small (youth) semi for sporting clays

fwow

fwow

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I have been trying to find the right sporting clay gun for my wife for a while. She's a small framed, delicate gal and only 100 lbs.

She's tried a 20 gauge pump but the pump is too much to try and take a second shot.

She tried the Citori Micro 12 gauge (with light loads) but is not a fan of the break action.

I was thinking a semi would be the way to go. Being a smaller frame, she is looking for both a short LOP. She also finds the length from the trigger to the "grip" on the stock an awkward reach.

I was considerring trying to get a tactical semi that I can put a modified choke in and letting her use that. She has held a tactical and likes the feel of the pistol grip. Any thoughts or recommendations?
 
Not exactly the optimum clay gun, but have you thought about getting, and reloading for, a nice .410 for her? They have easy and fairly short pulls on them in pump action, and little to no recoil.
 
One option is 11-87 Youth/Compact in 20 ga. I'm a big fan of this little gun for kids and petite women. Everyone who has tried it has absolutely loved it, mainly because they can handle it easily and hit targets with it! Recoil is a pussycat. My 12 year-old daughter smashes with it at trap.
 
Have a look at the Mossberg SA-20 it a 20Ga semi-auto with Bantam stock. We use one at our Gun Club to teach kids and smaller women to shoot trap and skeet.
 
The Beretta 391 Parallel Target RL was expressly designed for the smaller framed shooter. A good many are in use in the US Collegiate Shooting programs.

After shooting my Parallel Taret SL, my wife chose to move on from her shortened
Browning 325 Sporter to a 391PT RL and has never looked back. Super reliable, soft in
recoil and relatively easy to maintain. She likes 7/8 oz and 1 oz loads to shoot Skeet,
Sporting Clays and 5-Stand.
 
Thanks - all good info.

I am going to take her to have a look at a Mossberg 20 Gauge semi for youths at Pro-Line.

I can't seem to find a Beretta 391 Parallel Target RL in Calgary for her to touch. Would like to take her to hold one if someone can recommend where I can find one.

Am still thinking a tactical semi with a pistol grip might be the way to go for her. Anyone know of one that I can put a choke on?
 
I'll take a stab at it. I hope it makes sense. You hold a shotgun with your weak hand (fore end) and your strong hand (gun wrist). It is your weak hand which swings and points the gun. Your strong hand shouldn't affect the aim or swing when wingshooting.

To my mind, when you are holding a gun with a tactical pistol grip extension, I think there is an overwhelming urge for your strong hand to dominate the gun handling, and your pointing hand (weak hand) will be less effective. That may all be BS, but I'll stick with it until I gain actual experience with a shotgun like that.

The other thing is that you never see that type of gun on any sort of sporting clays field - skeet, trap, clays. So shooters must have a reason in their heads anyway.

Another theory is that both your hands should be parallel to your line of aim for a more natural point. You can't get that with an extended pistol grip.

Finally, most tactical shotguns have no choke. That's fine for skeet, but a disadvantage at sporting clays and seriously so at trap.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I totally get it. And I definately agree that you never see serious shooters using one.

I am going to Bass Pro tonight to have her hold the Remington 1187 Youth SA 20. It has a small 21" barrel and might be the right fit for her. But if that doesn't work then the most important thing is that she has to enjoy shooting the gun. I'm having enough trouble as it is getting her to come out with me and give the sport a serious effort. And if a gimmicky pistol grip helps her to enjoy the sport then that may be the way to go.
 
One more vote for a Beretta 391 in 20ga.

I now have one for my 5'5" 110lb girlfriend, took her out for the first time shooting with it, and while she wasn't up for a full day, she got through a box before her shoulder started feeling it. Light, shorter, small, easy to mount and swing. She's happy with it, and now she'll come out regularly, so I'm happy.

The alternate is a 28ga, however at $15+/box for target loads, you better have deep pockets. But they are just beautiful to shoot.
 
I ended up going with the 1187 Remington 20 gauge semi-automatic. I then bought the ShurShot stock replacement that has a pistol grip. It didn't quite fit perfectly. It didn't say anywhere on the box or on Remingtons site that it wouldn't work - but Cabelas website says that it is "for 12 gauge only". I filed it down a little and got it to snug up nice. She can't wait to shoot it this weekend.
 
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