000 or less you could get a serviceable sxs -- a new Ugartechea Model 30 or 40 or an AyA Model 4 or a good used gun. Stay away from the Russian crap.