marine6680
New member
My fiance wants to try clay shooting. Nothing big, just informal shooting at a local range. So no need for a high end gun... Just reliable and good value. Around $500 or so, maybe more.
Some info:
She likes a lighter gun. We tried a few, and the lighter ones were the ones she prefered. She also liked a thinner grip area, as it fit her hand better.
She shot my old winchester pump in 12ga using target loads, and did not like it. The recoil was the problem, but it is a wood stock with a pastic but pad, not the best combo for shooting comfort.
She has shot an AR in .308 and the recoil was fine, she has also shot a G3 and didn't mind the recoil. So if we can get a shotgun that recoils no more than that, I think she will be happy.
I was thinking of getting her a 20ga, for the lower recoil. I am a little worried that the ammo selection is not as wide as 12ga.
I was also thinking a semi will be better for recoil as well.
If a 12ga can be had that will soak up recoil, then that is an option.
We looked at a Benelli Montefeltro, that she liked a lot... but it was a grand for a basic model.
A Franchi, she liked it ok. I was about $750.
An 870 pump in 20ga, she also liked it ok. It was about $375 I think
A Tristar G2, she liked this one a lot, about as much as the Benelli. Very similar in feel to the Benelli. It was $470
They had, but we didn't look at, a Stoeger, They are about $500.
The Benelli, Franchi, and Stoeger all use the Inertia system. The Tristar is gas operated.
I am concerned about the oring in the gas system of the Tristar... I know a few other makes use them, seems like they might wear out quickly. Should I be worried about that?
So, is a 20ga a good choice, or is 12ga better? Can the 12ga semis with a good but pad tame the recoil?
Any barrel length I should look at? Some of the models she liked best, the shorter stocked "youth/compact" was her preference, the Benelli and Tristar were standard stocked though, and still her favorites. Length of pull was better she felt.
Thanks
Some info:
She likes a lighter gun. We tried a few, and the lighter ones were the ones she prefered. She also liked a thinner grip area, as it fit her hand better.
She shot my old winchester pump in 12ga using target loads, and did not like it. The recoil was the problem, but it is a wood stock with a pastic but pad, not the best combo for shooting comfort.
She has shot an AR in .308 and the recoil was fine, she has also shot a G3 and didn't mind the recoil. So if we can get a shotgun that recoils no more than that, I think she will be happy.
I was thinking of getting her a 20ga, for the lower recoil. I am a little worried that the ammo selection is not as wide as 12ga.
I was also thinking a semi will be better for recoil as well.
If a 12ga can be had that will soak up recoil, then that is an option.
We looked at a Benelli Montefeltro, that she liked a lot... but it was a grand for a basic model.
A Franchi, she liked it ok. I was about $750.
An 870 pump in 20ga, she also liked it ok. It was about $375 I think
A Tristar G2, she liked this one a lot, about as much as the Benelli. Very similar in feel to the Benelli. It was $470
They had, but we didn't look at, a Stoeger, They are about $500.
The Benelli, Franchi, and Stoeger all use the Inertia system. The Tristar is gas operated.
I am concerned about the oring in the gas system of the Tristar... I know a few other makes use them, seems like they might wear out quickly. Should I be worried about that?
So, is a 20ga a good choice, or is 12ga better? Can the 12ga semis with a good but pad tame the recoil?
Any barrel length I should look at? Some of the models she liked best, the shorter stocked "youth/compact" was her preference, the Benelli and Tristar were standard stocked though, and still her favorites. Length of pull was better she felt.
Thanks