An "upland" gun to me translates into a grouse/woodcock piece. Back in 1961, I bought a new Browning Double-Auto (DA), chambered as all of them were in 12 gauge, with a modified choke. During the following fifty years, this is the gun I used when hunting grouse and woodcock in the coverts of upper Michigan, western Pa and southern Ohio.
About ten years ago, I acquired a petite Merkel model 147EL, 3-inch chambered, 20 gauge, side-by-side, choked improved cylinder and modified, weighing less than six pounds. This is the gun I now use most often when going for ruffed grouse (called "pats" in Michigan) and woodcock. However, on occasion, I still hunt with the Browning DA and, a couple of years ago, it was with this gun that I scored my first "double" on grouse while hunting in Michigan.
I'm of the opinion that the Val Browning, short-recoil designed Browning DA is the best handling, nicest looking "repeating" shotgun ever made. They initially came in different colored receivers, only held two rounds and were never very popular-discontinued in the early seventies; you can still find them in gun shows at reasonable prices. A better upland shotgun has never been made.
