Shotgun for the lady, need ideas.

My wife (all 5'2" of her) uses a 12 gauge Beretta A303 with a ladies stock from Wenig and nice, thick Kick-Eez pad for skeet and sporting clays. I handload 7/8 and 1 oz shells for her to use, but she has no problems with factory 1 oz and 1 1/8 oz.
She's also shot my 20 gauge Model 12, doesn't like it as it beats her up even with really light loads.
 
Poochie said:
My wife (all 5'2" of her) uses a 12 gauge Beretta A303 with a ladies stock from Wenig and nice, thick Kick-Eez pad for skeet and sporting clays. I handload 7/8 and 1 oz shells for her to use, but she has no problems with factory 1 oz and 1 1/8 oz.
She's also shot my 20 gauge Model 12, doesn't like it as it beats her up even with really light loads.
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May I ask what you had to fork over for the stock from Wenig? I looked them up and for a stock set for my 1100 they want $875 USD... So for that I would probably just get her a whole gun.
 
Another suggestion, I taught some small frame younger ladies to shoot. I used my 20 ga guerini summit with fiocchi 3/4 ounce trainer factory loads. The gun shot amazingly soft and broke targets with authority.
 
yidava25 said:
May I ask what you had to fork over for the stock from Wenig? I looked them up and for a stock set for my 1100 they want $875 USD... So for that I would probably just get her a whole gun.
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I purchased just the butt. It was about $400, ready to bolt on. Pricey for a hunk of wood, but worth every penny to me. Have to look out for my best shooting buddy. I've got a 425 Sporting with an adjustable stock, and I can get the comb high enough for her, but it just doesn't fit like the Wenig. Nice tall parallel comb, the toed-out butt pad to avoid the "sensitive bits", pistol grip designed with a smaller radius to better fit a lady's hand and placed closer to the trigger. I've got some pictures at home I can post up if you like.

I'm in Calgary, if you're ever down this way with your girlfriend, let me know and we can go out to the club and she can try out my wife's gun.

Cheers,
Ken
 
Cool, thanks Ken. I'll definitely consider that option.
The latest tangent on which I've gone off is the possibility of getting a Boyd's butt stock and fitting it for her myself/with local help.
For about a $100 investment we could determine whether or not this is something worth pursuing.
 
This is turning into a really interesting thread. I like seeing the different options we've come up with to introduce our other halves to the sport.
One problem I see with the 28ga option is the low pellet count. We're almost back in .410 territory. Resale might be an issue too down the road. Factory ammo is expensive, although reloading for 28ga is certainly affordable once you have a supply of good empties.
I'm still partial to a 20 autoloader for her. Should be doable for under $1500..
 
Chilly807 said:
This is turning into a really interesting thread. I like seeing the different options we've come up with to introduce our other halves to the sport.
One problem I see with the 28ga option is the low pellet count. We're almost back in .410 territory. Resale might be an issue too down the road. Factory ammo is expensive, although reloading for 28ga is certainly affordable once you have a supply of good empties.
I'm still partial to a 20 autoloader for her. Should be doable for under $1500..
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I don't KNOW, but I THINK, 28g is often used by skeet people.

It is an oddball though.

1500$ should get you a semi Benelli or Versamax...
 
Oh there's no shortage of options once I'm ready to spend $1500. What I'm looking for first is a cheaper option that we can use to determine whether or not she enjoys the sports. I've got a few ideas, thanks in part to this thread!
 
Chilly807 said:
One problem I see with the 28ga option is the low pellet count. We're almost back in .410 territory. Resale might be an issue too down the road. Factory ammo is expensive, although reloading for 28ga is certainly affordable once you have a supply of good empties.
I'm still partial to a 20 autoloader for her. Should be doable for under $1500..
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I've shot and patterned all three gauges and the 28 is closer to the 20 gauge than the .410. Comparing standard target loads, the 1/8 ounce difference between the 28 and the 20 isn't as noticeable as the 1/4 ounce difference between the 28 and the .410.

Using #9 shot:
1/2 oz. = 292 pellets
3/4 oz. = 439 pellets
7/8 oz. = 512 pellets

I'd still be partial to a 20 gauge auto loader too but not because it outperforms the 28 but because of the availability, price of ammo and it's a far more versatile gauge particularly if hunting is part of the equation.
 
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Chilly807 said:
This is turning into a really interesting thread. I like seeing the different options we've come up with to introduce our other halves to the sport.
One problem I see with the 28ga option is the low pellet count. We're almost back in .410 territory. Resale might be an issue too down the road. Factory ammo is expensive, although reloading for 28ga is certainly affordable once you have a supply of good empties.
I'm still partial to a 20 autoloader for her. Should be doable for under $1500..
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The 28 gauge is a huge step up from the 410, my skeet scores with the 28 gauge are as high as with a 20 gauge.
 
An old Browning A5 autoloader will kick so little that the only thing on a girls mind is where the clay is. The barrel comes back with the recoil and soaks up all the kick.
Find some of the highest rated muffs - which may not be electronic - but that's okay - women can hear so well, they don't need help. Reducing the sound does as much to reduce flinch as adding two pounds to the gun.
 
anchor3593 said:
An old Browning A5 autoloader will kick so little that the only thing on a girls mind is where the clay is. The barrel comes back with the recoil and soaks up all the kick.
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With a recoil action the A5 has more felt kick than a gas gun and it is not a good recommendation for any new shooter much less a new woman shooter.
 
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Claybuster said:
With a recoil action the A5 has more felt kick than a gas gun and it is not a good recommendation for any new shooter much less a new woman shooter.
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I only have two other autos to compare to, so I will not push my opinion as truth - a featherweight daughter adopted my A5 as her own and took it away. It was her words saying that the recoil was so little that she didn't even think about it, but only where the clays are. If you know of a lesser-kicking gun that I can get her, maybe I can get my A5 back.
 
anchor3593 said:
An old Browning A5 autoloader will kick so little that the only thing on a girls mind is where the clay is. The barrel comes back with the recoil and soaks up all the kick.
.
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My wife's gun that she uses for trap is sort of a reverse A5. The barrel on it jumps forward almost 2 inches when it is fired. It is a Browning Recoilless, it lives up to its name and it is quite something to shoot.

Yidava25, your wife would be welcome to try it out as well.
 
anchor3593 said:
I only have two other autos to compare to, so I will not push my opinion as truth - a featherweight daughter adopted my A5 as her own and took it away. It was her words saying that the recoil was so little that she didn't even think about it, but only where the clays are. If you know of a lesser-kicking gun that I can get her, maybe I can get my A5 back.
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Any gas-operated autoloader. Remington 1100, Beretta A400, Browning Gold, Winchester SX3. But if she likes the A5 and is convinced there's no recoil then she's probably best off just being left alone. So instead of buying a new gun for her buy a new one for yourself!
:cheers:
 
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