Slowly but surely I'm getting my girlfriend into shooting and she's found an activity (shooting clays) she really likes. I want to buy her first gun for her birthday coming up. Looking for recommendations that would be a good starter for her to use. Only asking because I'm not experienced in shooting clays. I'd take her to a store to see what would suit her, but there's not much selection in stock where I am. Thanks!
Shotgun recommendation for girlfriend shooting clays
- Thread starter swray1992
- Start date
vagrantviking
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- High River, Alberta
Find out what appeals to her for action, brand and features and then go to great lengths to make sure it fits her well.
On a shotgun fit will have a big effect on felt recoil and on hitting targets. Take your time and find someone who knows there stuff.
On a shotgun fit will have a big effect on felt recoil and on hitting targets. Take your time and find someone who knows there stuff.
stripperclipper
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Middle East Alberta
What kind of clays?
Trap?
Skeet?
Guys named Clay?
Trap?
Skeet?
Guys named Clay?
Semi Auto's seem to work the best IMHO ,my daughter shoots an 1100 remington since she was 14 and she's 32 now.You will have to let her try some and see as we do not know her frame size or physical dimensions.The 1100 Remington competition synthetic has a recoil reducer as well as being a gas auto and adjustable stock. Have one to shoot skeet and it really does not kick much but is heavy.Look around lots of options glad to here someone in the sport.
You haven't really given me all the information I'd need to make a specific recommendation (budget? guage? action?). But here are some generally accepted principles of purchasing shotguns for clays.
"Buy a "B" Gun" - Browning, Beretta, Benelli, Blaser etc. Other guns are good too, don't get me wrong, but the "B" guns have a long history of lasting whilst shooting clays. 1 round of clay shooting is 25 shells. The B-guns are made to shoot thousands of shells without issue. Most hunting/field guns are not. I'm a rookie shooter and I typically shoot 75 clays when I go out. Do that weekly and it's not hard to shoot 1500 shells a season. Can you shoot clays with a cheap turkish gun? Yes you can, but I've also seen those fall apart with heavy use. B-guns are expensive, but they hold their value well and you'll often see them for sale in near-new condition because a lot of people buy into the sport and then decide it's not for them, or don't have time.
Buy a gun that fits. The most important thing about buying a shotgun is getting something that fits correctly, so that when shouldered and pointed at the clay, it hits where you're looking. There's tons of information out there about this that you can explore on youtube or google or whatever, but eventually you'll have to go into a shop with a large selection and shoulder some firearms and see what fits best. Hopefully you go somewhere with knowledgeable staff who will spend time helping you get setup. Adjustable stock guns are very nice, but also quite pricey.
Most people like break-action over-unders for clays, but I do see some semi-autos from time to time that people seem to like. I'd avoid a pump. I always forget to rack it between shots and it's a pain to load.
I'd suggest a 12 GA to start, you get used to the recoil and you can compensate with lighter loads or with the use of a limbsaver or a semi-auto. The reason for 12 GA is that it's more pellets, so you're more likely to hit the clays, of course, you'll still miss a lot. You can certainly shoot clays with a 20 GA and have a lot of success, but I'd suggest that it's a tad more difficult. I'm sure someone will say you'll be more successful with a better fitting gun with recoil you can handle, which is true, but if you can manage a 12 GA, it's advisable.
Your local gun club/clay range is a good source of information too. Your girlfriend might even be able to try out some of the other people's guns there before making a purchase. When I started shooting clays I was using a duck gun someone gave me, and having all sorts of problems with it, but I ended up trying a few at the club, and eventually buying my own over-under for use.
Good luck!
"Buy a "B" Gun" - Browning, Beretta, Benelli, Blaser etc. Other guns are good too, don't get me wrong, but the "B" guns have a long history of lasting whilst shooting clays. 1 round of clay shooting is 25 shells. The B-guns are made to shoot thousands of shells without issue. Most hunting/field guns are not. I'm a rookie shooter and I typically shoot 75 clays when I go out. Do that weekly and it's not hard to shoot 1500 shells a season. Can you shoot clays with a cheap turkish gun? Yes you can, but I've also seen those fall apart with heavy use. B-guns are expensive, but they hold their value well and you'll often see them for sale in near-new condition because a lot of people buy into the sport and then decide it's not for them, or don't have time.
Buy a gun that fits. The most important thing about buying a shotgun is getting something that fits correctly, so that when shouldered and pointed at the clay, it hits where you're looking. There's tons of information out there about this that you can explore on youtube or google or whatever, but eventually you'll have to go into a shop with a large selection and shoulder some firearms and see what fits best. Hopefully you go somewhere with knowledgeable staff who will spend time helping you get setup. Adjustable stock guns are very nice, but also quite pricey.
Most people like break-action over-unders for clays, but I do see some semi-autos from time to time that people seem to like. I'd avoid a pump. I always forget to rack it between shots and it's a pain to load.
I'd suggest a 12 GA to start, you get used to the recoil and you can compensate with lighter loads or with the use of a limbsaver or a semi-auto. The reason for 12 GA is that it's more pellets, so you're more likely to hit the clays, of course, you'll still miss a lot. You can certainly shoot clays with a 20 GA and have a lot of success, but I'd suggest that it's a tad more difficult. I'm sure someone will say you'll be more successful with a better fitting gun with recoil you can handle, which is true, but if you can manage a 12 GA, it's advisable.
Your local gun club/clay range is a good source of information too. Your girlfriend might even be able to try out some of the other people's guns there before making a purchase. When I started shooting clays I was using a duck gun someone gave me, and having all sorts of problems with it, but I ended up trying a few at the club, and eventually buying my own over-under for use.
Good luck!
I second this motion. Mossbergs are nice and light. No complaints from my 15yr old daughter about "too heavy" etc. The Bantam is adjustable for LOP. Removable chokes too. I dont think the bantam comes in 12ga BUT 20ga is fine for clays. I find my daughter hits TWICE as many clays with the 20ga than my 12ga Mossberg 500 because a) it fits her better b) its lighter/easier to swing/less painful to shoot. If it hurts to shoot they will develop a flinch.
I've been shopping around for my wife as well. I shoot mainly over unders, and Browning fits me best. I also have an SX3 Ultimate sporting thats a very good shooter.
I'm torn between an A400 20 and the newest iteration of an A400 Exel 12 sporting for her. But trying to handle one is tough when everything is so short supplied right now. I may have to just buy one or both and let her try them out for a bit and sell one.
I'm torn between an A400 20 and the newest iteration of an A400 Exel 12 sporting for her. But trying to handle one is tough when everything is so short supplied right now. I may have to just buy one or both and let her try them out for a bit and sell one.
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
When my wife stared shooting clays quite a number of years ago we went down the semi auto road at first and I'd not recomend it. Women in general are not very mechanicaly minded so if the semi starts to hickup once in a while it gets very frustrating for them. After owning a couple of different guns she finally settled on an o/u designed from the outset as a sporting clays gun, it's a Beretta 682 Gold E but there are many others that will do. These guns are designed to be shot a lot so they are dependable, they are heavier than a field gun so they recoil less making them comfortable to shoot also, being an o/u, they are easy to operate and easy to clean.
I'd also recomend a 12 gauge right from the start, reduced recoil ammo can be purchased if recoil is a probelm but in most cases heavier 12 guage guns often have less recoil than lighter 20 gauge guns. The extra payload of the 12 doesn't hurt on long shots either.
As always, fit is most important and what ever it is that you buy her, make sure someone that knows what they are doing helps to have her fitted properly. Let her try out a bunch of different guns before making a desision too and it would also be a good idea to let her shoot a bunch of times so that she knows if it's something she's going to keep doing. When it comes to buying a gun that will be used a lot people often say, "buy once, cry once" and nothing could be further from the truth.
I'd also recomend a 12 gauge right from the start, reduced recoil ammo can be purchased if recoil is a probelm but in most cases heavier 12 guage guns often have less recoil than lighter 20 gauge guns. The extra payload of the 12 doesn't hurt on long shots either.
As always, fit is most important and what ever it is that you buy her, make sure someone that knows what they are doing helps to have her fitted properly. Let her try out a bunch of different guns before making a desision too and it would also be a good idea to let her shoot a bunch of times so that she knows if it's something she's going to keep doing. When it comes to buying a gun that will be used a lot people often say, "buy once, cry once" and nothing could be further from the truth.
the spank
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
Depends what kind of shooting she does? My wife shoots mostly trap and shoots a 30" barreled Browning BT-99 Micro as she only shoots singles and handicap but she occasionally shoots a bit of skeet too before hunting season and for that uses her 26' barreled Beretta A400 Xplor 20ga. She finds the both guns not too heavy, easy to work with and says she does not feel any discernable difference in recoil. I make sure to have a good supply of 1oz "light" loads(1200fps max) for her when shooting trap. 3 dram loads are a bit harsh...the 20ga we both shoot 7/8oz 1200 fps loads for skeet.
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Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The Bt99 is a great gun... just not great for sporting clays!
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Pretty sure Ithaca makes an M37 in 20 gauge in a slightly shorter length of pull for novice shooters with smaller body dimensions.
And thier 28 gauge pump is kind of nice and deft in the hand. Even with the 28 inch barrel.
And thier 28 gauge pump is kind of nice and deft in the hand. Even with the 28 inch barrel.
Thanks for all the info everyone! I'll take it all into account when shopping around. Unfortunately, I can't reply to everyone.
Just to clarify, when I said "good starter gun" for her to use, I just meant something thats cheap, but reliable as well. I don't want to break the bank on a 3k beretta if she gets bored of it after a while lol.
Just to clarify, when I said "good starter gun" for her to use, I just meant something thats cheap, but reliable as well. I don't want to break the bank on a 3k beretta if she gets bored of it after a while lol.
