Shotgun for wife

C

cobra81

New member
My wife has expressed an interest in shooting clays with me, and I want to get her a gun that won't intimidate her right off the bat (recoil & size).
Was considering either a semi-auto 12 ga. or an O/U 20 ga. w/ 26" barrel. I really don't think she would like a pump-gun. She's only 5'3", so I want her to have a gun she's comfortable with.
I saw a Stoeger O/U 12 ga. that had 26' barrels....reasonably priced. I can load up some light 1oz. loads for her pretty easy. Any Stoeger owners out there with input? If I go the auto route, what would be a good choice?
Thanks guys.
 
get a nice recoil reducing gas gun...with a limbsaver pad on it. That and the right loads shouldnt put her off using it. Theres remington, benelli, and a few others, can you rent some and try them?
 
Gun for wife round 2

We visited a gun shop today that has a resident gunsmith, and got much the same advice you guys mentioned above. The little Mrs. put a bunch of guns to her dainty shoulder, and pronounced a Rem. 11-87 12 gauge "her favorite."
It is becoming apparent she is definitely going to favor a light gun, and an autoloader is about all she would consider after hoisting a couple O/U's.
The gunsmith said he could either cut down the 11-87 w/ 28" barrel, or order her a youth model after fitting her.
I'm just thinking that if I buy her a youth model and she starts getting into this like I hope, I'll soon have to buy her another gun in full-size as she progresses. I'm thrilled to have her enthusiastic about shooting, but this could get expensive quick! On another issue, the gunshop recommended a 20 gauge for lesser recoil, which is fine, other than my MEC 9000 is unfortunately 12 gauge. I'm not real keen on having to buy a 20 gauge reloader also!!
Since she liked the 12 gauge 11-87 anyway, we are leaning that way, just not sure whether to have it cut down, or order her a youth model.
Any advice from those of you who've been there would be appreciated!
 
The difference in the 12 and 20 gauge guns is going to be primarily in weight -- not in recoil. If she can handle the weight of the 12 gauge gun, you can find a shell that won't knock her around. My wife shoots a youth model 20 gauge because she cannot handle hefting the weight of a 12 that is about a pound and a half heavier. The recoil is pretty much a wash between the 12 and the 20.

Your wife won't "grow out" of the Youth Model (unless she is 12 years old, and that is probably peculiar to South Carolina:rolleyes: ). The Youth Model has a shorter stock to fit her shorter arms and a shorter barrel to balance the gun.

Clemson
 
You can always buy the basic setup and then just get a youth stock. They can be swapped out. Guns stays the same. Barrels of course can simply be swapped out.

I disagree that the difference in a 12 and a 20 is just weight using standard shells. If you are loading light then that is true but as general rule 12 kicks much more.
 
The youth model is going to balance better than a cut-down fullsize gun will, unless you swap out the barrel too, in which case you might as well have bought the youth model in the first place.

Gun fit is everything in shotgunning. She's not going to move up to a "real" gun if she starts with a youth model. The youth model is a real gun, only smaller. (Pet peeve: I wish they wouldn't call em youth models! The term is inaccurate. While they are indeed better for large-framed male youths who have not yet attained adult size, they are often the ideal size for smaller-framed adult males and the majority of adult females).

Use light loads, and get a Limbsaver pad. Also, a Heraean Shield (from PAST) is a wonderful, marvelous thing and (skip this next part, gents) tell her not to wear a bra that has hardware on the front strap when she's shotgunning.

Also, um. Consider having someone else teach her to shoot the thing. Proper technique is important, but it's probably easier on both of you if she learns it from someone without an emotional investment in the process.

pax
 
Pax,

After trying to teach my wife to shoot and to drive a mannual transmission I agree 100% with your last statement. Unfortunately your about a year too late. :)
 
The gunsmith said he could either cut down the 11-87 w/ 28" barrel, or order her a youth model after fitting her.
Click to expand...

A retail store with a resident that cares about their customers; cool.

A youth stock still may or may not fit your wife. If they'll fit her and cut down the stock, go that route. FWIW, the LOP on a Remington youth stock was still too long for my wife and had to be cut down more.

Denny
 
Wife's shotgun

Thanks folks,
Pax, I couldn't agree with you more on your last sentence. We've been married 22 years, and get along great most of the time, but she won't be getting her shotgun training from me.....I don't bother her when she's hanging wallpaper, either.

I think the "youth" model moniker led me initially to believe that this gun would only be a stepping stone to a "real" gun; after reading your well-put posts I have come to the conclusion now that if a youth model fits her and she shoots well with it, she'll keep it as long as she likes!
First and foremost, I want her to be comfortable shooting a gun that fits her. I want to stack the deck any way I can to promote this becoming something we can enjoy doing together for a long time.
We'll go back and get her fitted to determine LOP and hopefully come up with a winner; I really liked the way she held and swung the 11-87.
 
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