It's a viable trap gun, since it's overweight.
It's a viable goose gun, since it's overweight and shoots 3.5" magnums, and it's not something you'd mind dropping in the plough mud.
Otherwise, it's the very definition of "clunker". How DO they make an aluminum receiver, plastic stock gun weigh so much?
The one I've had experience with takes chunks of the ejection port out when you shoot it. Nice soft aluminum.
For skeet? I wouldn't. For quail or other fast-moving flushing birds? No thanks. Missed too many birds with a big gun; bought a little used 20 Gauge O/U, for the same price range. Filled a few bags with birds since.
But it
would be a better choice than the Kalashnikov for wingshooting.
Seen the Mossberg 930? Same price range as the 453, but a pound lighter, nicely balanced and a lot sleeker and prettier, especially the walnut version -- again, in the same price range, US-made. Shoots 2 3/4" and 3" shells. I'd get that instead. But I don't have any need for 3.5" shells. (If you don't already KNOW what you need them for,
probably neither do you, at least not bad enough to lug around a heavy gun.)
And no, I'm not a shotgun snob. I've never spent more than $600 on a shotgun, and $600 was for a trap single!
I do buy used guns, though. $500 will get you some nice ones; $250-350 sometimes.
As far as people loving their guns, hell, I have a strong affinity for my old Ithaca M66 lever-single 20 Gauge. Doesn't mean I'd tell anyone to seek one out as a skeet gun.