Looking for semi 12 or 20 with least recoil

[hillbilly]

My wife is a shooter.

She shoots (and carries in her vehicle) a full-sized 1911 in .45 ACP.

She shoots my AR-15 and has an M-1 Carbine she calls her(and I am not making this up) "little baby gun."

Okay, now that y'all have become insanely jealous, here's my request for help.

She has fired my Rem 870 in 12 gauge and doesn't like it.

She can shoot it in a self-defense situation, but she would like to try popping some clay targets.....


Soooooo......what is the absolutely lightest recoiling shotgun in either 12 0r 20 gauge that would suitable for popping lots of clay birds that can be had new or used for around $400 to $500?

I'm not a shotgun guy, but I know enough to figure that gas-operated semiautos will probably be the way to go here.

But what suggestion can y'all make?

Thanks,

hillbilly

 

[9mmMike]

You're on the right track. Any semi will likely be fine for her. I like Remington 1100's and any of the Beretta 390 series.
My bride also shoots and she can shoot my 870's in 12 gauge as well as the 1100 in 12 ga but the overall size of the gun is a little too much for her so she shoots an 1100 Special Field (essentially an 1100 LT-20) in 20 gauge. This gun fits her very well and she really likes busting clays with it.
She also has a 16 gauge Wingmaster but it is built on a full-size frame and she does not shoot it much.
The key, I think, is not so much the recoil but gun fit, especially for a gal who is already a shooter.
Mike

 

[JNewell]

Gas operated will have less recoil than the alternatives.

Within that category, two of the biggest factors are weight and stock fit. The 7 1/2 ~ 7 3/4 pound 390 that I shoot has about the same recoil (perceived) as the 6 1/4 pound 11-87 that one of my sons shoots, with skeet loads.

It might be worth seeing if folks at your club/range will let your wife try out some different gas guns before you buy?

 

[TrapperReady]

Gas-operated. Either Remington 1100 or Beretta 391. The problem with the 391 is that although it is an excellent gun, any that I've seen (even used) are well above your stated price.

A lot of folks would recommend the Remington 1100 in 20ga. My neighbor's wife shoots one (better than he does) for sporting clays and pheasants. I've shot it a few times and like it. However, I've NEVER seen a used one for sale locally.

As for 12ga vs. 20ga, it's really up to her. My wife shoots a fair amount (almost entirely shotguns) and is relatively tiny. For her, it's less the recoil, and more the overall weight of the gun. She started on a 20ga Benelli, which she picked largely because it was the lightest gun she could find. After a while, she took my 12ga Benelli, and has been shooting it ever since. That gun has more recoil than others she's shot, but she likes it due to it's light weight.

Other posters have commented upon fit, which is really critical. Too long a stock can make a gun seem uncomfortable and difficult to shoot. That same gun with an appropriate LOP can be just right.

 

[45auto]

I'd go with a used Remington 1100 in 12 gauge if she feels comfortable with the weight. You can shoot light 12 gauge loads and still have the weight of a 12...less recoil.

Add a good recoil pad which helps in felt recoil also.

As mentioned, stock fit is important. Lot's of 1100 stocks around both new and used. Same for bbls.

 

[9mmMike]

Regarding recoil....

Neither of the 1100's here (12 & 20) have recoil pads. They are both English-stocked with the hard plastic butt-plates.
Recoil is not an issue. These things really do shoot softly.
My bride's biggest complaint about the 12 gauge is just that it feels cumbersome for her to wield.

 

[CaCrusin]

Try the 870 with a CompStock

The best solution for your wife is the 870 with a CompStock on it. The CompStock cuts net peak racil by 54.8% and makes shooting magnum slugs and 3' buck shot loads fun. Ask others on this board or elsewhere about the Knoxx CompStock. Your wife will love you even more.

CaCrusin

 

[Tomac]

Saiga-12 or Saiga-20.
Tomac

 

[esldude]

Three shotguns I have shot are noticeably soft shooting. The Remington 1187, probably a bit too expensive. Remington 1100's which are in your price range. And the Beretta 391 (presumably the 390 also, though I haven't shot one of those).

Now a Mossberg semi-auto, shoots almost as softly as the above list. And their 20 ga, which is what I recommend, is quite nicely sized for your purposes. Don't know the recent price, but should be in your budget.

 

[fecmech]

You can buy a new beretta 3901 at Wally World for a hair over $500. and it is exactly the same as the old 390 with the exception of a composite stock and total matte finish. ( I have over 35k thru my 390) That said one of the big factors in 12 ga recoil is the ammo. Most of the promotional ammo is either 3dr equiv 1 1/8 oz or 3 1/4 dr equiv 1 oz. which both have substantial recoil. Spend about an extra $1-$1.50 per box and buy the 1 ounce 2 3/4 dr. loads by any of the major mfgrs and that along with a gas operated 12 ga would be the least recoiling outfit you can use. Gas operated 20's kick the same or even a little more due to their light weight. If you reload go to 7/8 oz. at about 1150-1200 fps. Nick

 

[sm]

1100 20 ga.

Might find one used.

IF...and I doubt it , she needs a recoil pad , replace the factory plastic one with a Pachmayr Decelerator.

You know about gun fit to shooter to lessen perceived felt recoil.

With the Factory Mod screw in choke and #3 buck...seen patterns rival that of Scattergun and Vang....without spending the extra monies.

For clays , buy the skeet choke and with the other 3 chokes - she is good to go for whatever she wants to shoot clay- gamewise. Heck most hunting as well.

 

[hillbilly]

Thanks for all the replies.

We are taking a borrowed Beretta AL390 in 20 gauge to the range on Saturday.

And, we'll see what else we can scrounge up, too.

hillbilly

 

[Kar-el]

Keep an eye on the gun rack at wallyworld.

I just picked up a Beretta 390 in 20 gauge with a 26 inch barrel and 3 chokes for $350. It was marked clearance.

While "I" didn't have a need for a auto 20 gauge at this moment I have 9 and 10 year old boys who just might.............

 

[nico]

Since noone mentioned it yet, I'll throw in a nod for the Winchester Super X2. I've had mine for about two years and although I can't compare it to the other gas guns mentioned since I've never shot them, I can shoot my gun all day with no problems. Cleaning is also no big deal (I've heard from other people that most gas guns are a pain to clean).

 

[cgv69]

A Beretta AL391 is going to be one of the softest shooting semi out there (and one of the best quality semi's too). Typically they are out of your price range but here's a gently used one that's not to far off and it sounds like he's willing to trade\talk. This is a damn good deal...

Beretta AL391 for $600 shipped

 

[JNewell]

I just picked up a Beretta 390 in 20 gauge with a 26 inch barrel and 3 chokes for $350. It was marked clearance.

That is, as they say, a smokin' good deal. I bought one last year in 20 ga for one of my boys for $4-something and thought I got a good deal. What you get: Beretta AL390 with synthetic stock with a removeable 1" spacer so you can adjust LOP. Ours came with 5 choke tubes but no wrench (and the 4 tubes not in the gun were 12 ga tubes, exchanged by BUSA for free) :banghead: The barrel is a narrow "field" VR. It does not have the magazine cutoff that the non-WallyWorld 390s and the 391s have, but that's only an issue if you hunt with the gun. It's performed perfectly for us with both field and target loads.

My personal guesstimation is that the 390 is as reliable as the 391 in every practical respect, and it's a whole lot easier to strip and clean, but YMMV. If I wasn't sure I'd get beaten over the head with it when I came in the door I'd be on my way to Walmart to buy another right now.