Lightweight O/U for beginner?

anark

anark

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Hi guys and gals,

My wife is looking to get an O/U for trap/sporting clays. The main thing is that she's pretty petite and a standard 12g O/U is too large and recoil is a bit harsh for her.

Can people recommend/suggest some appropriate models for us to look at?

So far I've checked out the Stevens 512 in 20g, and have the Stoeger Condor Youth 20g and a Ruger Red Label in 20g in mind.

I own a Stoeger Condor Supreme so don't bash them too hard please lol.

Thanks
Allan!
 
You will find that a lighter gun likely has more felt recoil than a heavier gun. I would really recommend that you get her to try a semi (see if someone at a club will let her shoot a round with a couple different models). My daughter shot a youth Winchester 20g pump before moving up to a 12 and I felt it didn't really help much with recoil, just fit.

My wife and 16 y/o daughter both shoot Beretta 391's with Kick Off's now and I can't even persuade them to TRY anything else as they say "what recoil" when I ask them about it!

That being said, if she's really stuck on an O/U, gun fit will be a lot more important to handling it well than just the weight.
 
Thanks for the tips.

The thing is... she's 5'3" and maybe 105lbs soaking wet. Anything with a longer barrel makes it more difficult to shoulder and keep up.

We never really looked into semi-autos so maybe I'll start shopping around. ...I just thought an O/U is more "appropriate" for Trap/Skeet/Sporting Clays.

Allan
 
You've got some good advice here already. IMHO the best bet would be a gas operated semi auto. I have an 1100 20ga that I use if I am teaching someone to shoot. The weight isn't too much for a new shooter and the recoil is quite tame. I even have a youth stock that can be installed for smaller people. Don't worry about the snob appeal of the O/U. They don't award extra birds for the type of action your gun has.

The second best bet, as already stated, is to reload 7/8 oz shells in 12 ga. This is only workable if you already reload.
 
Another option if you can find them is Winchester Winlite shells. They make them in 12 and 20ga. I have shot them in 12ga, and you'd swear you were shooting a 28ga. They are a bit pricey, but less than AA's. If you go to the US, they usually have them. I bring them back, but always have my gun and my form 6NIA with me ;-)
 
Great advice all round. I'd look at a semi for sure. Some of the o/u in 20ga can be punishing with recoil. I've shot a Ithaca , Winchester 101 and a Laurona all in 20ga and there was no fun in it. And I'm double a 105 lbs.
Look at a decent semi.

Your in Scarbourgh PM me if you like and we could hook up maybe at a skeet field. I will bring out what my 11 and 17 yrs old daughters shoot with me at skeet.
 
also...someone has a beretta urika 2 20ga ladies youth gun on sale for about $1000 bucks...normally about $1400. Thats the gun my sister started out with, and it worked well. She now shoots an XS skeet 20ga thats been shortened and fitted with no issues. But the Urika is a great starter gun and has some adjustment. Let me do some looking...
 
International Trap

I attended the international trap competitions in Cookstown near Toronto a couple of weeks ago. There were many women shooters and one very petite shooter using proper trap guns.
 
If its length she's haven trouble with maybe a sxs coachgun will work. My gf is 5'3" and she can't hold a longer gun up but coachguns fit her well. Load up some 7/8oz loads. Sxs's are ###ier then o/u's
 
my sisters 391 20 ga youth gun fit her well...lop and cast were adjustable, but for a female shooter, more adjustment in the height of comb would be nice, but ti wasnt bad. A nice looking gun that worked well, and with the 24" BBL is about the same overall length as 28 OU, which she has graduated too. Now that she is used to shooting and gun handling, I am sure she could handle a 12ga OU with light loads.
 
browning micro

I bought the browning micro for my kids in 12 guage and hand load 7/8 or 3/4 oz loads.It comes with the 26" barrels and a good recoil pad so it is a treat for them to shoot.
 
justachip said:
I bought the browning micro for my kids in 12 guage and hand load 7/8 or 3/4 oz loads.It comes with the 26" barrels and a good recoil pad so it is a treat for them to shoot.
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That's the way I would go too. A 20ga. might be ok for Sporting Clay's and Skaat but for Trap it is pretty well useless.
If I were you I would look for a 391 Beretta 12ga cut the stock to size. And hand load accordingly.
 
There's also (speaking of micro and semi auto somewhat) the Browning Micro Silver auto-loader. I would be able to speak first hand as I can't get my wife on the skeet field but I had a Silver hunter that I could play hand throwing clays and shoot with 1 hand. Very little recoil and a very light gun to hold for the full size Hunter model and the Micro is a scaled down version with 20g chamber and 24-26 bbl models.
 
I recently shot the Stevens/Savage 12 and 20 gauge O/U. As mentioned above, I found the 20 has more of a 'sharp/snap' recoil when compared the the 12. I suspect the lighter weight of the 20 vs the 12 is the main reason.

Also, as mentioned, an auto in 20 would be what I look at. Years ago I had a Browning A5 auto in 20, that gun was a pleasure to shoot. It was light, compact, could be swung side to side easily and the recoil with typical trap loads was hardly felt.

As your wife is just beginning, I'd be tempted to keep my eye on the EE for a quality, used auto in 20.
 
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