Help my wife!

H

Hardcase

New member
I took my wife out to shoot sporting clays last weekend. We had a good time, but her shoulder took a real beating. I'd like to get some advice on what to do about it.

She started out shooting a 12 gauge Beretta semiauto. I think it was a 391. It didn't hurt terribly, but the barrel was kind of long for her and she had a real problem swinging it at crossing shots (it's also a fairly heavy gun). Then she switched to a Browning Superposed (also a 12) with a nice short barrel, but it just beat the tar out of her.

She also shot a Winchester 101 with 20 gauge tubes and, later, 28 gauge tubes. She handled that really well.

For what it's worth, she's also shot my Winchester 1897 and Model 50 and neither (as you might expect) was terribly comfortable.

The 101 seemed like a great setup for her, but there's no way that she's going to let me spring for that kind of money. Also, I think that it was kind of cheating a little - it has the weight of a 12 gauge, but with those extra tubes, it can shoot smaller shells.

All of the guns had whatever recoil pad the factory put on them. She was wearing a t-shirt, just like the rest of us.

So, I think that what might be the thing would be something with 23" barrels and maybe in 28 gauge, unless you guys can think of something in a larger gauge that isn't going to hammer on her so hard. She'll shoot a semi, a double or even a pump - she really doesn't care about the action, she just doesn't want it to take four days to recover from an afternoon of clays.

And as a side note, she's not averse to shooting something with a little kick if she knows that she'll "toughen up" and not get so bruised. I've got to say that she was a real trooper at the range and didn't call it quits when it hurt - she just took a break at a few stations, then asked to try a different gun. I was pretty proud.
 
When it comes to gals... Dollars matter!!!
Get her "fitted" OOL, Zipper and BJP would be proud... Then get her gun fitted... then get her lessons... Not every gal is a Biker's chick who likes single shot sawed off guns from the hip...

Brent
 
Good job getting her out to shoot a shotgun for something fun!

Sounds like a gun fit issue

DON'T go for 23" barrels........28" barrels aren't that heavy and they will really help with swing dynamics.

She needs to shoot the heaviest gun she can handle with the lightest loads that work well in the gun.

My wife loves her Beretta A400 semi - it is lighter than the 390/391 series, has the kick-off system and I reload 7/8oz loads for her and me

Don't buy those 1-1/8oz 3 or 3-1/4 dram shells - find 1oz or 7/8 oz loads running 1200 fps. get the gun fitted to her, add a lesson and you'll have a lifetime shooting partner

The advantage of an O/U as you saw, is the ability to use sub-gauge tubes - those add weight that helps with recoil - just make sure they don't add too much up front
The advantage of the semi is the gas action adds a little weight and the gas system elongates the recoil pulse making the felt recoil seem less.

Finding the right one for her is part of the fun and challenge, but with the right one, her shooting will be that much more enjoyable

Good luck!
 
I've known some petite ladies very successfully campaign some big guns. Their stocks were properly fit and many of them have recoil reducing devices. I've been beat to death (in the face) by a W-101 because of the fence-board thin butt stock.
 
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Part of what you're realizing is recoil is not fun to a new shooter ...so you need to figure out what is best for her...

Picking the right shells is part of it ...so if you go with a 12ga - then go with 7/8 oz of shot no faster than 1200 fps ( maybe 1150 fps )...like a traditional 20ga load. If you go with a 20ga - then stay with the 7/8 oz load - and no faster than 1200 fps ...or drop down to 3/4 oz loads in a 20ga. Picking the right shells is a big part of this issue...

A solid breech gun ( an Over Under or a pump are not your best option ) ...you want something that will give a little - so stay with a semi-auto. If you do go to an O/U ....then get her some lessons ...and get the gun fit ...or it'll be a big mistake ( and buy a gun with a lot of adjustability built in - parallel comb / with an adj comb is better than most other options in terms of fitting people).

A gas operated semi-auto is probably a good choice ...and you have to judge her upper body strenth for swinging a gun ...but a standard Beretta semi-auto is probably around 8 1/2 lbs ...and you said that's too heavy ...so I'd look at a Browning Silver Hunter ...in that 6 1/2 ( in a 20ga ) or 7 1/2 lbs in a 12ga .../ alloy receiver ...lightens them up a little ...

http://www.browning.com/products/ca...11&type_id=350&content=silver-hunter-firearms
and in my area they're selling new for a little under $1,000 ...so they're a very good deal. A gun with a 3" chamber is plenty...and they come in 26" or 28" barrels ...and most big retailers are stocking them so they're easy to get. Winchester has a version as well ...and Browning owns Winchester now ...so there's a reason they look the same.

There are a lot of other models from Beretta --- the 391 series has all kinds of options from --- youth models ...to higher end models ...from $ 750 - $ 2,000....

Benelli Super Sport is a gun that my younger granddaughters ( 15 yrs old now ) ...in a 20ga or a 12ga ...( at 6.2 lbs / 12ga 7.2 lbs ) ....but those guns new are up around $ 1,875. But you have to be careful if you go Benelli - you will want a synthetic stock - that has the Comfort Tech system in it ...or it will beat her up. Don't go to a wooden stocked Benelli ..

You might ask around at your club ...there may be a number of guys that will loan you a gun ...in 20ga or 12ga ....for her to shoot a little / before you spend money on a gun. There are a lot of good used Remington 1100's or 11-87's out there ...and if you find one with screw in chokes --- they can be a good value...

If the budget is there ...a very good sporting clays gun ..in an Over Under is the Browning XS Skeet model, with the adj comb ...comes in 20ga or 12ga ...and new they're around $ 3,000.

No matter what - make sure she has fun with this process !! - and you'll be just fine.
 
I've known some petite ladies very successfully campaign some big guns
Click to expand...

Absolutely!...Two women shooters I shoot with on occasion shoot heavy guns - 1 is a 8.25# Browning, the other is a 9# Kreighoff - first women is late 60's, the other is early 70's - both are 5 foot nothing and barely over 100# - but as has been beat to death - both of them have had their guns fitted to them
 
Find a Remmington 1100 to borrow for a round of 25, see how she likes that. If she feels it isn't too bad, then get a good recoil pad for it, she'll like it even more! If the length of pull is too much after that pad, cut the stock shorter. I made my 1100 fit me. It's a gun for shooting and enjoyment, not a fashion contest. My gun probably has 50% less kick using the same exact factory ammo than my wifes 870 does. I modified my gun because there are times I will shoot 5 to 6 rounds of 25 in a row. My wifes gun would really punish me doing that!

I bought a Rem 1100 in 20 gauge for my niece. It still has a fair amount of kick, more than I was expecting, but as-is from the factory I could do 125 in a row no problem.

If you can reload then you can make things a lot less violent for her.
 
Your wife

So how many rounds did your wife fire that weekend? A sore shoulder may mean she was not accustomed to the constant recoiling into the shoulder area. Perhaps it's not a question of which gun to use as opposed to getting used to the one she already has.
 
Good point, grousechaser. This was, I think, the third weekend that we've been out in five weeks. The first weekend was a round of 50 sporting clays with the 1897 with a slip-on recoil pad and 1 oz loads. The second weekend was with the Model 50, but she didn't care for it (it's a non-gas auto), so she switched to my 1897 with a steel (!) buttplate. That was 25 rounds of skeet, also with 1 oz loads.

This last weekend was two rounds of sporting clays, so 100 rounds. That's when we went out with some of my friends, so she tried out several different guns. The sheer number of rounds certainly played into the bruising and pain. Also, I wasn't paying attention when I bought the shells and I picked up 1 1/8 oz loads. Whoops! :o

Arizona Smithshooter, one of the 1897s has a Limbsaver slip on pad and that, I think, made a huge difference when she shot that gun. I don't recall her complaining at all about it hurting (the light loads probably helped, too.)

She does want to get a lesson or two, and one of the clubs here will take care of her. The more I think about it, the more I think that the Beretta is the best choice, along with a lesson and a vest with a shoulder pad. One of my buddies will sell me his like new 391 for $600. I think that we may go that route and set her up with a proper lesson. The best plan might be to borrow the gun, see what they can do about fitting it, then if it can be done, follow up with lessons and fun.

I should add that one of the problems that I have is that my wife suffers from cheap-itis. I can't get her to understand the value of a high quality shotgun. Believe me, I've tried every angle, but all she sees is the dollar sign. No matter - we'll get this worked out.
 
Let her know, that over the course of time, the gun will be the LEAST expense - and would she rather keep buying a lot of cheap guns because they keep breaking, or a good gun once because it lasts?.....;)
 
One-ounce is correct. Do the math and you will find out even spending $3000 on a shotgun will be the least expense after a few years of regular shooting.

My wife is a lil thing, 5 6" and can't stand recoil. After trying one of these out I bought her one. She can fire 100 rounds and not even have a bruise. I don;t know this seller, I was just looking for a link to a Browning Sporting Clays Gold. It truthfully shoots softer than my Shotgun which cost a LOT more.

If you can find one to try have her try one out.

http://www.trapshooters.com/cfpages/sthread.cfm?threadid=261501&Messages=21
 
As many will attest, I have a severe case of cheapitis.

I was also terribly beaten the first two times that I attempted to shoot trap with a relatively light weight Remington 870 12 gauge with a synthetic stock. These guys told me to shoot some low recoil loads, until I got used to shooting. I don't know if I got the mount quite right, but low and medium velocity 1 and 7/8 ounce loads are now a breeze.

A semi may be a good idea for your wife, but not just any semi auto if that is what you go with. Let these guys help you pick one out that, if it is what you want, can properly cycle light loads. As for fit being important, again they are right. Keep in mind that some brands and models are easily adjusted with the use of shims, but others are next to impossible to adjust.

If your wife is really cheap, like me, then you have a reason to get into reloading and spend, I mean save, more money.
 
:) We are remodeling our bathroom. My wife bought some lights to go over the vanity that the globes were pointing up. I told her that it wouldn't work the lights would be to high and to close to the ceiling. She wouldn't see it my way she wanted those lights and that was that. :mad: I talked to the guy doing the work and he agreed with me on the lights and said he would talk to her. We let every thing cool down and the next day he explained why those lights wouldn't work. That day she took the lights back and bought some lights that worked just fine. I am sorry for the long winded story but you see where this has taken us. Let someone else tell her she needs a quality shotgun. :D Lots of luck! Don
 
Good advice from all. We'll be out of town for the holiday weekend, but the weekend after, she's going to schedule a lesson at the club. I'll make sure that she talks to the coach about picking the proper gun.

Funny thing - she doesn't fuss when I spend big chunks of change on my rifles or pistols. She's just got a mean cheap streak when it comes to her stuff. I guess that's better than the alternative, but sometimes it drives me nuts.
 
As a woman who has been there and done that, here is what I use:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/71019-1.html

PAST Hidden Comfort pad is not very thick, so it doesn't get in the way or feel "odd" when I am wearing it. The velcro straps hold it in place very nicely, it doesn't shift around much. In hot weather, it's much cooler than wearing a vest. The core does a very nice job of absorbing recoil. I have a 12g Beretta AL391 Teknys and I can shoot multiple boxes of shells in a short time without recoil bothering me at all.

I tend to prefer collared shirts with a button placket (polos) rather than crew neck t-shirts or sweatshirts, so it's quite easy for me to slip it inside the shirt when I am ready to shoot without hustling off to the restroom, and then pull it back out again when I am finished. Since it's inside the shirt, there are no straps running across the back and chest to get in the way like the "strap on" limbsavers. Very convenient to use.

I bought 2 so i can have one in the wash and one in the shooting bag.

I linked CTD because it had a photo. Optics planet also carries it, and numerous others.

CHeaper than buying a new gun, but it also will let her try multiple guns to find the right one for her. I love my Beretta.

Hope this helps.
 
wife's shotgun

Agree with M4B - try a Remington 1100. These gas-operated shotguns dramatically reduce recoil effect. My wife and daughters have shot mine with comfort, and they are very durable and reliable.
 
She's planning on going with the Beretta, pending a lesson in a week or two. I think that, along with reasonable loads and a recoil pad, she'll be comfortable with it. The only issue is getting the right fit.

I think that part of the attraction of the Beretta is that my friend is giving us a really great deal on it. Oh, and the bruise is almost gone :D
 
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