Beginner Shotgun for the Wife?

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Bigct

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Howdy,

I think this is my first post so go easy on me. (I've been searching and reading a lot for the past few days)

My wife has decided she wanted to try her hand at shooting trap. Just for recreation, not trying to be a pro. She is not sure if she will really like it or not. She has never shot a gun or been around anyone shooting a gun before. She is Filipino so she is small. 4'6" 100lbs.

My Query is:
I'm trying to find the cheapest gun that shoots straight and goes boom more often than not and in a gauge that will work for her size.
Suggestions?

I talked to guy at the local GI Joes and he suggested the 20 gauge in a youth model. Last time I shot a 20ga was when I was trying for my Shotgun merit badge at age 12 (14yrs ago) and I've shot nothing but 12 since then.

Do you think 20 would be too much kick? just enough, should I go .410 or 28ga?
Also since she is undecided on her like of the sport any suggestions on cheap shotguns? I know I saw a cheap 12 and 20 single shot at walmart a few months back for like $60? anybody know if it's adequate to start with? If she likes the sport we'd be upgrading of course.

Sorry for the long post, But from what I've read over the past few days y'all know your stuff and I figured I'd get the best response by giving the best details.

Thanks
-Chris
 
Cheap single shots can kick a lot; they're light and often lack recoil pads.

Remington seems to have abandoned youth model shotguns, but Mossberg makes a full line. They make "Bantam" and "Youth" models, with offset forends that offer a better hand position. They're not expensive, they have twin beads and nice ribs, their weight is about right, and they shoot well.

http://www.mossberg.com/

20 is probably your best bet. 28 is expensive, and .410 is for serious experts, not beginners, at the trap range, since it's damn hard to hit much with one.

If she likes it, Browning makes a bunch of "Micro" guns, including the BT-99. But for now the Mossberg will work well.
 
Making sure it fits her correctly will make more of a difference than the gauge. If the pull is the correct length, recoil is less of an issue than you might think. I've seen small women shooting 12's all day with no problems.

When I first started shooting trap, it was with a cheap ($85) used Mossy 500 with a beat up stock, so it was no problem cutting the stock to the right length. That was eventually replaced with a nice SKB 600, but the 500 (with new furniture and an 18" barrel) still lives next to the nightstand.

If you get a single shot, she won't be able to try her hand at doubles if she wants to...
 
12ga Remington 1100/11-87. Find someone who works on shotguns and have them cut the stock down to fit her and install a Kickeez recoil pad. Then have her shoot 1oz target loads. Recoil won't be a problem at all.

Also, buy her a Browning shooting vest which has a REACTAR recoil pad. Those REACTAR pads are great at reducing felt recoil.
 
I'm less concerned with the guage than I am about the size. Like others have suggested here, the load can make up for the recoil, and the recoil on a 12 really isn't all that bad to begin with.

I also would recommend looking at the Remington youth models. If you get a good deal on the 20, go ahead, (particularly if you can find a used one,) this is the obvious way that comes to mind if you want to avoid customizing.
 
Remington still offers the 'Youth' type shotguns.
Here is the URL:
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/youth/

With that said, I purchased the 870 Express Jr. for my son, not too long ago. I cut a 'beater stock' down to fit him properly. (Stock was obtained at a gunshow for $10.)
Granted, he's only 10 and not very tall, but, he's a little stocky and muscular for a 10 yr. old boy.
That 870 Express Jr. beat the snot out of him. The recoil was higher than my 12 ga. loads. The factory recoil pad did NOTHING to absorb any recoil.
That pad is nothing more than the end of the stock.
The loads were WW (factory) Target loads, 7/8 oz.

I would suggest that IF you purchase one of these little shotguns, put a Limbsaver pad on it.
There are pads that fit. I have bought the kind that grind-to-fit, for his, because of the smaller size.

Now, there is also the 11-87 Youth Synthetic in 20 ga.
I bought one of these for my wife to use. Other than owning it, that's as far as I have experience with it. My wife lost her 'urge' to join us at the club.

Hmmmmmmm. . . I might just have myself a new 20 ga for birds!:D

Lastly, I agree with finding a 12 ga 1100 and cut down the stock. My 1100 with handloads 'kick' less than a 20 ga. My son can shoot it all day long.
 
Another tip: before 1977, Remington made a 20 Gauge 1100 on a large receiver. These are called "Standard" or "20 on 12 frame" now, I think. At the time, they were just called 20 Gauge 1100's, of course. Newer ones are called LT-20 or Lightweight 20. The Standard 20 probably kicks like a .22, though it's not light.

They take 12 Gauge stocks, which are easier to find, anyway.

I have an 1100 stock, vintage but in good condition, that I might want to sell, cut down to 12 5/8" LOP over an old Pachmayr pad -- that's about as short as you can go with an 1100 because of the buffer tube in the stock. With a thicker pad like a modern Limbsaver, it would have a longer LOP, around 13" probably. You'd feel nothing, though.

Or, you could look for an LT-20 instead. She may not want to swing an 8 lb. gun, recoil or no. I don't have a cut-down LT stock, however.:)
 
If you go the route of the newer 20 ga. Remington 1100 or the 11-87 Youth gun (or the 870 Youth), you can find a 'beater' stock and cut it down.

Other stocks that will fit are the Remington semi-auto and pump rifles, such as the 742, 7400, 760 and the 7600 series rifles.
These buttstocks are the same as the LT series (new) 20 ga receivers.

I found one at a gunshow recently, for $10.00 and cut that down for my son's 870 Youth gun.
 
All good suggestions, but I very strongly endorse replacing the recoil pad with a unit from Kick-Eez, Limbsaver or Remington's R3 (a licensed version of the Limbsaver). These pads are way more efficient than the old-style pads, and can remove up to 50% of felt recoil. They're a must-have as far as I'm concerned for use by beginners.
 
Preacherman wrote:

All good suggestions, but I very strongly endorse replacing the recoil pad with a unit from Kick-Eez, Limbsaver or Remington's R3 (a licensed version of the Limbsaver). These pads are way more efficient than the old-style pads, and can remove up to 50% of felt recoil. They're a must-have as far as I'm concerned for use by beginners.


+1
Agreed. . . 100%!

Whatever you do, you don't want to 'rattle her teeth' the first time out and have her walk away for the rest of her life from the sport.
 
If you are a reloader and/or skeet or sporting clays shooter, I'd definately go with a 28ga. 28ga is simply amazing, very low recoil, amazing patterns, and so much fun to shoot that even if she doesn't get into shooting you'll still have a gun you love. I've heard that even if you don't reload you can sell the once fired hulls on ebay for an obscene price to bring your cost down closer to 12 or 20ga.
 
There's an ad posted at my club for a 28 Gauge 1100 for $450. I haven't seen the gun. I wish I could afford it right now, if it's in decent shape.

However, a 20 makes a lot more sense for the casual shooter without a load of cash. It's nice to be able to grab some Remington Sport Loads at Wal-Mart if you run out (the hulls reload well, too), rather than HAVING to load your own before you can shoot, or spending way too much on 28's. Just my opinion. 28 is getting a lot more play lately, but not to the point of being commonly available in cheap promo shells like 12 or 20.
 
Thanks

Thank you all for the responses. I've decided to go with the 20 gauge. All the 12's were to heavy for to swing and aim easly.

I'm looking at either the NEF 20ga. Single shot break-away. or the mossburg 500 (I think) 20ga youth pump.

Wally world has the NEF for $95 and the mossburg for $199. plus the recoil pad of course.

I'm thinking of going with the NEF due to cost. If she like shooting it enough we'll start shopping around for better guns.

Any complaints or compliments on the NEF's?
 
Lots of us have and like the NEFS and their H&R ancestors. There is a downside.

These are so light that even in a 20 gauge, recoil is exascerbated. Use a good pad on the weapon and another on her.

Triggers run heavy, oft more than the weight of the weapon.

Otherwise. these are delights to carry and oft to use. Keep the loads light and enjoy....
 
My friend and his wife moved down to Southeastern New Mexico this last fall and wanted to try their hand at some quail hunting.I meet them at Wal-Mart and showed them some guns and after holding and checking if the gun would fit her they made their choice.NEF 20gauge was hands down the one. Recoil was one of her main concerns but I couldnt tell her "it kicks like a .243" the lady never even fired a real gun besides some BB gun.But Rick and his wife had nothing but great things to say about the gun and how it really was a joy to shot.One of my first shotguns was a 20gauge H&R and I hunted all kinds of upland birds and small game with that wonderful little gun.A single shot will teach you how to become a better shot because of the single shot.You learn the skill of one shot one kill method of hunting. O and you will have alittle more shells after the hunt then your hunting partners.
 
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If you can find a used 20ga 1100 youth for a good price snach it up. My wife is 5'3" short arms and loves hers.
 
From a Southern Cop............

BigCT,

Listen, I've read all the reply's and recommendations. I guess everyone has their opinion. I'll throw in mine for what its worth.

I recommend sticking with a 12 gauge in whatever configuration you, or your wife, are comfortable with. A used 870 Remington or Mossberg 500 with a 18" barrel will work fine with regular Wal-Mart #7 1/2 or 8 shot. I know, I've seen what birdshot will do to soft tissue at 30 to 50 feet. Nasty!

Don't use buckshot or slugs unless you've trained with them extensively. Buckshot will penetrate sheetrock in your house like a hot knife through butter. I've tried all the tests.

Okay, finally, if you're not comfortable with lead shot inside your home you can buy rubber buckshot readily available through CheaperthanDirt.com. Rubber buckshot is good stuff and will deter anything 2 or 4 legged.

Just food for thought,

HiVelocity
Cop in SC
 
I'd like to post an alternate opinion ..... don't buy any gun at all (at least, not yet).

You said yourself that your wife has never shot trap or skeet before, she wants to try it to see if she likes it first. There's no point in spending money on a gun if she doesn't like the sport.

Go to a gun club and rent a shotgun that fits her. Make sure that its a gun that fits her smaller stature .... you've probably seen Dave McC talk about guns for pixies .... 4'6" and 100 lbs ranks as a pixie I think. A soft shooter semi-auto in 20 gauge with a youth stock might be a good place to start (actually a 28 ga gun would be ideal but then you'll end up buying one for her and another for yourseld and maybe another one just 'cos .... but you do get to blame Steve ;) ). Most gun clubs should have a smaller gun for the smaller folk, if not borrow one. Please don't hand her a full house thumpenboomer that doesn't fit her and watch her get knocked on her butt with the first shot ...... quickest way to turn her off the sport there is!

Once she has a try with a rental gun (maybe even on 2 or 3 different occasions) she'll have a much better idea as to whether its a sport she wishes to pursue or not. At that stage, then the two of you can think about shopping for a gun for her.

Most important point is the gun must fit her if she's to have a hope of hitting clays and enjoying herself.

Spinner
 
i have a nef 20 gage single shot it was my first gun and i love it it shoots good clay targets it dont matter
 
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