Having Reduced/Recoil loads made for wife?

[BruceRDucer]

Last year, my wife suddenly became interested in handguns, and now shoots a .38 Lady Smith.

She's reluctant to buy a .20 guage shotgun though.

Here's my plan. Big as my 28" 12 guage is, I wonder if I had my 12 guage shells loaded with about a HALF-CHARGE, that the missus would not object to shotgunning a little bit. What do you guys think?

Somebody here in Colorado ought to be able to load these for me, right?

[kirbythegunsmith]

You would be better served by using the Lo-noise Lo-recoil target loads being made by Remington and Winchester.
You can use them in a semi-auto gas-operated gun to reduce more of the punch (even though they probably won't eject) so when she steps up to normal target loads, the gun will still be a soft shooter. A Remington 20 ga. 1100 could be a nice choice.
A premium recoil pad is a must, also, if you want the least bruising etc., along with having the length made proper for her build.

kirbythegunsmith@hotmail.com

[45crittergitter]

If the gun is a bad fit or too heavy, she's going to be unhappy even if it doesn't kick. Generally, I'd also recommend a gas-operated 20 gauge with a nice recoil pad and a stock that fits. If necessary, 3/4 oz. factory loads are readily available, and much cheaper than 28 or .410. Steel shot loads may also offer low recoil.

[classic095]

Remington LT 20 guage 1100. end of story..

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

I'd look into a Knoxx stock.

The compstock isn't all "tacticool" and ugly like their other products, and it works well.

I took my girlfriend shooting with me, and I bought her a bunch of birdshot to keep her from getting sore from the recoil.

After a while, she'd shot all of my slugs, and most of my buckshot, hahah.

No soreness the next day, just the tinyest redness on her shoulder.

Knoxx makes a good product, I'd say.

[Smitty in CT]

Fiocchi make a 20GA shell that they call their "20 Lite" (20 Gauge, 2 3/4", 3/4 oz, 1075 fps, #7 1/2 Lead Shot, 25 Rd/bx Stock # [SS34483])
http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=89224

These have extremely low recoil... Last year my 8-year-old shot 100 rounds of sporting clays with no problems. I can shoot these shell with one hand, they are great!!!

They don't recommend them for use with autoloaders, but you can use them and cycle them manually, until she builds up a tolerance..

[BozemanMT]

the knox stock is cool (and really does work)
the low recoil loads work
a semi-auto has less felt recoil than others.

Proper stance and hold works better.
Sure, a 100 rounds is going to beat up anyone, but a couple shots to see if she likes it, no big deal. Being scared of it right away and not holding it tight is goign to hurt.