Shotgun for Small Frame Women

Okay, need some suggestions on lightweight shotguns for my wife.

Need some info on proper gauge, whether to a semi or pump, etc...

She's fairly new to firearms. Can handle my 12 ga., but not on an all day shoot. Primary use will be skeet/trap. She is about 5'7, 120lbs dripping wet with cement shoes on, very petite.

Really looking for something fairly cheap... probably won't even purchase for a year or so. Black is good, no pink shotguns, she'd kill you. HAHA.

Any questions to guide, post 'em and I'll answer.

Thxs,
Bear

12 Ga over/under if you can swing the price of one. A Semi like a Beretta 391 would be another good choice. It's essentially a trade off; heavier guns recoil less, but swing like shit and take it out of their arms if carried all day. FWIW, my wife got a HK/FABARM Red Lion. It's a semi, light, and gas operated with a gas buffer to lower the recoil. I use it more than her for upland hunting. It swings like a dream, really easy on the arms, and shoots really nice patterns. Unfortunately, it only carries 3 rounds in it as the front of the tube mag is taken up by the gas buffer.

If in doubt, Rem 870 or 1187 is pretty hard to beat for the prices. If you can find an old 1100 in good shape, that's pretty good too. Can't really go wrong with anything that says Benelli on the side of it either.

My wife shoots a Charles Daly 20ga auto. She is 5'2", and has had 4 wrist surgeries.

Auto will take a lot of the recoil away for smaller folks.

Youth 870 in 20 Ga maybe

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Originally Posted by Daniel_187

Youth 870 in 20 Ga maybe

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My suggestion... ^^ cheap and seem to be good quality.

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Originally Posted by gnihcraes

My suggestion... ^^ cheap and seem to be good quality.

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i ended up with a mossy 20ga youth. cut the bbl down to 18.5" put the hi-viz front sight back on to the VR installed a side folding stock and she has another firearm she feels comfortable using as necessary. of course i lucked out scoring 300rds of 20ga from a CL ad for $35.00.

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Originally Posted by SA Friday

12 Ga over/under if you can swing the price of one. A Semi like a Beretta 391 would be another good choice. .....
If in doubt, Rem 870 or 1187 is pretty hard to beat for the prices.

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Trying to find something smaller than a 12ga, but can still be used in shooting clays. I've checked out the 870. Looking at your other suggestions. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by blackford76

My wife shoots a Charles Daly 20ga auto. She is 5'2", and has had 4 wrist surgeries.

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Very good to know, my wife has bad wrists as well due to her work.

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Originally Posted by StagLefty

Auto will take a lot of the recoil away for smaller folks.

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I've heard that. Is there a reason for it?

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Originally Posted by Daniel_187

Youth 870 in 20 Ga maybe

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Youth just means shorter stock correct? I would like to find a short stock and a 18.5 barrel. I think that'd be good for her.

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Originally Posted by jim

of course i lucked out scoring 300rds of 20ga from a CL ad for $35.00.

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Wow, great find!!!





Okay, so consensus seems to be 20ga in a youth stock and 18.5 barrel... time to browse the web. Still need to find her a .22lr pistol as well. Man, maybe I shouldn't have introduced her to guns.... $$$ hehe [LOL]

A substantial amount of recoil is used up sending the BCG back, so less recoil is felt in the semi.

Yes youth is just a shorter stock.

A Beretta 391 is awesome, thats what I bought the GF, with a youth stock. I like it so much I use it for doves and pheasant because I can swing it so fast.

I also own an 870 youth that I love for doves, and home defense.

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Originally Posted by cowboykjohnson

A substantial amount of recoil is used up sending the BCG back, so less recoil is felt in the semi.

A Beretta 391 is awesome, thats what I bought the GF, with a youth stock. I like it so much I use it for doves and pheasant because I can swing it so fast.

I also own an 870 youth that I love for doves, and home defense.

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Interesting on the explaination of reduced recoil in a semi. I have teh Beretta 390L in a 12 guage, but it's too barrel heavy for my wife and still kicks a lot for her. I may look into the Rem 870 youths in 20... do they make a semi model? Links?

Yep I don't know if thats the proper technical description of how it works.

The 11-87 and older 1100's may come in youth, but I don't know for sure. Those are the 2 remington autos I know of.

If she stands 5'7", length of pull on a youth model, may be a little short. Standard shotgun should be fine.

Semi-auto would be my recommendation too. Beretta A391 is a very good choice but if you are looking for something less expensive, it is hard to beat a Remington 1100 in 20ga.

beretta 3901 rl best out there that won't need much modification

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Originally Posted by Daniel_187

Youth 870 in 20 Ga maybe

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I agree. Bought my 13 year old son one last year and he loves it. Wife tried it, now she has one. Shes 5'3 about 125.

I went through this same delemma and went to the experts.

Team USA shooting and asked the girtls there what they shoot.

One lady wipped out her prototype that is now being made by Browning.
Ladies Gold
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/32791-1.html
This was designed from the bottom up for women. The only differrence between the prototype and the production gun was the lack of a palm swell in the buttstock.

It has been 10 plus years and my wife still loves hers. Very little recoil and very light with the aluminum reciever. The only problem I see is men like to shoot them too. The light fast swinging gun has a ported barrel to reduce recoil even more, but can't be used to hunt waterfowl. No steel shot and NO 3" shells in this Browning Gold. The weight is about the same as a standard Gold because they put the weight in the buttstock to help with recoil.

You will have to search to find these. Browning only makes about 10-20 a year.

Very interesting, thanks.