20 Guage shotgun for my lady.

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Clockwerk

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Recently I took my soon to be wife to the shooting range and she got to shoot my Benelli Nova and my friends Super Nova both in 12g. She did not like either due to recoil even though the Super Nova has the recoil reducer so I figured I'd get her a 20g for her birthday gift instead. The POU for the shotgun will be for home defense and also for clay I was wondering if anyone has a suggestion for a shotgun? She never liked my cousins 410 saiga either due to its length. Thanks again for you suggestions.
 
I bought my wife a youth/ladies winchester pump oohh so many years ago and she has never wanted for another shotgun. The kids started on them and while the daughter still uses it from time to time my son has moved on to one of my 12ga O/U's. He is still in his 20's so he thinks he needs all that shotgun but I am sure he will learn that the 410 is all that is needed when he matures a little.
 
I was thinking of a Mossberg or a Remington due to its ease to accessorize I'm not too familiar with Winchester :p. But I'll take a look into those.
 
If cost isn't a factor, a Beretta with a 26" barrel and a shortened stock would be great. I have one that was given to me and it is as soft shooting as they come (of course the one I have is in 12 ga). It would be hard to have a gun that works for clays and also for defense because I recommend a short-barreled gun for HD, and clays needs something typically around 26"

You could get her something like an 870 with a barrel for HD and a barrel for clays if that is in the budget, and possibly a limbsaver to take a little more recoil off
 
With autoloaders it's a balance between shooting loads with enough recoil to cycle the action and loads too light to do so, at least in the field that's the case.

I shoot both 12 and 20 gauge fixed-breach guns in the field and at trap, both gauges can hit pretty hard with game loads. With light target loads both gauges are quite civilized, my wife shoots these loads comfortably.

I guess what I'm saying is a 20 gauge by itself is not a certain way to obtain lower recoil forces. And, unless you reload, the ammo is usually more expensive.

One last thing that occurred to me is perhaps in a single shot situation like trap, maybe you could run a too-light-to-cycle load though an autoloader. It's been so long since I messed with an one I'm not sure what happens if it doesn't auto-eject.
 
@Txhoghunter : Yeah I was thinking the 870 route due to simplicity and plenty after market accessories. I clay with my Benelli Nova "tactical" haha people just look at me funny.

@Bikemutt : I've tried the "low recoil" rounds on the 12G even in the Supernova and she even fired it from the hip its more of a weight issue for her than it is a recoil issue I think. She just got into shooting and I guess she wants to work her way up from 20-12G and etc. Yeah ammo for the 20G can be higher than the 12G sadly lol! I may go with a autoloader but I have to take her to the shop and make sure she likes the "feel" of the gun.
 
If size was not a problem the Benelli 20ga nova that I have is considerably lighter than the 12g version. I also do some shooting with my Franchi 48AL but it is in 28ga and that is one light gun. I have heard some people complain about the 12ga versions of the Franchi but the 20 on seem to be very solid.
 
If the gun doesn't fit her (and it sounds like that is an issue), NO gun is going to be comfortable to shoot. 20 gauge guns can have as much, or more, recoil than a 12 because they tend to be lighter by a pound or more.

The HEAVIEST gun she can handle that fits, coupled with the LIGHTEST loads will give her the lowest actual recoil. A properly fitted gun will reduce the perceived, or felt, recoil. A gas action and good recoil reduction system will aid in reducing the felt recoil.

But the gun still needs to FIT
 
Yeah I mean I don't think its actually the recoil issue but rather a issue holding the shotgun up. She shot my friends 50AE Desert eagle repeatedly fine (LOL) but when it comes to any long gun the weight of the gun itself seems to be a issue because she's extremely petite :p. SO I figured that with a 20g being slightly lighter due to less metal on the gun it'd be lighter + recoil reduction accessories added, but my logic may be flawed haha.
 
Nothing wrong with your logic that I can see.

A properly fitting stock is critical, but it's important that she not have to over-extend her support hand forward on the gun either. That's especially true if you get a pump rather than a semi-auto. And it's important to keep weight in front of the support hand down, so no magazine extensions etc.

fwiw,

lpl
 
20 Guage shotgun for my lady.
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I'll take that trade. Wait, send me a picture... of the gun. :)

Seriously. We headed to Gander Mountain to get my wife a 20 gauge pump so I could have back my beloved 12 gauge Stevens 311. She said she wanted a Charles Daly !??!.

Then the Stoeger Double Defense caught her eye. Wow, she wanted than gun! If it had dual triggers she would have bought it on the spot. As it is, she put down the pump and came home to decide if she could live with a double with one trigger. She'll get it. I've never used a single trigger. Do they work OK?
 
My better half picked out her own shotgun and decided on a CZ Redhead Deluxe 12ga. O/U. The gun is pretty heavy, and I started her out with #8 shot 7/8oz loads. She is a pretty small girl and we had the LOP shortened to 13 3/4 in. She loves it. Now I have to buy twice as much ammo. But its all good. Can't wait till my 9 year old can shoulder the awesone 410 side by side at my local gun shop. She's already doing quite well with the CZ Scout 22lr that Santa brought her for Christmas. ;)

C55
 
20 guage

Just curious why nobody's mentioned a 20 guage Ithaca featherlight pump. They're light enough, seemed well balanced, don't have the large forearm? I've been thinking of picking one up, they seem nice; maybe a little pricey for a pump???
 
I have been hunting around for a 20ga Remington for a lady friend. Hard to find one used at a nice price though.
 
Just curious why nobody's mentioned a 20 guage Ithaca featherlight pump. They're light enough, seemed well balanced, don't have the large forearm? I've been thinking of picking one up, they seem nice; maybe a little pricey for a pump???
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That light weight that makes them a joy to carry all day also means more recoil transmitted to the shoulder. If this will be a gun carried a lot and shot a little (typical of a hunting gun), that is one thing -if you want it for targets, you really don't want light weight
 
I agree you're looking for a gas operated auto. They don't require any particular level of recoil to work, and attenuate some of the recoil. My choice was a Beretta.
 
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