Yea, my son just purchased an A400 lefty in 3.5". Even though we had talked about his use of 3.5" shells would be minimal, if not necessary.
Bottom line, get want you want. My 391 Urika with a 26" barrel has taken many a bird...

If he duck hunts the salt marsh it is going to get beat to hell. Have him get whatever feels comfortable to him that is within his price range and is not black. The black barrels will develop surface rust after their first trip in the marsh and there isn't enough oil in the world to keep it off.

I have a Stoeger I got as as Christmas gift that is going on its 11th year that goes bang every time I pull the trigger. I think the only original parts still on it are the barrel, receiver and butt stock. It has been dunked in the saltwater a handful of times and was not cared for in its early years like it should have been.

I have a Franchi 20g i like a lot. Winchester, essentially a Browning, is another good one to try out that'll be less than all the B brands.

Bunch of dudes in my camp shoot Franchi and I've never heard any complaints. I bought my daughter a Retay last year & it's been nails for us too.

Love my Benelli.

Thank you much! I knew I'd get good advice from this board!

Probably the most famous shotgunner on YouTube has a channel called targetfocusedlife. He is a competition clay shooter, and he has nothing but good things to say about the Franchi Affinity. I want an affinity or sx4 badly, but it's hard for me to rationalize it when the birds seem to fall just fine with old nova.

I have 3 Franchi Affinity. They are literally stamped "Benelli".
There are a lot of "better and more expensive" guns but the Affinity are awesome. Have never had an issue. I have two gas guns Xtrema and A300. Both failed within year one- will probably never buy another.
We have a few lower end Turkish over unders that are awesome too. Got a Pointers double barrel .410 today for my son to shoot. If hes not in a rush, he should consider that option as well.

Happy hunting

I have the Franchi Instinct SL over/ under and like it quite a bit. No problems, got it because it's quality build but without the fancy wood or engraving. Really fun to shoot so if he likes the fit of the Franchi then go for it.

Probably buying my daughter her first shotgun in another year or 2 and have been eyeing a compact Franchi Affinity 3

I'm sure Franchi and Benelli offer the same warranty, and I sent my Benelli in for something I screwed up and they repaired it for free. Took about 3 weeks. I know others probably do the same but was so happy with how they handled it I feel set on my shotgun brand.

I love the Franchi SL O/U my brother has. My SBE 3 is a solid duck gun. Hunt turkeys with it too. Never shot the affinity but I imagine it's a solid gun. Best advise you can give is what you gave.

If you want a no fail boomstick that goes off and functions no matter what for cheap... the benelli nova pump gun is your Huckleberry.

Bought my boy an Affinity 3 a few years ago and it's a very good shotgun. Light, low recoil, points well, and goes bang every time. Its his preferred shotgun on everything from trap to ducks to turkeys. All positive on this gun.