Shotgun Suggestions for my wife

Rubicon37s

Rubicon37s

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I am looking at getting my wife a Shotgun for skeet trap and sporting clays and looking for some suggestions and or opinions on the below 20g Semi Autos.

1.Beretta® AL391 Urika 2 Field 20 Gauge w/28" Barrel Shotgun

1b.Beretta® AL391 Urika 2 Field 20 Gauge w/24" Barrel Shotgun for Youth

2.Winchester® Super X3 Compact 28"

2b. Winchester® Super X3 Compact 26"

She, is slim and 5'7 if that helps

Thanks
B

EDIT: I'm hearing that there are no more Baretta's to be found
 
Try to find an RL model 391. They have a reduced LOP and with the shims you should be able to fit it pretty close. I think they are only available in 12 gauge, but with light loads, recoil will be minimal. I have a 20 gauge 391 and because of the light weight it seems more snappy than the 12.
 
I agree that the 12 gauge is a better choice than the 20 gauge for a target gun. I think that the perceived recoil with light target loads is less with the 12. Since it is not a hunting gun, there should be no big deal with the extra weight.
 
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The Beretta 391 has been mentioned. Any Beretta, Browning or Win. SX 2 or 3, cut and fitted for her would be my choice. Proper fit is key. At first fit should be to allow her to mount and shoot the gun without hurting her. After she learns to shoot and like shooting, and to properly mount the gun, fit can be tuned in to her style to help her to break more targets. If you have the means the best start would be with a qualified instructor.
 
My wife has been shooting her Beretta 391 Parallel Target RL for a number of years now.
Says it's the softest shooting gun of any of the several she's previously owned.
 
391 Beretta's are the new gun of choice. Super X-1s are my choice. There are lots of 1100s out there as well. Used adjustable stocks and parts are plentiful for most of the guns I have mentioned. All are soft shooters with 1 oz. loads.
 
At some point you have to take the advice from the one person who matters most. Take you wife to a gun store and have her pick up and hold each of the models you've named and let her choose the one that feels best to her.

The advice here notwithstanding it's her gun and what matters to her is what counts.
 
I agree that his wife has to make the final decision, but I don't think the place to make the decision is at the gun store. Go to a range and try every gun you can. Most people are very accommodating and actually shooting the gun is the way to choose the right one.
 
westward said:
I agree that his wife has to make the final decision, but I don't think the place to make the decision is at the gun store. Go to a range and try every gun you can. Most people are very accommodating and actually shooting the gun is the way to choose the right one.
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No question that would be preferable but it is unlikely you will find all four guns at any one time at the range while you would in a store.
 
She's 5'7" and slim, but does she have upper body strength? I'm guessing a typical woman needs a lighter gun, and a shorter barrel for better balance. An over/under has a shorter overall length, but a gas gun shoots softer.

Has she shot before? If she hasn't, she won't have any means to gauge good/bad fit, balance, etc. So have her shoot a handful of rounds of trap or skeet. Now when she tries a different gun, she will have a standard against which she can judge.

The gun store may have more selection than the shooting range, so go do both and handle as many as possible.

My wife shoots a full sized 1100 20gauge, my daughter a Compact 11-87 20 gauge and it fits her perfectly. Neither complain about recoil.
 
Grouse Man said:
She's 5'7" and slim, but does she have upper body strength?
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This is a key question. Gun weight is often more of a problem than recoil and can lead to recoil problems. If the gun is too heavy for a female shooter fatigue will set in and her stance and gun mount will suffer. When that happens the gun will hit her harder.
 
I went with the 391 in 20 gauge with 28" barrel to get my daughter shooting. Fits her well and weight isn't a issue.

I'd suggest you pass on the 24" barrel idea for a new shooter. Longer barrel - longer sighting plane - smooter swing.


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Don't discount a shorter barrel for a small-statured shooter, REM3200. It's all relative. A 24" barrel may seem whippy and light to grown men, but could be just right for Goldilocks. I know a fellow who makes a 28" pump gun look like a pop gun - for him a 36" barrel would be about right.
 
Grouse Man said:
Don't discount a shorter barrel for a small-statured shooter, REM3200. It's all relative. A 24" barrel may seem whippy and light to grown men, but could be just right for Goldilocks. I know a fellow who makes a 28" pump gun look like a pop gun - for him a 36" barrel would be about right.
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I don't disagree with your point but not the direction I would point a new shooter in small stature or not. Four inches of barrel on a 391 beretta 20 gauge is not going to have an adverse effect weight wise.

At 6'3" some of the best shooting I've done in sporting was with a 24" Benelli SBE but sold that and bought a 26" SBE and a 28" SuperSport in there as well. Also the dedicated 30" O/U's

Just my thoughts - if your starting a new shooter out get the fundamentals in there to promote a smooth swing with follow through which I don't think a short barrel aids.
 
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