Quit thinking so hard and sign up. Having been through this class twice, I wouldn't worry about getting or building anything special, especially if it gives you an excuse to miss it... If you ever have any intentions of touching a shotgun, you NEED to take this class. More than you need a short stock. More than you need an 870. More than you need an SBS.
I did it with a $150 pawn shop 870. The class (like any other good class) helps you make good gear decisions by seeing what works and what doesn't on your weapon system and those your fellow students. There is little value to building a super-gucci scattergun if you haven't learned what works for you yet. It's just wasted money on stuff you'll end up selling on the forums later (can you say Knoxx?) That is if you actually make it to the class at all. The biggest liability is always the "my kit/gun/etc isn't ready yet..." excuse giving you an easy out to skip a class. Or blowing all your money tricking out your kit so you can no longer afford the class. But your gun sure is pretty.
So FWIW my advice is to buck up, take the class with your Benelli, hope that it doesn't malfunction, and soak up the light-hearted insults when it does. Then build the 870 SBS of your newly-educated dreams. And then take the class again to iron out the wrinkles in your technique and your weapon system.
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