A Remington 1100 in 28 gauge would be idea were it not for the difficulty and cost of obtaining shells. An 1100 in 20 gauge would do just as well as would my preference, a Beretta 391 Sporting in 20 gauge. The Remington and Beretta autoloaders are available in youth/reduced sizes but she may be able to manage the full size. I also wouldn't rule out the Beretta 391 Parallel Target RL (reduced length) in 12 gauge using light loads if she is physically strong enough to shoot the heavier gun. Take her to a gun store and let her handle a few guns. She'll eventually find one that fits and feels best to her.
What shot gun for my girl friend?
- Thread starter hend238
- Start date
Not even close to being true as far as 20 gauge vs 12 gauge target loads. Not the first time I've heard this though. I can buy a flat (250 rounds) of 20 gauge target loads (7/8oz of 7 1/2 shot) for the exact same price as its 12 gauge counterpart ($51 + tax). Better quality loads like winchester AAs are also the same price.
The only time 20 gauge loads are more expensive is when you get into specialty loads, or if you buy your ammo from Canadian Tire.
Turkeyslayer 1300
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Russell, Ontario
Agreed, any place you are paying more than a few cents a box more for 20 gauge Promo loads is ripping you off.
28 gauge eh? Ya I had considered that at one time. Will stick with the 20. I'm not too concerned about the price difference, if any, between the 20 and 12. If I was afraid to spend a few extra bucks I doubt I'd have so many rifles in my safe.
Talked with the gf last night and she has agreed to go to Bass Pro and/or Wholesale with me for a preliminary look. She is a little apprehensive about me buying her a shot gun so I painted a picture for her... the two of us out for a nice stroll through the mountains on a beautiful fall day carrying our shotguns hunting for chickens. If we don't shoot anything it will still be quality time together.... She totally fell for it.
Talked with the gf last night and she has agreed to go to Bass Pro and/or Wholesale with me for a preliminary look. She is a little apprehensive about me buying her a shot gun so I painted a picture for her... the two of us out for a nice stroll through the mountains on a beautiful fall day carrying our shotguns hunting for chickens. If we don't shoot anything it will still be quality time together.... She totally fell for it.
There's a lot going on here, but there is one absolute fact that need to be recognized:
Gauge has absolutely no effect on recoil. All it does is typically set up the more important variables that effect recoil. Trying to narrow your search down by gauge is pointless, as it's sort of like saying "I'm going to buy a V8. Don't know what that engine's gonna be stuck in, but it's gonna be a V8!"
The argument that a 20 gauge will kick less is simply not true. What is true is that the 7/8 oz. loads typically fired out of a 20 gauge will kick less than the 1-1/8 oz. loads typically fired out of a 12 gauge. However, take that same 7/8 oz. of lead and accelerate it down a 12 bore barrel and you'll find that it's even softer to shoot. Why? Because a 12 gauge usually weighs more, and the mass of the gun soaks up more recoil energy. By extension, one could say that a 20 gauge actually recoils more, since firing a 1-1/8 oz load out of a 20 gauge will typically kick a lot more thanks to the gun's lighter weight.
In my admittedly limited experience (some of the guys I shoot with have been shooting longer than I've been alive!), it's always better to shoot lighter loads, especially if you're introducing a new shooter to the sport; it just helps prevent bad habits from forming. And with that in mind, it's worth taking a long hard look at the argument of semi-automatic vs an over under. On one hand, a semi-auto like a Beretta 390 or Remington 1100 will soak up additional recoil by bleeding off some of the hot gasses to operate the action, but they may not cycle the lightest of light loads like the reduced recoil loads from Remington and Winchester (both of which are damn close to .22LR recoil when fired out of my heavy over/under trap gun, by the way). In comparison, an over under may kick more, but will fire everything down to 3/4 of an ounce.
At 5'6" she'll need something with a shorter stock to move the balance closer to her body. Most shotguns are made around the old US Army standard sized man, which is quite a bit taller than that. Browning makes many of their guns in shorter sizes, and all over under's can be quite easily shortened by anyone with half a wit's worth of gunsmithing talent. But by all means, the best bet is to simply take her out to a shop, explain to the shopkeeper what you're trying to do, and start putting guns in her hands. She'll rapidly start to notice the difference!
Gauge has absolutely no effect on recoil. All it does is typically set up the more important variables that effect recoil. Trying to narrow your search down by gauge is pointless, as it's sort of like saying "I'm going to buy a V8. Don't know what that engine's gonna be stuck in, but it's gonna be a V8!"
The argument that a 20 gauge will kick less is simply not true. What is true is that the 7/8 oz. loads typically fired out of a 20 gauge will kick less than the 1-1/8 oz. loads typically fired out of a 12 gauge. However, take that same 7/8 oz. of lead and accelerate it down a 12 bore barrel and you'll find that it's even softer to shoot. Why? Because a 12 gauge usually weighs more, and the mass of the gun soaks up more recoil energy. By extension, one could say that a 20 gauge actually recoils more, since firing a 1-1/8 oz load out of a 20 gauge will typically kick a lot more thanks to the gun's lighter weight.
In my admittedly limited experience (some of the guys I shoot with have been shooting longer than I've been alive!), it's always better to shoot lighter loads, especially if you're introducing a new shooter to the sport; it just helps prevent bad habits from forming. And with that in mind, it's worth taking a long hard look at the argument of semi-automatic vs an over under. On one hand, a semi-auto like a Beretta 390 or Remington 1100 will soak up additional recoil by bleeding off some of the hot gasses to operate the action, but they may not cycle the lightest of light loads like the reduced recoil loads from Remington and Winchester (both of which are damn close to .22LR recoil when fired out of my heavy over/under trap gun, by the way). In comparison, an over under may kick more, but will fire everything down to 3/4 of an ounce.
At 5'6" she'll need something with a shorter stock to move the balance closer to her body. Most shotguns are made around the old US Army standard sized man, which is quite a bit taller than that. Browning makes many of their guns in shorter sizes, and all over under's can be quite easily shortened by anyone with half a wit's worth of gunsmithing talent. But by all means, the best bet is to simply take her out to a shop, explain to the shopkeeper what you're trying to do, and start putting guns in her hands. She'll rapidly start to notice the difference!
Thanks for the synopsis.
I've plenty of girlfriends and plenty of shotguns for them. They include: 20gauge = 391 sporting, browning gold, browning silver, citori skeet (combo set 20,28,410) and a stoeger condor. One also liked using my 12 gauge benelli cordoba. I found the best gun was the browning gold (a close second being the silver). There is almost zero recoil used with light factory loads. This allows for the shooter to not worry about recoil. I found using a 28 gauge was two things. Expensive and there was no huge difference in recoil. My advice would be find a nice used browning gold or silver and keep it very clean.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
My Missus is of similar configuration, maybe an inch taller.
I started her out with a Classic Doubles (think refined Win. 101) 20 ga. Skeet.
She did well enough with that, then changed to an 11-87 12 ga. Sporter, followed by
a Browning 325 Sporter. (All shortened, and the last two cast off to match the Classic Doubles) After shooting my 391 Parallel Target SL, she's switched to her own 391 Parallel Target RL, and has been shooting it for the last 5 or 6 years and really likes it. No problems with 24 gram or 1 oz. reloads, nor with 1-1/8 oz. 2-3/4 or 3 dram equiv. target loads for that matter.
Bothe the 391 PT's are super reliable, and not difficult to keep clean. They get a strip & clean about every 10 to 15 flats (whether they need it or not) and at seasons end. Other than that, simply an oily cloth on the metal after use and an Ed's Red job on the bore and chokes after every 2 or 3 flats ... or if we get caught out in the rain.
I started her out with a Classic Doubles (think refined Win. 101) 20 ga. Skeet.
She did well enough with that, then changed to an 11-87 12 ga. Sporter, followed by
a Browning 325 Sporter. (All shortened, and the last two cast off to match the Classic Doubles) After shooting my 391 Parallel Target SL, she's switched to her own 391 Parallel Target RL, and has been shooting it for the last 5 or 6 years and really likes it. No problems with 24 gram or 1 oz. reloads, nor with 1-1/8 oz. 2-3/4 or 3 dram equiv. target loads for that matter.
Bothe the 391 PT's are super reliable, and not difficult to keep clean. They get a strip & clean about every 10 to 15 flats (whether they need it or not) and at seasons end. Other than that, simply an oily cloth on the metal after use and an Ed's Red job on the bore and chokes after every 2 or 3 flats ... or if we get caught out in the rain.
My fiance is 120 lbs soaking wet and she uses my 20gauge sxs with no recoil pad for grouse. She also uses her brothers 12 gauge maxus with 3" shells when they go out to Saskatchewan. She says she wants a maxus of her own next year.
My suggestion is to take your girlfriend skeet shooting with a 12gauge with 2 3/4 shells. The excitement and challenge will take off the edge of the recoil. Next time she touches a 20 gauge she won't notice the recoil. It helped us get a few of our friends into shotguns. Few even wanted a 12 gauge of their own.
My suggestion is to take your girlfriend skeet shooting with a 12gauge with 2 3/4 shells. The excitement and challenge will take off the edge of the recoil. Next time she touches a 20 gauge she won't notice the recoil. It helped us get a few of our friends into shotguns. Few even wanted a 12 gauge of their own.
I'm not going to give her a 12 gauge if she didn't like the 20 u/o with light loads. I know most of you are saying that a 12 with light loads won't recoil as hard as a 20. I think a 12 would be wasted on her at this point. I'll buy one for myself and she can try it. As I said in the beginning of this thread it is more of a mental thing for her. She just has to get used to it first. I have to start her off nice and easy and then hopefully when she is comfortable she can graduate to a 12 gauge. I honest don't feel she will even want to try the 12 if I handed her one.
Brilliant!
Sorry I assumed you owned a 12 gauge. between me and my family every body and their dog has one. lol Comfort comes with confidence. Even with your 20 take her skeet shooting. I know personally I wasn't a fan of 3 1/2 loads for my 12, but once there was a goose on the opposite end of the barrel all I could this was "GOOSE!!!!" lol Destrations work well. Most of us don't pay attention to the recoil, but whats in front of us. I wish the best of luck to you.
I actually don't own any shot guns. Haven't had one in my safe since 1998. It's about time I rectified this problem. I know what I want in a shot gun but for her is a different story.
Thanks I'll need all the luck I can get I think.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Why not take your wife to a Club and let her try a couple of different guns ? ... most
Club members are more than willing to oblige !
Club members are more than willing to oblige !
DH, it will work out in the end. There are tons of opinions on this Forum but I would talk to a TRUE shotgunner. Someone who actually shoots competitively, they will know how to fit a shotgun and not just sell a shotgun. The fit is important. She is a grown woman and not growing anymore so if it feels and fits good topped off with being a 20 ga, she will be more comfortable and confident when shooting it.
Heck you need to get her convinced to shoot that nasty thing called BR.......
CYCBB
Heck you need to get her convinced to shoot that nasty thing called BR.......
CYCBB
Problem is my club is not much of a shut gun club. I've never actually seen anyone shoot when I've been there.
Believe me I will be talking with a shooter before I purchase anything. I typically have no faith in retail employees behind a gun counter. (That comment could get me into trouble)
I have been trying for years to get her into BR. I'd pick her up a BR gun in a heart beat if she said so. She has come out to one score shoot at Rosebud in the past and actually won a match! Mind you it was with some coaching so not legit but still...I actually purchased that rifle she was shooting from Doc and she still considers it hers because she shot it before I did. Perhaps I can convince her to join our small group, give her "her" gun back and I can buy a new one. Hmmm....
Perhaps one day our paths will cross. Thanks for the advice.
