Well the future wife wants a shotgun for home defense

[Defensory]

I would NOT recommend ANY shotgun with only a pistol grip and no stock, for a beginner like the OP's wife, who already has problems handling the recoil of a standard stock, full size shotgun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgwCOdBdS64

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77cst8nB7Sk

 

[Lazuris]

Who cares what gun you get, that woman she's a keeper. I'm lucky if I can get mine to play with my "gun" let alone want another lead slinger in the house. Wanna trade?

 

[jasonguerard]

I think I've posted this before........
My wife is 5'4 and115lbs.
She keeps a 20ga youth model pump in the bedroom loaded with #2 buck.
Benefits:
Polymer stock is light and short.
Barrel is short as well.
5 rounds with plug removed.
To fix the manipulation issue we keep a spent shell in the chamber and the safety off. Its a lot easier to rack the slide than find the safety. You may have to drop the hammer on the empty chamber to release the slide without having to fumble for the slide release, make SURE its a spent shell or a snap cap!

 

[bukijin]

Although I love the sheer authority of my 12g coach gun my gf doesn't enjoy shooting it. I agree with everyone who has recommended 20g. The platform is up to her I think.

 

[Dr. T]

I have 2 12 gauge HD shotguns, an 870 with Knoxx SpecOps stock and a Benelli M2 Tactical. The 870/SpecOps is lighter in recoil, but the Benelli gets more lead downrange faster with no worry about short-stroking as I might do on the Remington. The Benelli has no problems cycling with low-recoil 00 Buck despite a Mesa Tactical sidesaddle and a Comfortech gel pad.