Recommendations for a Lady?

How do you shoot with your single shot? I would maybe suggest to try to build up the comb with tape, sheet(s) of foam (wrapping material inside parcels), moleskin, etc. or sand the stock if too high. For length of pull, adding spacers made of thin sheet of wood if too short or a slip-on pad. The suggested gunsmith could help you. Since you have already the gun, it would be only to get some reference points to how a somewhat fitted gun should feel like at little cost. Most of the changes would be easily reversible if you decide to sell the gun at one point. I would suggest a 12 gauge shotgun using 1 ounce load. Even though you are not sensitive to recoil, it makes shooting more pleasant and won't really affect your shooting. It may even help it, less fatigue. I would recommend in you price range a Remington 1100 (not an 11-87) or a Beretta 303 with screw-in chokes. The best plan is to try different gun and see what you like. I have included a short decent video on gun fitting to get you started. The tip with the straw is neat and give you a quick reference. Even though I know how a gun should fit I tried it and it gives you a good idea. The link for the video is:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hsKCO8Mcfk
Good luck with your search.
 
do not buy a 20 gauge. the 12 gauge has many more advantages then the 20.
1, there will always be 12 ga shells at a trap club/shoot.
2, more choices for load type.
3, they are a little heavier, recoil would be less,
4, you'll be able to try out many different models at most trap/gun clubs, not so much with the 20
5, more choices for make and model in trap specific guns.
 
How does one follow Ashcroft? :d What he said.

To reiterate a few things he said (because there are dissenting opinions) 20 Ga is far less versatile than 12 and with equal loads, does not recoil less. If you can find one to try out, that's awesome. I would note that "fit" and "feel" are related but not the same. Almost any gun that feels right can be made to fit if necessary. Not necessarily the reverse.

Your budget is low. You can buy a shotgun for that though. If you don't like it, you can probably turn it over with little or no loss.

For now, try to find one that is close to fitting. A proper fitting would eat up half your budget or more.

If you only shoot 2 rounds of trap a week, your ammo and target costs will about equal your gun budget in about 4 months.

Don't get sucked in to the fine points. For now, "It ain't the choke. It ain't the gun. It ain't the load" Work on technique and the mental game for a while. By then you'll have a better idea what you want in a shotgun.

Welcome!
 
Lady tehMa said:
I'm in the Okanagan valley - so far I have shot in Spallumcheen (North Okanagan) and up near Big White.

I too, am in the Okanagan Valley. Both are good clubs to shoot at. Has anyone in either of these clubs offered any help in allowing to shoot their guns?

What gauge are you looking for 12 or 20 you need a shortened stock?

Have you tried shooting the shotgun your husband is shooting? if so what make and gauge is it? how does it shoot for you?
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Rob! said:
Don't get sucked in to the fine points. For now, "It ain't the choke. It ain't the gun. It ain't the load" Work on technique and the mental game for a while. By then you'll have a better idea what you want in a shotgun. Welcome!
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This is excellent advice. Too many beginners get wound up in the details before they have even shot a few thousand rounds. At the beginning, spend your money on ammo, not the gun.
 
My husband is using his grandfather's gun (his dad is loaning it to him). It's a Winchester I think. I reach a little, it feels large to me. Everyone at both the ranges has been super sweet and helpful.

I only hit 10% of the shots the first time I went out (I figured even one would be great, on my first day). Last time out I'm hitting about 40%. I'm hopefully breaking the "aiming" habit. Right now I'll be happy if we can get out a couple times a month, life is pretty busy still.
 
Well, you've already found out that trap shooters are friendly, welcoming and helpful and you have lots of good clubs not too far away. As already mentioned, at this stage in your shooting curve you don't need a perfectly fitting gun, although it's a great goal you haven't yet had enough experience to get the most benefit from it. You need to shoot as often as you can and develop good habits and shoot with purpose. For instance, many clubs will happily allow one or several shooters to work on one problem target repeatedly, such as shooting 5-10-25 consecutive shots from one station or with the machine locked to give the same presentation repeatedly. This can't be done in conjunction with a regular round of trap of course but there is often slack time available for shooters to work on problems such as hard rights from station five for some. If for instance it seems that you just can't hit these or miss far too many "simple" straightaways, the best cure is to shoot this target repeatedly until you can hit it consistently. Many clubs have one or more beginner's trap shooting clinics during the year and these are frequently attended by multiple women. These are typically a two day weekend affair with mornings spent in the classroom and afternoons on the range with one on one coaching. There is usually a nominal cost for these clinics to cover expenses to the club, instructors frequently donate their time. Check to see if one of your nearby clubs will be offering this for this summer, you will advance farther in two days than you will all summer by just shooting. If this Covid thing doesn't get in the way our club will run one of these clinics later this summer and it might be within your reach. Contact me for details.
A little on gun fit, what to look for, but remember, it isn't critical for you at this stage.
You must determine your master eye, right, left or neutral in the beginning, it can forestall a lot of grief later.
Most women in general, compared to men require -
Shorter stock, 5'6"-5"8", usually about 14"-14 1/4" length of pull
5'4"-5'6", usually about 13 3/4-14" length of pull
5'-5'4", usually about 13 - 13 3/4" length of pull
Higher comb, such as Monte Carlo type. This is built into some trap guns but not field guns. The usual modification to get this is to add an adjustable comb and/or a fully adjustable butt pad which can also adjust for length of pull.
Slimmer stock and forend
Tighter grip, putting the hand closer to the trigger.
Any good solid 7-71/2 pound reliable gun fitted with a fully adjustable recoil pad ( not a recoil reducer) should serve you well fot the first few years, maybe much longer. Many women stay with singles, not shooting doubles, and very many of these eventually settle on a Browning BT-99, usually with an adjustable recoil pad and win lots of matches. Shoot lots, shoot with purpose, break 'em all!
 
Lady tehMa said:
I only hit 10% of the shots the first time I went out (I figured even one would be great, on my first day). Last time out I'm hitting about 40%. I'm hopefully breaking the "aiming" habit. Right now I'll be happy if we can get out a couple times a month, life is pretty busy still.
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Has your instructor had you at the pattern board? if you don't know where the shot is going your scores could remain low. 40% of 25 is what 10? I think a few shots at the pattern board you could almost double that score. It helped me a lot knowing where to shoot found my gun is shooting about 70/30+, so I have to be under the bird or is miss for sure.

Search Browning, How do I check for POI and pattern my shotgun great info.
 
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I'm not spending any money on instruction - it's a family friend who is trying to get more people into the sport. I don't know if we have paid instructors in the area 0.o
 
If you are having fun, just carry on! Shooting a light weighing single shot in 12 gauge can be punishing due to recoil. Generally, shotgun weight is beneficial in taming recoil - most sporting guns are at the heavy end of the weight spectrum accordingly. However, heavy guns can be problematic from shooters with a smaller frame (not just women) as they struggle to cantilever the gun.
So, a decision needs to be made regarding what is acceptable regarding weight and frame size (eg Length of Pull - see previous post). This can lead into purpose built small frame guns, which in turn may lead to a lesser gage (and lesser recoil). Yes, you can get 1 oz 12 gage loads, but they are not always available. Conversely, you can easily get 1 oz 20 gage target loads for the same price.
Good Luck in your quest - try as many guns at your club as possible, before you pull the trigger.
 
You've gotten a lot of good advice so far and it's difficult to add to it so I'll tell you what my wife did when she started shooting. To start with, a 20 gauge gun was never considered because there is no advantage over the 12 gauge gun in any way, period. She also wanted to shoot sporting clay's so pump guns and single shots were not considered. She tried several different 12 gauge guns and purchased a semi auto and after while decided that she didn't like it so we knew it had to be an over under. Her first o/u was a Browning Leige and she eventually decided it was awkward feeling so she tried the Beretta Gold E Sporting I had at the time and fell in love with it. We found her the same gun with 30 in barrels and had an adjustable comb added as well as a Graco adjustable recoil pad, then we had someone who actually knows what he is doing set it all up for her and it fits perfectly! She still shoots this gun today and does well with it.
The advantages of having a sporting clay's gun over a dedicated trap gun are that you can shoot all shotgun disciplines with it and not just trap. She regularly shoots sporting clay's as well and the gun could be used for skeet, 5 stand or hunting if she was inclined to do that (which she is not). Her gun tips the scales at 8 lbs which is typical for that model and she never feels that the weight is too much but she has tried my 8.75 lb sporting gun and thinks that it's probably too much. 8 lbs mitigates a lot of recoil and is more comfortable to shoot all day than a 7 lb field gun so that's a big advantage. Being a double gun, it can also be used for trap doubles which is something you can't do with a specialized single shot trap gun. Another advantage of the sporting gun is that it has a Schnabel fore end which is slim and fits her small hands better than the large beaver tail fore ends that most trap guns have.
A used Beretta 682 may or may not be in you budget and I'm not promoting that particular model but the point I'm trying to make is that there is no disadvantage to getting a sporting clays gun over a dedicated trap gun, only advantages. They're sort of the Jack of all trades gun that can be used for anything you want to do so it's well worth considering. Besides, if your like most shooters you'll go through a few guns before finding what you really like!
 
@Ashcroft touched on it with the length of pull and other fitment.

I would recommend trying to find a gun with an adjustable stock, or getting a gun that has a good aftermarket selection.
You could also get a gunsmith to size it after you purchase it.
 
Lady tehMa said:
I'm not spending any money on instruction - it's a family friend who is trying to get more people into the sport. I don't know if we have paid instructors in the area 0.o
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I know of one instructor in Kelowna, can’t use his name as I have not used his services nor have I talked to any of his students.

I still go back on my suggestion use a pattern board to know where your shot goes is important. Using it I saw I shot better with two eyes open than one.
 
The fellow has mentioned a pattern board, but we haven't done that yet. If I don't improve further, I may look into instruction. But that would take away from my gun budget so I'll consider that later.

Our family just joined the CCFR - seemed like a good idea.
 
There's not much to be gained from going to the pattern board with a gun that you don't plan to shoot.

Initial instruction is good so that you know the basics and don't form any bad habits from the start but then you need to shoot for a while before getting more advanced instruction. It also doesn't hurt to have some one experienced to look over your shoulder the first few times you shoot to spot any problems.
 
Held a Remington and it was too long. Held a Mossberg and it was too long as well. It was also lighter. Cindy at the store said I should consider a Mossberg because I can get an adjustable stock - she showed me and it slid back and forward. But it was just so . . . husband called it "badass" I just called it ugly. :/
 
Lady tehMa said:
Held a Remington and it was too long. Held a Mossberg and it was too long as well. It was also lighter. Cindy at the store said I should consider a Mossberg because I can get an adjustable stock - she showed me and it slid back and forward. But it was just so . . . husband called it "badass" I just called it ugly. :/
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You must have taste.lol
 
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