I agree 100% about the 870 for home defense. Great gun, rugged, dependable, lots of add-ons. But you also mentioned shooting skeet. Are you sure its skeet and not trap. If its trap I'ld still opt for the 870, if it is skeet then I would try for a semi-auto like maybe a benelli m2 or better yet...
Have'nt tried NE yst. Been going up to SD for the last six years, in fact I'm leaving this coming saturday for a few days of p'dog shooting. I'm hoping to better my 275 yards with my savage 17, and 750 with my 6mmbr.