Shotgun for the lady, need ideas.
- Thread starter yidava25
- Start date
This can be a big problem with sub-gauge guns, especially if they are designed to be hunting guns like the Beretta 686. Hand loading and a gun that weights 7 lbs or more will keep it fun.
Too bad you don't live in Ontario, I'd let you have a go with my SX3 in 20 gauge. It's 6 lbs 8 ounces so it is light, but with the nice decelerator pad and the gas action, it is a pussy cat.
- Location
- Jameson, SK
I should get her a decel pad.... Maybe even a Mercury recoil tube
You can try that. Certainly a well fitted decelerator pad will help.
It's so easy to miss with a .410 which could be disappointing to a new shooter.
- Location
- Jameson, SK
Good for a chuckle, thanks. No, she's not 8.
I'm over the .410 idea. I do plan to start reloading for 12g regardless of how this experiment pans out.
So, barring a really sweet deal on a 20g, I guess I'm looking for a 12g semi which is either adjustable or cheap enough that I can bring myself to bubba it till it fits her well enough for a try at least.
I will get her to try my cousin's 20g 870 youth before I buy anything though.
Have you guys seen the Syren lineup? WOW.
- Location
- Jameson, SK
I've seen it as of now.....WOW is right!!!
I see that Syren is a sub company of one of those shotgun makers that sound either Italian or Spanish, and have many names in their name.....that's an automatic re-mortgage of the house right there!!!
I wonder what people's thoughts are on 28g??? The ammo would kill you to buy, but if you're reloading, it may be worth it, and it may help her out.
My wife is little (5', 105lb - when she's not carrying the parasite that she's had for the last 22 weeks). She is also not 8. The Citori micro Midas fits her well, but I've read that in most cases a kids gun DOES NOT equal a ladies gun. I do know a couple ladies that have had the Benelli semi with the recoil "compensator" in them in 12g with no problems....
I see that Syren is a sub company of one of those shotgun makers that sound either Italian or Spanish, and have many names in their name.....that's an automatic re-mortgage of the house right there!!!
I wonder what people's thoughts are on 28g??? The ammo would kill you to buy, but if you're reloading, it may be worth it, and it may help her out.
My wife is little (5', 105lb - when she's not carrying the parasite that she's had for the last 22 weeks). She is also not 8. The Citori micro Midas fits her well, but I've read that in most cases a kids gun DOES NOT equal a ladies gun. I do know a couple ladies that have had the Benelli semi with the recoil "compensator" in them in 12g with no problems....
Lol..I'm surprised I haven't gotten flamed yet for not including the Winchester and Remington semi-autos .. which are good guns too. The Winchester SX3 is the same as the Browning Silver, I think. Nothing wrong with an 1100 Remington either, as long as they're reliable with the ammo she'll be using.
You can certainly shoot clays with a pump gun, although it makes true pairs and doubles challenging. Most pumps won't jam unless you short stroke them in the heat of the action.
Some friends and I were discussing the demographics of clay shooting sports this weekend, by coincidence. I think we agreed that the single largest increase in numbers has been young women and kids under 18. That's great for the sport, and should send a clear message to the gun manufacturers that they need to include guns suitable for small framed shooters in their lineups.
Maybe more important is to also offer light load target ammo at the same price as the regular 1 1/8 oz stuff. Challenger offers a 12 gauge 7/8 oz target load, Cabela's sells them. I shoot 7/8 oz regularly, the heaviest I'll normally use is 1 oz. I have two flats of 1 1/8 oz 3 dram Gun Club that I bought a year or so ago, that only gets used when I need empties for reloading. The Gun Clubs reload very well, at least as good as AA.
Might be a good reason to buy an A400 Beretta, though.. lol.
You can certainly shoot clays with a pump gun, although it makes true pairs and doubles challenging. Most pumps won't jam unless you short stroke them in the heat of the action.
Some friends and I were discussing the demographics of clay shooting sports this weekend, by coincidence. I think we agreed that the single largest increase in numbers has been young women and kids under 18. That's great for the sport, and should send a clear message to the gun manufacturers that they need to include guns suitable for small framed shooters in their lineups.
Maybe more important is to also offer light load target ammo at the same price as the regular 1 1/8 oz stuff. Challenger offers a 12 gauge 7/8 oz target load, Cabela's sells them. I shoot 7/8 oz regularly, the heaviest I'll normally use is 1 oz. I have two flats of 1 1/8 oz 3 dram Gun Club that I bought a year or so ago, that only gets used when I need empties for reloading. The Gun Clubs reload very well, at least as good as AA.
Might be a good reason to buy an A400 Beretta, though.. lol.
- Location
- Jameson, SK
Was just looking at the Browning Cynergy Micro Midas. Only available in 20g, and 6lbs. It's the 6lbs that's the big problem.....
The 7.5lb syrens would kick the same, or less.
Nothing wrong with a versamax...
The 7.5lb syrens would kick the same, or less.
Nothing wrong with a versamax...
You can add weight to a shotgun by putting lead in the stock bolt hole, I've never done it yet though.
I have a Citori Lightning in 20 gauge that's a good candidate for it. If I didn't use the gun for hunting in the fall I probably would try the lead trick.
It came with no recoil pad at all, even with a shooting vest on it was getting old after 75 or 100 shots. After pricing a gel pad for the vest pocket, I slipped in a piece of 1/4" thick wetsuit material. That helped quite a bit, it's ok now.
I'd definitely recommend a shooting vest for the young lady in question, Browning makes some nice stuff "for her". A pad in the shoulder pocket will never go wrong either. If she doesn't enjoy herself she'll quit, and a sore shoulder really takes the fun out of shooting.
My personal low limit for range gun weight is ~7 lbs with a recoil pad, any less and it's going to be unpleasant over the course of a day. Yes, I'm a wuss.. lol
I'm also 6 feet and 210 lbs, that gun weight isn't an issue at the range for me.
I can carry the Lightning all day in the hunting season, firing a dozen shots isn't an issue with a shirt or light jacket on.
I have a Citori Lightning in 20 gauge that's a good candidate for it. If I didn't use the gun for hunting in the fall I probably would try the lead trick.
It came with no recoil pad at all, even with a shooting vest on it was getting old after 75 or 100 shots. After pricing a gel pad for the vest pocket, I slipped in a piece of 1/4" thick wetsuit material. That helped quite a bit, it's ok now.
I'd definitely recommend a shooting vest for the young lady in question, Browning makes some nice stuff "for her". A pad in the shoulder pocket will never go wrong either. If she doesn't enjoy herself she'll quit, and a sore shoulder really takes the fun out of shooting.
My personal low limit for range gun weight is ~7 lbs with a recoil pad, any less and it's going to be unpleasant over the course of a day. Yes, I'm a wuss.. lol
I'm also 6 feet and 210 lbs, that gun weight isn't an issue at the range for me.
I can carry the Lightning all day in the hunting season, firing a dozen shots isn't an issue with a shirt or light jacket on.
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Having helped many women get into shooting I would second the recommendations of a Remington 1100 or similar firearm in 20 or 28 gauge and doubling up on ear protection. Get a cut down stock if necessary and use only light target loads.
I like sub-gauges for first-time females less for recoil than gun weight. Women often don't have the same upper body strength as men. If they become tired using a heavier gun their stance will suffer and the gun will start hitting them harder.
Start a female shooter slow. Get them breaking a couple of easy target (skeet low 7) and let them process what they've learned. Having instructed both ###es women process information differently. Also check for eye dominance as I've found women are more frequently cross dominant than men.
If possible get them some professional instruction. Too many women get put off the shooting sports by dumbass husbands and boyfriends who have no idea what they are doing.
I like sub-gauges for first-time females less for recoil than gun weight. Women often don't have the same upper body strength as men. If they become tired using a heavier gun their stance will suffer and the gun will start hitting them harder.
Start a female shooter slow. Get them breaking a couple of easy target (skeet low 7) and let them process what they've learned. Having instructed both ###es women process information differently. Also check for eye dominance as I've found women are more frequently cross dominant than men.
If possible get them some professional instruction. Too many women get put off the shooting sports by dumbass husbands and boyfriends who have no idea what they are doing.
Once a woman shooter has had some exposure to the choices, and tried some of the options, listen to her likes and desires.
Most women shooters have some opinions of their own once they get started.
Many women are turned off shooting sports by being talked down to, or being what they feel as "pushed around".
I find more women are open to spending enough to get a really good gun when they get into the sport, unlike the common cheapskate boyfriend who just wants a bargain.
Most women shooters have some opinions of their own once they get started.
Many women are turned off shooting sports by being talked down to, or being what they feel as "pushed around".
I find more women are open to spending enough to get a really good gun when they get into the sport, unlike the common cheapskate boyfriend who just wants a bargain.
Are there any women shooters on this board who can add some insight to this topic?
I don't think you can go wrong with a combination of proper gun fit, decelerator pad, decent weight (7lbs+) and low recoil ammunition. Proper gun fit is probably the most important thing on that list.
I don't think you can go wrong with a combination of proper gun fit, decelerator pad, decent weight (7lbs+) and low recoil ammunition. Proper gun fit is probably the most important thing on that list.
So true. One of the women I was helping at shooting event had been told by her husband to use his gun. It was a 12 gauge Browning that weighed close to 9lbs. choked mod and full with an almost 15" LOP, a bit much for a woman 5', 2" tall. It was kicking the snot out of her and she wasn't hitting a thing.
I handed her my 28 gauge and she proceeded to ink ball the next two targets and she immediately offered to buy the gun. She used it for the rest of the day and did pretty well. I put her in touch with a dealer who set her up with a 28 gauge Beretta o/u. The last I heard her husband wasn't all that happy with me because of the gun's cost and because she's outshot him a few times.
I've mentioned this before in another thread.
A while back I took an older 870 in 20 gauge and my A-5 in 12 to shoot some clays.
The 20 hit harder than the 12.
A semi would probably serve her well in a 12 gauge with light loads.
A while back I took an older 870 in 20 gauge and my A-5 in 12 to shoot some clays.
The 20 hit harder than the 12.
A semi would probably serve her well in a 12 gauge with light loads.
- Location
- Jameson, SK
What does 28g cost a guy off the shelf??
Epps has a whole whack load of Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I including a 28 gauge for $2,805.00. They are really light, around 6-1/2 lbs.
Volume shooting with a 28 gauge is a reloader's game in my opinion. You can load a 20 gauge down to 3/4 oz which would be about the same as 28 gauge but you have the versatility of the 20 gauge still.
