[ialevy]

I just picked a used winchester 1400 20ga.

The gun will be mainly used for informal clay fun in the backyard. It is a skeet model with the 28" vent rib barrel.

Since my wife is a bit recoil sensitive - only with shotguns, she loves the .44 magnum - I wanted to fit a recoil pad.

Any recommendations...anyone know what size fits best? I will get a thinner pad since I don't want to add too much to the LOP.

Thanks!

[sm]

Probably THE softest felt recoil SG out there.

I'd suggest letting a Gunsmith whom knows his stuff fit the Deacelerator to the wife. He may or may not recommend another brand. IME these work well. Highly recommend she go in and if the smith is good he can tweak the gun fit to her--fit is very important. Personally would NOT shop for price, I'd opt for monies spent for quality and fit. Once fitted use 7/8 oz skeet losds (so can reload hulls for more shooting with light loads).

Getting her started off right even if it costs a bit more up front is the way to go. To many shooters get started off wrong with improper fit guns, heavy recoil enhanced further with heavy recoil loads and are forever lost as shooters. Plus ladies are built different. If the smith is good he will know/suggest/advise/fit accordingly.

For instance having the inside/toe/heel rounded so as to not hang up on clothing is what I prefer on my guns for SC. What this also does is better fit women, alleviating that "edge" that might give a more sharp felt recoil, especially whilst learning proper form. Won't hurt near as bad if she shoots and not in shoulder "pocket".

These are pretty straightforward to take apart, different yes, but let her learn from him how to take care of it. That dealie about letting others teach family somtimes applies to gun care also. Main thing is to watch that screw on L side where ejection spring is. Get extras, and use Locktite that can be removed...once in blue moon the ejector breaks, need to be able to replace. [ probably calling part wrong name, been awhile]

Nu- Line sells these and other 1400 parts btw.

HTH

[Lennyjoe]

I put one on my 12 guage 1400 about 2 months ago.

Gunsmith here wanted $60 to put it on for me. I opted to do it myself.

You will need to sand the pad down to fit the 1400. None out there are specifically designed for the 1400 unlike the 870 or 1100 models.

Once you mark the pad to the butts size use a belt sander to sand it down to fit. I have heard that folks installed the pad and then ducktaped the butt so not to hit the wood with the sandpaper and then sand away. That wasnt a good idea for me so I took my time and worked it in.

[Clemson]

Congratulations on the new gun. I would suggest that you cut the gunstock so that the length of pull is correct with the new pad installed. I used a Decelerator pad for my wife's 20 gauge auto, and I took the opportunity to increase the pitch a bit. The gun fits her better now. If these terms don't make good sense to you, it would probably be worthwhile to have a gunsmith cut the stock and fit the pad.