[TrapperReady]

My wife has been suffering from a major slump in our winter trap league. She's a tiny thing, and her gun of choice has been a Benelli M1 20ga, due to its light weight and by the end of last year's league, she was shooting it at least into double digits and was pretty happy.

However, this year she has been stuck with scores around 4 or 5. We tried all manner of things, but nothing seemed to work. Finally, this week, I had her shoot my 12 ga Benelli Montefeltro. Mechanically, it's identical to her M-1, but probably a pound heavier and with a 2" longer barrel.

Well, the first round we shot, she broke (with most of them smoked) 15/25. She even admittted that most of the ones she missed were on the last two stations, when she started getting excited, and then began thinking about what she was doing.

IMO, the advantage of the different gun (in her case) is not the extra pellets, but the increased length and barrel weight. The 20 ga was light enough that she could stop its swing. The 12 ga gains enough momentum that it helps her complete the swing after the shot.

Anyway, the smile on her face coming off the trap line was absolutely huge. Now, I just have to watch out in case she decides to take a liking to my Browning 425.

[Dave McCracken]

Glad she's happy and hitting. A coupla things...

She'll greatly benefit from a stock fitting. Most pixies have trouble with regular stocks.

Let her try different shotguns and get her the one she likes the best.

Trap guns are sometimes ponderous in swing. Adding a little weight forward on that Benelli may be the ticket.

HTH....

[Kimber Kid]

TrapperReady, no doubt there is a lot of truth to what you are saying. Dave McCracken is also correct, a gun MUST fit. Now go buy her a 12 and load it lite for her. If she doesn't shoot well she'll give up the sport and that will be a shame.

BTW I shoot the BT 100 and the Ultra XT, both have adjustable stocks and I load extra lite 1 1/8ths.