[RickRS]

I'm looking for a easy (cheap) way to allow my 15 year old 5'4" daughter to shoot clays. A new stock for my 12 ga. 870 Wingmaster might work. There a Ram-line Cadet stock for youth and ladies for 870's at my local Bass Pro for $50. Any thoughts on this idea?

[Preacherman]

That would work, but how will she handle the 12ga. recoil? Is she a beginner with long guns, or experienced? If a beginner, how about buying her the 870 Express Youth model? It's pretty cheap at Wal-Mart, and is in 20ga. with shortened stock and all, and might be easier for her to handle.

[RickRS]

She's a beginner. I thought of using 1 oz loads to handle the recoil.

If I bought a gun for her, the Remington 1100 auto Youth model would likely be the way I would go, as auto-loaders are suppose to have the softest recoil. But right now, I'm not sure she will go for shotgunning and clays. Of course, if the gun punishes her, that would be a turn off, too.

Right now, I hoping the shooting instructor at the local sporting clay range might be able to find a friend that's willing to loan out a youth model for her instructions and introduction.

[Dave McCracken]

I'd go one step further and get her 7/8 oz loads. Trust me, they'll work and the lessened recoil is a huge advantage in training.

A lot of folks trying to do the right thing with a new shooter oft think just a shorter stock is all they need. It's a step in the right direction, but only one step.

Females are shaped differently in the chest area, as most of us know. Often, they're forced to use a butt pitch for males, with a pointy toe and little or no rounding to allow for the female anatomy.

Rounding off the toe a little with a sander helps immensely. Oft, rounding the inside edge of the pad(The side closest to the center of the chest) helps also.

A shim or two of cardboard,leather,etc, placed under either end of the pad to experiment with pitch can be time well spent, but this can wait until things gel formwise.

The 1100 YE is an excellent choice, if she has enough upper body strength to handle the weight and balance. The gas system in the forearm carries the balance point more forward, and someone of shorter stature and arm may have probs at first.

Finally, I approve of the shorter stocks now around. But, most are synthetic, and those are harder to modify if needed.

HTH...

[C.R.Sam]

And...
Wider butt pad, shaped to fit maby.
Won't look pretty but adds to comfort.

Sam