HD shotgun conundrum... advice?

[j_charles]

I am in the market for a shotgun for HD use. This is something that I would like my wife to be able to handle effectively should I be absent/incapacitated for any reason. Brand is not my issue. I already figure it'll be a Mossy 500/590 or a Remington 870 express (the stock on the 870 puts it in the lead, as it is compact enough for my wife to hold comfortably.) My wife is not "into" guns like I am, and has very little interest in regularly shooting, though she will go with me occasionally.

My real question is about guage choice. My thinking so far has been to look in the 20 g. direction, because, although no .22, the recoil would be less than a 12. However, how would a reduced recoil load of #4 buck be in the 12 guage when compared to the 20 g.? I really would prefer a 12 g. for it's versatility (hunting, SHTF, etc) and commonality over the 20. But it's not going to do me much good if my wife is afraid/incapable of shooting it/practicing with it.

Any advice from those who have dealt with the same conundrum would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Fred Fuller]

My wife tried a 20 ga. 870 Youth gun a few years ago when she was shooting 3-gun. Unfortunately, the 20s weigh less than the 12s, and there are (AFAIK) no reduced recoil buckshot and slug loads available for the 20 ga. guns.

She went back to her 12 gauge, and still uses it.

Proper stock fit and a premium recoil pad, along with good form and a proper gun mount, will help handle a lot as far as recoil is concerned.

lpl

 

[Dave McCracken]

There's 4 12 gauge 870s here and one 20.

The 20's the hardest kicker. With one oz loads instead of the usual 7/8 oz, it borders on bad.

The only advantage a 20 gauge 870 has over the 12 for smaller shooters is the lighter weight. Said 20 weighs 6 lbs, 2 oz as it sets.

The lightest 12 here runs about 7 lbs curb weight.

Whether that's better for your spouse is not for me to say. Try a few guns out and let her pick.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I have the same experience here. I can even throw a double barrel into the equation as I have one that weights about 5.5 pounds. Not good for any heavy loads. Go with the 12 ga and low recoil buckshot. Make sure it fits her.

 

[gentleman987]

Get her a 12 with one of these
http://www.defensereview.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=675
they work great and reduce allot of recoil
you can also try reduced recoil loads

 

[sm]

Let the wife choose it.

While I agree with Dave and Lee...
The best kept secret is a 20 ga semi auto.

Let the wife shoot a variety of guns, and include getting some skeet , five stand, sporting clay, shooting gals to assist. These gals are a hoot!

I am not biased, I am just biased is all.

Good used guns such as Beretta 303, 390, Win 1400, and Remington 1100 are actually doing home duty for some gals.

Oh please let this gal meet some clay busting other gals and drive the husband nuts with shotguns, reloading, reloading components...shooting glasses, shell pouches, shell-knocker-outers...

Will Fennell, can I get a little back up here bro' ?

*I stay in twouble*

 

[357wheelgunner]

I have never found a 20 gauge to recoil less than 12 gauge bird loads or 12 gauge reduced recoil buckshot.

You can load a 12 down, but you can't load a 20 up.

20s run lighter, meaning more recoil with similar loads.

Get the 12 gauge and make sure she practices with birdshot and reduced recoil stuff so she doesn't get scared away from the gun.

 

[owlhoot]

On the Remington website the company is ballyhooing a newly developed recoil pad which they claim will reduce perceived recoil by half. It will now come standard on several of their rifles and shotguns. Check it our. It should be just what the doctor ordered.

It is important that the stock not be too long for your wife. If you have a miter saw you can cut the stock to fit and replace the recoil pad. Sand the pad down so that it looks good. You will be able to shoot a shotgun with the stock a little too short without difficulty or discomfort. But your wide won't be able to comfortably or properly mount the stock to her shoulder if it is too long.

By all means get a 12 ga. But use Winchester low noise, light recoil target loads while teaching your wife how to use the gun. These loads have the picture of a feather on each hull. They are real creampuff loads. Once your wife is comfortable with the light loads, introduce her to the HD loads.

 

[sm]

Winchester 1400 is the softest shooting shotgun -period.
The 20 gauge is a dream to shoot even with buckshot and slugs.

There are a lot of folks that are using that gun for home, property, clay and hunting duty.

It is also one gun I always made sure I had in teaching new students.

 

[ConstantineJ9]

I like the Browning semi autos(cheap used ones).

 

[wnycollector]

My wife does not like my maverick 88 12ga even with low recoil fiocchi 00 buck. She tells me its not the recoil as much as using the pump! She worries that if push came to shove she would pull the trigger once and forget to pump another round in the chamber. I remind here the more she practices the better she will get...but it falls on deaf ears most times. I dont want to push the shotgun thing to much since I would rather have her spend her limited range time with her CC pistol.

To make a long story short we have compromised on an old 16ga SxS coach gun as her "go to" shotgun. She likes it because it is "idiot proof" point, pull trigger(s). A SxS coach gun has a pretty simple manuel of arms for inexperienced shooters. If you had a 12ga SxS you could also use low recoil buck!