Top 3 recommendations to a new shooter
- Thread starter newshot
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Think targets and clays. This thread should really be in the other shotgun forum, I misplaced it. Guage is up to your recommendation. For most new shooters I always think mid range and below for price as when they gain experience they can spend more to get exactly what they want.
Single shot, pump, semi auto or O/U and gauge?
If you don't offer some specifics as to gender, size of shooter or use of the shotgun it's impossible to provide an answear to the post.
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You have 5 shooters about to shoot targets who have never held a gun before. They range from a petite female to an average size male. You want them to enjoy shooting and come back again. The action does not matter, it is your opinion, if I were to bring 3 guns to play with new shooters I may bring 3 different actions in fact. I know nothing about shotguns and have never fired one, I know rifles and pistols. This is as specific as i can be. Which 3 would you recommend. It is not a test, just your best estimation 
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Medium to heavy weight would be better since it will reduce the felt recoil.
Longer barrels swing better and make it easier to hit on clays.
Single shot, break actions are less complicated to prove safe and to shoot for first timers.
I would recommend at least one 20ga or .410 bore for the petite lady.
Since the .410 has such a small load, they are much harder to hit clays with. Use it for teaching the lady the basics, hit a few stationary targets but is she progresses to moving clays, let her use the 20 ga with it's larger shot load. .410 on moving targets is an experts gun.
I'd avoid aluminum alloy receiver 12 ga shotguns like the Mossberg pumps simply because their lighter weight over say a Remington 870 make their felt recoil stronger.
To summarize maybe something like, a single shot .410 break action, a 20 ga single shot break action and a Remington 870 12 ga pump.
Longer barrels swing better and make it easier to hit on clays.
Single shot, break actions are less complicated to prove safe and to shoot for first timers.
I would recommend at least one 20ga or .410 bore for the petite lady.
Since the .410 has such a small load, they are much harder to hit clays with. Use it for teaching the lady the basics, hit a few stationary targets but is she progresses to moving clays, let her use the 20 ga with it's larger shot load. .410 on moving targets is an experts gun.
I'd avoid aluminum alloy receiver 12 ga shotguns like the Mossberg pumps simply because their lighter weight over say a Remington 870 make their felt recoil stronger.
To summarize maybe something like, a single shot .410 break action, a 20 ga single shot break action and a Remington 870 12 ga pump.
Having taken a few ladies out to try skeet, I'd say that lighter weight is actually preferable. They have all found my Citori too heavy, but liked the Browning Maxus a lot. I think a semi with some kind of reduced recoil light load would be the ticket. Biggest challenge in fitting the gun will be the stock is almost always too long for most women. Find a stock that fits the smallest stature shooter in the group, and then add a slip on pad with a spacer as needed to fit the tallest.
If you're looking for three guns, a youth sized 20 gauge semi remington makes a decent one. A adult sized 20 action of your own choice and a 12 gauge pump or semi, this will give you a nicely rounded battery of guns for starting folks of all sizes into the addictive world of clay shooting.
manbearpig
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at least one of those guns should have a short LOP stock - perhaps even a 20 gauge. several manufacturers make a youth stocked 20ga.
Remington 870 Compact:
Mossberg 510 Mini:
So you've never fired a shotgun, intend to bring people out who've never fired a shotgun and want to know what guns to bring. Perhaps you might bring along someone who has a clue about shotguns.You have 5 shooters about to shoot targets who have never held a gun before. They range from a petite female to an average size male. You want them to enjoy shooting and come back again. The action does not matter, it is your opinion, if I were to bring 3 guns to play with new shooters I may bring 3 different actions in fact. I know nothing about shotguns and have never fired one, I know rifles and pistols. This is as specific as i can be. Which 3 would you recommend. It is not a test, just your best estimation
Having helped dozens of people fire their first round from a shotgun the guns I would use in this scenario would be a Remington 1100 28 gauge for the female and a Beretta 391 12 gauge for the males.
But seriously if you don't know what you are doing then perhaps you could find someone who does. Shotgunning is not the same as shooting rifles and pistols.
Not my intention at all. A poster asked for an example of who it would be for so I elaborated on this hypothetical scenario. This is strictly for personal research. Thanks for the concern though. (if that sounded sarcastic, it is genuinely not ment to, I appreciate the good advice)
Thanks everyone for the reponses.
I could be wrong, but I know if someone comes to the pistol forum and requests direction on a first pistol, it is usually one of about 6. Maybe it is different with shotguns.
For new shooters, I would suggest 20 gauge in any action.
I have been taking some friends out and new shooters at least once a month. About a month ago, I took some new shooters out and one was a petite girl. She managed to handle my 870 with standard trap loads. Down side was after a box, the next day she was black and blue. She really loved to shoot despite the after effects, and insisted that she would do it again.
This was a lesson for both her and me. Some things that I noted, is that she lacked the strength to properly hold the forend up. Being as mine is a 28 inch barrel, I would suggest something a bit shorter, 24-26 inch barrel. As well about half way through the round, she was struggling to hold the butt of the shotgun in place. So.... without a doubt a 20 gauge would be a dead ringer for introduction to the sport.
A 12 gauge and trap loads will be to much for new shooters who have not built up some form of resistance to recoil. With the guys, they seem to fair a bit better. But, after two boxes they are starting to get sore and bruise. They have been getting better with each trip out, but even with 10 trips under their belts, they still don't go past two boxes.
Of those I have been introducing and coaching, they have excelled and in some cases are reaching my level, so I really can't teach them anymore. With that in mind I can't emphasize enough that good basics go a long way to them having fun and reducing any chances of discomfort.
Some recommendations I would make include the simpler the action the better. A good recoil pad that is smooth and easy on the shoulder.
- remington 1100 in a 20Ga sporting model, 26" barrel
- mossberg 500/rem 870 in a 20Ga, with a 26" barrel
- Beretta AL 391 Basic in 20Ga, with a 24" or 26" barrel
I have been taking some friends out and new shooters at least once a month. About a month ago, I took some new shooters out and one was a petite girl. She managed to handle my 870 with standard trap loads. Down side was after a box, the next day she was black and blue. She really loved to shoot despite the after effects, and insisted that she would do it again.
This was a lesson for both her and me. Some things that I noted, is that she lacked the strength to properly hold the forend up. Being as mine is a 28 inch barrel, I would suggest something a bit shorter, 24-26 inch barrel. As well about half way through the round, she was struggling to hold the butt of the shotgun in place. So.... without a doubt a 20 gauge would be a dead ringer for introduction to the sport.
A 12 gauge and trap loads will be to much for new shooters who have not built up some form of resistance to recoil. With the guys, they seem to fair a bit better. But, after two boxes they are starting to get sore and bruise. They have been getting better with each trip out, but even with 10 trips under their belts, they still don't go past two boxes.
Of those I have been introducing and coaching, they have excelled and in some cases are reaching my level, so I really can't teach them anymore. With that in mind I can't emphasize enough that good basics go a long way to them having fun and reducing any chances of discomfort.
Some recommendations I would make include the simpler the action the better. A good recoil pad that is smooth and easy on the shoulder.
- remington 1100 in a 20Ga sporting model, 26" barrel
- mossberg 500/rem 870 in a 20Ga, with a 26" barrel
- Beretta AL 391 Basic in 20Ga, with a 24" or 26" barrel
1;a 20ga auto youth 2;a 12ga auto that will shoot target rounds (not a 3 1/2 in ) 3; a 12ga that fits you well as it will be what you shoot most. Try out a few guns if possible at the range shooting clays. I know here at the trap or skeet range lots of good shooters will give info and advice. good luck AJ
Fair enough and it was not my intention to sound sarcastic either.
Here are the reasons for my selections.
The 1100 28 gauge is light, short stocked and has low recoil making it better for small statured newbies male or female. The 28 gauge is preferable to the .410 if you want to hit targets and it's very important that new shooters hit a few. Nothing gives them more incentive to return.
For larger shooters the 391 does the same thing and I keep the loads light. Nothing over 1 ounce.
The advantage to the semi is that you can work on the mount and stance with it empty and the gun doesn't have to be dismounted to load. When the mount is set I drop a round into the chamber and close the action for the shooter. With an o/u you have to bring the gun down, load it and then go through the mount again with a loaded gun, a circumstance best avoided.
With a new shooter I hold all the ammo initially which is why I prefer 12 and 28 gauge. Unlike the 20 gauge, there is no danger that a shell will get caught in the forcing cone if I inadvertently drop the wrong shell into the chamber.
I don't start someone with a pump gun if possible. It's one more thing for them to remember to do and the pumps recoil harder. I don't care to start a newbie with a breaking gun either for the reason mentioned above and because the semi is better for teaching muzzle control. People who start with breaking guns sometimes develop habits that are not conducive to good muzzle control if they transition to a semi.
If you need a 3rd gun I'd probably bring an o/u and let them shoot that after they have developed a proper stance and gun mount.
I would choose a tall redhead w/long legs, a nicely rounded shouldered brunette and a ditzy (do you want to look at my boobs) dirty blonde in mostly 32-26-34 gauges.
Seriously ... some kind of semi in 12 or/and 20ga and maybe a 20 gauge pump for the first time out is a good start.
