Cheap 20 gauge? For lady friend

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wacki

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I need a cheap, light, 20 gauge shotgun so I can take my girlfriend trap shooting with me.

A used single shot breech loading 20 gauge would be fine. If she gets into the sport I'll get her a nicer shotty.

any recs?
 
Sundry single shots are around for less than $150, often much less.

However, even in 20 gauge these can reek havoc with a new shooter due to recoil. That's even with a decent pad, and most singles have them not.

If you get one, please use the 3/4 oz training loads from Fiocchi et al. 7/8 oz field loads will present a problem for most folks.

A better choice would be a pumpgun. The 88, 500, 870 or other used shotgun will be economical and last longer than we'd expect things to do. Like a century or so.

DO get it fitted to her. I'd rather shoot a Mossberg that fit than a Perazzi that didn't.
 
I echo the pump recommendation. The single shots (like mine) can have a very heavy kick with full power loads, even in 20ga.. I'm currently planning to add some weight to mine to mellow the recoil.

Regards,
Dirty Bob
 
Well, the big question is do you really want her to like it or not? If yes, get her a Remington Model 1100 in 20 gauge, paerhaps a youth model depending on her stature. If no, it don't matter.
 
A mossberg 500 youth 20 gauge is should be found for under 250 bucks.

#3 buckshot is also supposed to be a decent defensive load for 20 gauge.
 
Well, the big question is do you really want her to like it or not? If yes, get her a Remington Model 1100 in 20 gauge,
Click to expand...

Plus 1 on the 1100/20 guage.almost zero recoil.A single shot 20 will kick the snot out of you in comparison . If you go the gas gun route and plan on shooting with other trap shooters,make sure you get a shell catcher so hulls arent pelting the shooter next to you
 
My H&R single shot 20 Gauge kicks about the same as my 12 guage Mossberg 930.

I would recommend a pump or semi-automatic for a new shooter.
 
Get a 20ga Gas Operated Auto if you want her to keep shooting with you. A Pump or Single Shot if you would prefer to leave her home the next time.

It makes that much of a difference. Perceived recoil on something like a Rem 1100 is MUCH LESS than a pump or single shot gun. The action really soaks up the recoil.

Oh, and watch the Benelli Autos - that recoil inertia system kicks just about as hard as a pump action gun. A Gas operated Semi-Auto is the softest shooting.
 
Here's what I'd probably do if I were in your shoes. I'd probably get the Rossi combo. I'd opt for the 12 ga (not the 20 ga) and .22LR combo.

I would get a set of chamber gauge reducers. You can get them here ( http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t.../search-box.jsp.form23&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1 ).

If you are dead set on the 20 ga (less versatile), you can merely get the gauge reducers for that shotgun too.

Then I'd start her out shooting .410 - you'd be amazed at how nice it shoots out of a bigger gun with these adapters at least according to the panel of experts (also known as my sons).

Since she has a single shot and only needs ONE gauge reducer and they come in sets of TWO, I'd keep a set for yourself (for amusement, or whatever) as she only needs one gauge reducer for each size.

After she's thrilled (and not beat up from the recoil) with the .410, move up to .28 gauge, etc. She will tell you when she doesn't want to go with any more payload (and recoil).

It will be a nice way to get her acclimatized to a shotgun.

Also since she presumably has the .22LR barrel (the Rossi combo), she can have fun shooting that as well.

She will also have some other inexpensive options to try out with her 12 ga here ( http://store.dinaarms.com/ ) or here ( http://www.mcace.com/ ).

Just my 2 cents worth.

I hope you and her enjoy her new shotgun whatever you decide on.
 
Just my 2cents.

My 5-foot wife once tried shooting a 20ga Mossy pump and it knocked her off her feet. The guy that let her try it had it loaded with full bore hunting loads. I had to do a *lot* of convincing to get her to ever try a shotgun again.

Whatever shotgun you start her with, make sure you start her out on the softest target loads you can find. Hopefully, she'll get hooked and learn to out-shoot you eventually.

Good luck.
 
I was dead set on getting a cheap 20 gauge shotgun just to see if she will pick up the sport and then invest in something better later on. Seems like many people are saying I need to go big or go home though.

Ioweegian, my gf is rather petite. I won't gain much from getting a 12 gauge single shot shotgun. The reason I picked 20 gauge is because she can't handle the recoil and has problems lifting heavy guns. Do you still think I should get the 12 gauge?

Also, what is up with all the pump recommendations? I fail to see how pumps can help reduce recoil.
 
My womanly advice..... I have to agree with the others who have suggested getting her a nicer gun to start. You want to maximize the fun of the first shoot. If you want to give someone their first beer and for them to like it, you don't start out by giving them steel reserve. Just my two cents.
 
Many single shot 20s runs less than 5.5 lbs. Most 20 gauge pumps run less than 6.5 lbs.

Way back when, the Brits figured out that for a sporting gun, the weight of a properly fitted gun should run 96 times that of the shot charge.

For 1 oz loads, a gun weighing less than 6 lbs will kick hard. For the 7/8 oz found in most 20 gauge loads, 5.5 lbs is the bare minimum for experienced shooters.

New shooters get racked hard, often losing their desire to shoot thereby.

Therefore, I recommend a 20 gauge shotgun that weighs at least 6 lbs, maybe a touch more. It should Fit her, and be equipped with a premium pad like the Decellerator or Sims.

Trust me on this. And also when I say a lesson or ten from a trained, qualified instructor is well worth the money.
 
+10000000 on a lesson from an instructor. I can't put into words how I do some of the things that I do on a daily basis. I can't imagine trying to explain shooting to a novice. My wife won't pay attention to me anyway and I surely can't teach her how to shoot, because I'm just not a good teacher...especially with her.
 
Depending on the size of your lady friend, how about a Remington 870 youth model. I still have mine from when I was younger and still love it. Or you could get a 1100 in 20ga.
 
Why not get a 12 gauge and some Winchester Winlite reduced-recoil target ammo? It only cost something like a buck a box more than the regular stuff. It's about 15/16 oz. at only 980 FPS. Kicks about as much as a .410. It's great for recoil-shy newbies.

There's also a 20 gauge Winlite load that's 7/8 oz. at 980 fps. But regular 20 gauge tends to not be all that much weaker than 12, and the lighter weight of the typical 20 gauge usually means the felt recoil is just as bad as 12 ga.

Oh, and Remington makes a low recoil target load that's 7/8 oz. at 1100 fps in both of those gauges, as a step between Winlite and normal target loads.
 
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