Daughters and sporting clays

A

altacan

New member
Rating - 100%
28   0   0
Location
Alberta
My daughters--who are each 5' tall want to try sporting clays and got beat up shooting 100 rounds of 12 gauge last w/e. I was thinking I might get a 20 gauge wingmaster--any suggestions.

Thanks
 
altacan said:
My daughters--who are each 5' tall want to try sporting clays and got beat up shooting 100 rounds of 12 gauge last w/e. I was thinking I might get a 20 gauge wingmaster--any suggestions.
Click to expand...
The 20 gauge Wingmaster I owned didn't kick much less than the 12 as I recall. The gun is lighter and between a 1 ounce shell in the 12 and the 7/8 in the 20 the difference was neglible.

A Wingmaster in 28 gauge kicks less and is a little lighter in the forend as well. The gun that I use to instruct women and young shooters is a Remington 1100 in 28 gauge although the Wingmaster would work as well.
 
The Winchester low recoil is the way to go. Droping down the gauge reduceses the lead being thrown at the target. This may cause more misses which the child may give up on the sport. This load dosn't work on semi's due to the low recoil.
 
As always, a 28ga semi is a very good way to go. Unfortunately if you don't have the gun, or access to 28ga ammo this can be a problem.

Recoil is a real SOB when teaching new shooters. You tell them to put their face down on the gun so they can see down the rib and get a good idea of where their shot is going. After they pull the trigger, the gun comes up and smacks them on the cheek, and they never will put their face on the gun again..... If they get lucky and have a good fitting gun that doesn't hit them in the face, then their shoulder is going to get pounded.

What were you using for 12ga ammo? Regular AA target loads give my head a solid shake after 100 targets. Regular Challenger will make my nose bleed (ok, maybe not, but the stuff is HOT). There are low recoil and low payload options available that may help. When I was still shooting 12ga, I had a good 1oz reload that was light in recoil.

If the 12ga is your only option, you could try some different ammo selections.

I own a lightweight 20ga Wingmaster (LOVE hunting with it) and the recoil on it with regular loads I have found to be like my 12ga reloads. There is still significant recoil. If you could find a 20ga Semi (which may be easier to find than a 28ga) that would help.

Brad.
 
Is the length of pull too long for them? An improper fitting shotgun is often more of a problem then the guage. Sure lighter loads will help, but cutting the stock down might be a needd option for them as well.

20 or 28 guns, particularly SxS or OU's will often be better fitting guns for smaller shooters.
 
An 1100 - 28 gauge IS a soft shooter ... so is a Browning Gold Micro in 20, already shorter in L.O.P. ( about 13" ... or 1" shorter than most standard length guns) ... and probably much easier to find than a 28 auto-loader.

20 gauge target loads (also relatively easy to find, compared to the 28 ) in an autoloader are MUCH softer shooting than 1-1/4 oz hunting loads in a 12 ga. pump, which, ... for "new" shooters, particularly short-statured young ladies, is,well .... just plain cruel !!!
 
I'd say 1100 20 ga, with an adjustable recoil pad because ladies are built different than men. See what similar sized women are using at the clubs.
 
My girlfriend is 5' 2" and about 135 pounds. when she started shooting trap she tried the 20 and didn't like it. however my cut down 1100 in 12 gauge fit her like a charm and the semi soaked up a lot of the recoil. try them on a semi and see what happens.
 
My 20g wingmaster is way lighter to shoot than my 12s - so much so that I've pretty much given up 12 except for the (rare) duck or goose shoot. See if you can mooch one for the girls to try. The difference may be in that the gun is easier to raise and tuck, being lighter overall, and more comfortable to shoot because of that.
 
invest in your current gun

Try a mercury reducer in your stock and a good pacmayr decelerator pad should be under 200 installed!! and should provide the relief needed !!
 
my wife wants try hunting, i'm thinking of letting her on my 20 gauge rem 870. i love that gun, low kick,etc. so i'd just suggest a pump gun to start, because it does give your shoulder the break, when ya gotta pump and all.
 
X2 on the 20 ga gold micro my wife is 5'3'' and 110 lbs and recoil sensitive and has no trouble getting through 100 targets.20 ga loads are cheaper and easier to find and the gun is very well dimensioned to a lady.
 
what gun were they shooting? a semi will soak up a lot of recoil.

where are you located? i have a cut down 1100 that my girlfriend uses and she is 5'2".
 
Walter Hornby said:
My girlfriend is 5' 2" and about 135 pounds. when she started shooting trap she tried the 20 and didn't like it. however my cut down 1100 in 12 gauge fit her like a charm and the semi soaked up a lot of the recoil. try them on a semi and see what happens.
Click to expand...

X2 on the semi, I shoot a remmy 1100 trap, my 13 year old son and my wife 5' 6" 140 Lbs. all have shot it. A Semi-Remmy soaks up recoil like nobodies business. My son even shoots my field 1100 with 3" mags. A pump or break action will break you up especially if the gun isn't a perfect fit. Used 1100 Remingtons can be had for peanuts;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom