Shotgun for the wife? Suggestions?

TimNelson · June 23, 2009, 02:07 PM

My wife wants a shotgun to go hunting with. She is pretty small but not tiny. Any suggestions of where we should start? She will make the final decision but wants me to help her dedide.

SGL · June 23, 2009, 02:09 PM

Get her an over-under 20 gauge with a nice recoil pad. Make sure the gun fits her real good or she'll get banged up and probably never shoot it again.

Couzin · June 23, 2009, 02:14 PM

My wife has a Beretta 3901 Target RL in 12ga. Short stock, recoil is next to nothing, can shoot 2-3/4" and 3". She mainly breaks clays with it but it is a laser on birds.

ronto · June 23, 2009, 02:24 PM

A 20 pump.

johnwilliamson062 · June 23, 2009, 02:39 PM

A snub nosed 357 magnum, obviously.

I would try to find her a 12 ga if you can, it is the standard.

I thik the only way to pick which one is to get her to try some.

oneounceload · June 23, 2009, 02:51 PM

First things first - what are you hunting? Upland? Waterfowl? Deer? Turkey? Something else?

WAPITI_ASSASSIN · June 23, 2009, 03:10 PM

I'm going to assume your going for deer and bear, just going to round it off at that. I would go with a 12. However my wife has a grudge against a 12 gauge.She won't use one because she thinks they kick to hard, and my wife is a little thing to. If your wife has a problem with the recoil of one as well, then i'm quite sure a 20 gauge would do just fine

smoakingun · June 23, 2009, 05:02 PM

mine has a youth model 870 in 20ga. smooth bore for skeet, rifled barrel for michigan deer. She wants a benelli.

hogdogs · June 23, 2009, 05:24 PM

Have her LOP measured... Then if she ain't after a "fine sportin' arm" a mossberg would suit her just fine as frogs hair. Pump or semi auto, they got an offering for her...
Brent

hogdogs · June 23, 2009, 05:27 PM

As for recoil...
Both the 12 and 20 in an exact gun will have similar felt recoil as a 20 gauge gun is lighter weight than the same model in 12 gauge.
If you weigh down a 20 it will feel softer on the shoulder but heavier on the hands and feet after a day of carry.
Brent

TimNelson · June 23, 2009, 05:42 PM

She will be using the shotgun to hunt white tail here in pennsylvania.

Jekyll · June 23, 2009, 09:13 PM

double post somehow

Jekyll · June 23, 2009, 09:14 PM

20 ga Rem 870 express youth. Got one with a Hastings cantelever barrel for my Mrs. She has a Win 1300 youth in 20 ga for birds.

I've learned to never deny your wife her guns. Give in to her whims and she won't complain about your's.

Bill DeShivs · June 24, 2009, 12:31 AM

Shotgun for the wife? Suggestions?

I wouldn't trade mine for less than a Purdey or H&H double.....

stargazer65 · June 24, 2009, 07:13 AM

What about a gas operated semi-auto like a Remington 11-87? Wouldn't the soft recoil be a big plus?

Lee Lapin · June 24, 2009, 08:53 AM

I agree re. a gas gun- if the family budget can handle it, a youth model 11-87 20 ga. would likely be a good way to go. Women & Guns had a review on it a couple of issues back- our own pax ( www.corneredcat.com ) thought it was a winner.

lpl

johnwilliamson062 · June 24, 2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Both the 12 and 20 in an exact gun will have similar felt recoil as a 20 gauge gun is lighter weight than the same model in 12 gauge.
If you weigh down a 20 it will feel softer on the shoulder but heavier on the hands and feet after a day of carry.

Mostly true, although I think there are a few cases where this is not true. I believe Stoeger specifically has several models that they do not scale.

Going with semi-auto action is the best way to reduce recoil without adding weight or giving up the 12 ga which is much more available. My 11-87 is great. It does not handle high volumes of fire well(250+ between a wipedown), especially with dirty powder(cheap loads for sporting clays).

perazzimx14 · June 29, 2009, 06:35 PM

Tim,

If your wife is going to hunt deer in Pa get her a rifle. A 20 or 12 gauge will kick the **** out of her. A 12 gauge slug compares in recoil to a .300 Win. Mag. rifle shell. A nice .243 or something like it will work better and be alot more comfortable for her.

If you or her are hell bent on a shotgun, buy something that you have no problem cutting the stock.

I shoot a fair amount of trap and have seen countless people take a beating from their gun and shoot poor scores because the wood was "to pretty to cut" or "if I cut the stock the value will drop". Both of these statements are pure B.S.! A ill fitting is worthless. Also do not get her the lightest gun you can find, get her the heaviest gun she can carry and handle. It is all physics, it takes more energy to more something the heavier it is. 1/2 a pound in a gun weight makes a world of difference in recoil. This still doesn't make up for stock fit as that is the most important thing in shotguns.

dalecooper51 · June 29, 2009, 07:12 PM

If hunting deer in PA, no semi autos are allowed. It must be a manually operated firearm.

If you are in a shotgun only area, I would consider the 870 youth express. Clamp some sights on the vent rib and get a good recoil pad for it. The 20 ga guns are light and can be a handful.

If you aren't in a shotgun only area, I would consider a rifle in .357 mag or .243. Both have plenty of energy to kill a deer at 100 yds and have less recoil than a shotgun.

Zilmo · June 29, 2009, 07:14 PM

If she can cook, I'll give ya a Winchester 1300.

zippy13 · June 29, 2009, 08:11 PM

Delete

lockedcj7 · June 29, 2009, 10:08 PM

If it's true that no semi's are allowed, I'd have to +1 for the Rem. 870 20 ga. I had an 870 Express combo gun that came with a 21" rifle sight barrel with IC choke. It would be ideal with foster slugs out to 100 yds. The other barrel was a 28" VR remchoke barrel.

A combo like that would be a perfect starter gun and would allow her to hunt just about anything later if she wanted. If she has short arms, the youth model might fit better. It's true that a heavy, gas operated automatic 12 ga. would feel gentle compared to an ultralight fixed-breech 20 ga. If you compare apples to apples, the 12 ga. will feel more harsh.

cornbush · June 29, 2009, 10:10 PM

Its hard to go wrong with a Browning BPS or an 870.

Huntergirl · June 29, 2009, 10:41 PM

I think simple economically price shotgun for starters. My favorite all time shotgun is my old Winchester model 120 youth in 20ga. It has taken more grouse and dove than anything else I've owned. It fits me to a T. My second favorite shotgun is my SKB model 505 field O/U 12GA. But I would start her out with a 20GA. WOOHOO! another woman hunter!

gak · June 30, 2009, 12:54 AM

New to the thread--and the shotgun forum in general...
Or you can skip all the hooey and get her a new or used 16 ga Rem or Ithaca 37 pump :-) ...Browning Citori Lightning O/U in same if you've got the jingle. Best of both worlds--12 and 20. I think Rem came out "anew" with the 16 pump after a long lay off, and maybe the Ithaca too a few years ago when it looked like the 16 was having a resurgence. Used Ithacas abound if not. Speaking of hooey, before it starts regarding ammo availability, can almost always find at least game load at the likes of Big 5, etc. The 16's relative lack of popularity (and of course related lack of broad availability of shotguns that shoot it) is the classic case of "once it gets started..." And speaking of classic, can't think of a more classic gun for your wife--or anyone for that matter. Though slugs not impossible (internet), I'll give you that one. So, find a source and load up--not going shoot a ton of those as practice anyway.

All of the posts have been good, offering fine but same ol' standard suggestions...just thought I'd shake it up with a little "16 talk." Love the 37 I've had for 40 years. No wilting violet, ...definitely no 20; you swear you've just shot a 12, until of course you shoot a 12! I don't shoot mine enough, but that's my doing what with other busy-ness...as I say, always can find shells for it, just not down at the local 7-11.

June 23, 2009, 02:07 PM	#1
TimNelson Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2008 Posts: 304	Shotgun for the wife? Suggestions? My wife wants a shotgun to go hunting with. She is pretty small but not tiny. Any suggestions of where we should start? She will make the final decision but wants me to help her dedide.

June 23, 2009, 02:09 PM	#2
SGL Junior Member Join Date: January 12, 2009 Posts: 12	20 ga Get her an over-under 20 gauge with a nice recoil pad. Make sure the gun fits her real good or she'll get banged up and probably never shoot it again.

June 23, 2009, 02:24 PM	#4
ronto Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2007 Location: Smack Dab in the Middle of Nowhere. Posts: 505	A 20 pump. __________________ "We will do this: we will hang together, we will keep our organization, our arms, our discipline, our hatred of oppression, until one universal shout goes up from an admiring age that this Missouri Cavalry Division preferred exile to submission, death to dishonor". General Joseph O. Shelby, CSA (1830-1897) The only Confederate General who refused to surrender himself or his 1,000+ "Iron Brigade".

June 23, 2009, 05:02 PM	#8
smoakingun Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Location: melrose, fl Posts: 634	mine has a youth model 870 in 20ga. smooth bore for skeet, rifled barrel for michigan deer. She wants a benelli. __________________ Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction.

June 23, 2009, 09:13 PM	#12
Jekyll Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Easten PA Posts: 277	double post somehow Last edited by Jekyll; June 24, 2009 at 09:57 AM.

June 23, 2009, 02:14 PM	#3
Couzin Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2006 Location: Terrell, Texas Posts: 240	My wife has a Beretta 3901 Target RL in 12ga. Short stock, recoil is next to nothing, can shoot 2-3/4" and 3". She mainly breaks clays with it but it is a laser on birds.

June 23, 2009, 02:39 PM	#5
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,995	A snub nosed 357 magnum, obviously. I would try to find her a 12 ga if you can, it is the standard. I thik the only way to pick which one is to get her to try some.

June 23, 2009, 02:51 PM	#6
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	First things first - what are you hunting? Upland? Waterfowl? Deer? Turkey? Something else?

June 23, 2009, 03:10 PM	#7
WAPITI_ASSASSIN Member Join Date: May 19, 2009 Location: Grants pass Oregon Posts: 53	I'm going to assume your going for deer and bear, just going to round it off at that. I would go with a 12. However my wife has a grudge against a 12 gauge.She won't use one because she thinks they kick to hard, and my wife is a little thing to. If your wife has a problem with the recoil of one as well, then i'm quite sure a 20 gauge would do just fine

June 23, 2009, 05:24 PM	#9
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Have her LOP measured... Then if she ain't after a "fine sportin' arm" a mossberg would suit her just fine as frogs hair. Pump or semi auto, they got an offering for her... Brent

June 23, 2009, 05:27 PM	#10
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	As for recoil... Both the 12 and 20 in an exact gun will have similar felt recoil as a 20 gauge gun is lighter weight than the same model in 12 gauge. If you weigh down a 20 it will feel softer on the shoulder but heavier on the hands and feet after a day of carry. Brent

June 23, 2009, 05:42 PM	#11
TimNelson Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2008 Posts: 304	She will be using the shotgun to hunt white tail here in pennsylvania.

June 23, 2009, 09:14 PM	#13
Jekyll Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Easten PA Posts: 277	20 ga Rem 870 express youth. Got one with a Hastings cantelever barrel for my Mrs. She has a Win 1300 youth in 20 ga for birds. I've learned to never deny your wife her guns. Give in to her whims and she won't complain about your's.

June 24, 2009, 12:31 AM	#14
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,990	Shotgun for the wife? Suggestions? I wouldn't trade mine for less than a Purdey or H&H double..... __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

June 24, 2009, 07:13 AM	#15
stargazer65 Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2009 Location: Connecticut Posts: 761	What about a gas operated semi-auto like a Remington 11-87? Wouldn't the soft recoil be a big plus? __________________ "I assert that nothing ever comes to pass without a cause." Jonathan Edwards

June 24, 2009, 08:53 AM	#16
Lee Lapin Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2004 Location: SE NC Posts: 1,239	I agree re. a gas gun- if the family budget can handle it, a youth model 11-87 20 ga. would likely be a good way to go. Women & Guns had a review on it a couple of issues back- our own pax ( www.corneredcat.com ) thought it was a winner. lpl

June 29, 2009, 06:35 PM	#18
perazzimx14 Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2007 Posts: 130	Tim, If your wife is going to hunt deer in Pa get her a rifle. A 20 or 12 gauge will kick the **** out of her. A 12 gauge slug compares in recoil to a .300 Win. Mag. rifle shell. A nice .243 or something like it will work better and be alot more comfortable for her. If you or her are hell bent on a shotgun, buy something that you have no problem cutting the stock. I shoot a fair amount of trap and have seen countless people take a beating from their gun and shoot poor scores because the wood was "to pretty to cut" or "if I cut the stock the value will drop". Both of these statements are pure B.S.! A ill fitting is worthless. Also do not get her the lightest gun you can find, get her the heaviest gun she can carry and handle. It is all physics, it takes more energy to more something the heavier it is. 1/2 a pound in a gun weight makes a world of difference in recoil. This still doesn't make up for stock fit as that is the most important thing in shotguns.

June 29, 2009, 07:12 PM	#19
dalecooper51 Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2007 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 318	If hunting deer in PA, no semi autos are allowed. It must be a manually operated firearm. If you are in a shotgun only area, I would consider the 870 youth express. Clamp some sights on the vent rib and get a good recoil pad for it. The 20 ga guns are light and can be a handful. If you aren't in a shotgun only area, I would consider a rifle in .357 mag or .243. Both have plenty of energy to kill a deer at 100 yds and have less recoil than a shotgun.

June 29, 2009, 07:14 PM	#20
Zilmo Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2009 Location: At home. Posts: 369	If she can cook, I'll give ya a Winchester 1300.

June 29, 2009, 08:11 PM	#21
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Delete Last edited by zippy13; June 30, 2009 at 12:06 AM. Reason: Oops...

June 29, 2009, 10:08 PM	#22
lockedcj7 Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2007 Posts: 1,215	If it's true that no semi's are allowed, I'd have to +1 for the Rem. 870 20 ga. I had an 870 Express combo gun that came with a 21" rifle sight barrel with IC choke. It would be ideal with foster slugs out to 100 yds. The other barrel was a 28" VR remchoke barrel. A combo like that would be a perfect starter gun and would allow her to hunt just about anything later if she wanted. If she has short arms, the youth model might fit better. It's true that a heavy, gas operated automatic 12 ga. would feel gentle compared to an ultralight fixed-breech 20 ga. If you compare apples to apples, the 12 ga. will feel more harsh. __________________ To a much greater extent than most mechanical devices, firearms are terribly unforgiving of any overconfidence, complacency or negligence.

June 29, 2009, 10:10 PM	#23
cornbush Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: The retarded place below Idaho Posts: 1,408	Its hard to go wrong with a Browning BPS or an 870.

June 29, 2009, 10:41 PM	#24
Huntergirl Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: Wyoming Posts: 907	I think simple economically price shotgun for starters. My favorite all time shotgun is my old Winchester model 120 youth in 20ga. It has taken more grouse and dove than anything else I've owned. It fits me to a T. My second favorite shotgun is my SKB model 505 field O/U 12GA. But I would start her out with a 20GA. WOOHOO! another woman hunter!

June 30, 2009, 12:54 AM	#25
gak Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2005 Location: Aridzona Posts: 2,767	New to the thread--and the shotgun forum in general... Or you can skip all the hooey and get her a new or used 16 ga Rem or Ithaca 37 pump :-) ...Browning Citori Lightning O/U in same if you've got the jingle. Best of both worlds--12 and 20. I think Rem came out "anew" with the 16 pump after a long lay off, and maybe the Ithaca too a few years ago when it looked like the 16 was having a resurgence. Used Ithacas abound if not. Speaking of hooey, before it starts regarding ammo availability, can almost always find at least game load at the likes of Big 5, etc. The 16's relative lack of popularity (and of course related lack of broad availability of shotguns that shoot it) is the classic case of "once it gets started..." And speaking of classic, can't think of a more classic gun for your wife--or anyone for that matter. Though slugs not impossible (internet), I'll give you that one. So, find a source and load up--not going shoot a ton of those as practice anyway. All of the posts have been good, offering fine but same ol' standard suggestions...just thought I'd shake it up with a little "16 talk." Love the 37 I've had for 40 years. No wilting violet, ...definitely no 20; you swear you've just shot a 12, until of course you shoot a 12! I don't shoot mine enough, but that's my doing what with other busy-ness...as I say, always can find shells for it, just not down at the local 7-11.