20 Ga Semi auto shotguns

Fremen

Fremen

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Hi everyone.

My wife has finally decided she wants to start hunting birds.
She is very recoil sensitive.

So we are starting with a 28Ga OU that has been fitted to her.

Finding steel shot for Duck and Goose will not be easy and I am not setup to roll my own.
That said I think we should be able to use a 20 semi to help with recoil.

And thoughts or recommendations?
 
Gas operated will absorb more recoil than inertia operated. Fit, as you are already aware of, is important, so start there. Find the one with the best fit. Add an aftermarket recoil pad like a Pachmeyer or a Limbsaver. Adding weight in the buttstock or a mercury re-coil reducer is an option, but it can affect the balance of the gun.

Jim
 
My uncle at an older age wanted something light to carry with lighter recoil...had been packing a model 12 12 gauge.

I got him a 20 gauge 1100 Lightweight. He absolutely loved it. Hunted into his 90's... passed at 103.

I would suggest a semi auto for sure...
 
As mentioned above either a beretta xplor or an 1100. I shoot 2 semi auto 20s. The xplor and a charles daly. Both light in recoil with the beretta being softer and smoother
 
Hi all, my niece shot a pile of geese and ducks believe it or not with a Winchester SXP compact 20ga. When she went off to university, I bought that gun for my 13 year old son to start clay shooting. He is a rock star with that gun, and given the amount of ammo that he goes thru, I’m happy that he shooting a 20. I also believe, with all due respect to those with a different idea, that a heavier pay load with more pellets on target and potential a better pattern further out, would garner confidence. Between the confidence thing and cheaper and plentiful Ammo, I fought the temptation to start my boy on a 28 or a 410. That said, although lite for waterfowl, IMO with modern Ammo there isn’t much that a 20ga can’t do Anymore. I am an Auto 5 guy, a properly set up auto 5 is a soft shooting gun, more so than a gas gun. Also, built during the days of steel and wood, they are probably heavier than a modern 20ga which helps in the recoil Dept too. If I didn’t have the opportunity on that compact SXP 20, and I didn’t want to chop an auto 5 stock, I would have started him on a Browning Auto 5 Light 20. He has one waiting for him when he out grows the pump gun! Bill
 
I’d recommend a Browning Silver or a Browning Gold SL if you can find one of those. Assuming either one will fit her. Best advice would be to get which ever fits her best
 
Can she handle a full-size gun or does she need a compact/ladies model?

Oh, and a great way to get over recoil sensitivity is 1) very good hearing protection, and 2) lots of practise.
 
Browning silver
There’s a ladies browning silver
Listed in equipment exchange right now it’s the muddy girl camp
But I highly recommend a browning silver or a beretta a400 with the kickeaze system depends on yer budget
Not everyone can afford $2200 only to find out she really isn’t going to use more then once or twice a season
If she’s really into it and insists on going out hunting even without you tagging along / to coddle and pamper them , amazing enough some enjoy cleaning and gutting their own animals and birds,/
some women get that way don’t want don’t need a man tagging along only to screw up their hunt / when they are actually better shots and better hunter then their male counter half’s
The the A400 is the gun for ger
 
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She would need a ladies sized shotgun.
LoP = 13 inches

Would prefer something in wood so I can cut down if needed.
Looking at the mossbergs as they seemed priced well.

I may also get a one of my old model 12's cut down for her.
Just not the featherlite.
 
My old Winchester 1400 12 gauge was by far the lightest-recoiling 12 gauge I've ever used.

They also made a 20 gauge version. 2.75-inch shells only, but doesn't sound like that would be a problem for you.

See if you can try one out. The 1400 isn't a bad gun, just not made the same as an Auto 5.
 
My daughter's learned on a Remington 11-87 20 ga Youth, started when they were maybe 12. They absolutely loved it, fit them perfectly. Each for their first ducks with it. They love it so much they won't let me sell it even though they've moved on to 12 gauge guns!
 
My gf and I both shoot 20 ga semis for waterfowl. She has a Beretta A400Xplor w/26" barrel. It weighs in at just over 6lbs. It has a 3" chamber with the capability to shoot both 2 3/4" & 3" shells. We had the stock altered to the correct lop for her and then put in the correct shims to fit her for cast and drop. A few trips to the pattern board to check poi vs poa and she was good to go. Fit is critical in helping to reduce the effects of felt recoil. I shoot a Winchester SX3 w/28" bbl in 3" chambering as well. The second part of the recoil equation in my opinion is the ammunition. Some is punchier than others not only due to shot charge and velocity but within the same brand depending on components they use.
Most retailers only stock 3" ammunition but 2 3/4" can be found and is readily available by ordering it. I purchased two flats last year of Federal 2 3/4" Waterfowl loads in a 3/4 oz steel shot loading of #4 s. Over decoys they are absolutely deadly on both ducks and geese and the felt recoil is pretty much non-existent. They are the softest shooting of all the waterfowl ammo types we have tried to date. We also shoot 3" in a 7/8oz loading of #2 shot. They have a little bit of felt recoil to them but barely perceptible unless you shoulder the gun incorrectly then like any gun you'll feel the bump.
Personally I would think she would be ok with a semi 20 as long as you make sure to get a gas operated gun. There is virtually zero recoil absorption with an inertia driven semi.
 
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