Sounds irresistable to me! I just got a Remington Spartan 20" barrel 20 gauge the other day (Baikal built under Remington contract) for $299 and that was significantly less than the 400+MSRP or the $360 or so you can regularly get 'em for around here. You're right about the stiff action, it will loosen up with time and lube. I haven't even hunted with mine, yet, and it's rapidly winning my favor.
It's very handy and has screw in choke tubes and patterns quite well out to 40 yards with the full choke tube in place. The only thing I've worried about it far as hunting is how it'll swing. I'm sure it's going to be whippy as hell compared to my longer, muzzle heavier 12 gauge repeaters. I'm going to have to get used to it, plan to hunt dove with it and might even do a little duck hunting with it now and then.
I keep the little thing loaded with a five round Koplin ammo carrier on the butt next to my bed for intruders. The barrels are well regulated and it shoots slugs and buckshot well. At in house ranges, I have it loaded with #3 buck in both barrels, old school tacticool.
I have an old 12 sxs, but it's got 28" barrels. Those little 20 inch barrels are MUCH handier for defensive use. I envision this thing, too, as a go to outdoor gun. Shotguns are really versatile in the field and this thing is so light and handy, it's nothing to tote.
I can tell ya this, that coach gun in 12 gauge is going to KICK LIKE HECK with slugs.
Light weight doubles HURT. LOL That's another reason I got a 20. But, at that price, and since you don't have a double, I think you NEED IT.
The gun might lack a little in aesthetics, but it's built like a tank and will last you a lifetime. That's the Baikal reputation, it seems, the AK47 of side by side shotguns.
Oh, at least on my Spartan, that "silver colored receiver" is nickle plate, quite rust resistant I'm told. And, yeah, mine seems a little short in LOP, too, but if I have problems, I'll add a recoil pad, either installed or slip on, to it. It's about an inch less than the standard 14.5" I think. It's not as bad as those stinkin' Norinco SKSs, at least, and drop seems about right. I need to shoot some clays with it to get used to it.