Help with shotgun for wife
 

I have been starting to do a little trap shooting and my wife is acturally starting to get interested in shooting with me. I would like to get her a shotgun but she has a couple of issues. She isvery petite5'-2" 105lbs. Here is the kicker, she is left handed and left eye dominant.

I was thinking of getting a Browning BPS Microin 20ga 22" barrel (has bottom cartridge eject), or a Stoeger Condor over and under youth 20ga also has 22" barrel.

Anyone have any other suggestions. One more thing, I would like to stay under $500.00 if possible.

Thanks in advance.

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

Get her a Mossberg or Remington Youth 20ga.My little brother is the same way and shoots right handed guns just fine. He is not big on semi auto rifles or shotguns because he cant move the gun to eject the shell but anything else he shoots as good or better then me. Only better with iron sights though.

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

I too am left handed and I have Beretta O/Us and 3 Remington 870s. The 870s are right handed and I never had any trouble shooting them. Occasionally in a duck blind I had powder blow back in my face when the wind was just right but that's about all. And for trap (doubles excluded) I don't see a problem getting her one in a youth model. The 870 has a reputation for being a smooth action reliable shotgun. The Browning BPS is also a very good gun for her.

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

A friend of mine had the Stoeger 20 O/U and it shoots really well. We have a thrower at my buddies place and everybody likes using the stoeger even though we have several other guns to chose from.

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

I'm left handed/left eyedominantand had doubt of right handed shotguns. I own a Remington 870 express now. The gun shoots smothly and no shells even touch my face. A 20 gauge will suit her fine. The O/U's are good too.

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

That Stoeger is great. I would say that the Rem 1100 or 870 would also be great choices. The 1100 kicks very little and I believe you can get it in a youth version.

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

if you are shooting out of a real trap house and not some backyard setup, i think you would just be handicapping her with a 20. a 20 in the hands of an expierienced shooter works, for a newbie it can be frustrating.

my children both shoot, and i started them out with some managed recoil loads (12 guage) and they are doing fine. they are 11 and 12 years old. they are up to full power loads after just a few weeks and if the gun fits, recoil shouldnt be a problem...

the 12 gauge bt-99 micro is an AWESOME gun.

benelli SBE and SBE2's have short stocks and don't kick a lick. my SBE eats light ammo no problem and is a PLEASURE to shoot.

good luck with whatever you decide.
moose

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

Hey moose,

I'm in the same situation as this guys is. My wife is also showing interest in shooting and hunting. She didn't dig the 12 ga. at trap the other day. So, we're looking at an Rem. 870 youth 20ga. for her. But, what are the managed recoil 12 ga. loads you spoke of. We used Federal 71/2 shot size, 1 1/8oz the other day (with a Limbsaver recoil pad) and she didn't want any part of it. Thanks for any information.

G

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

As another left-eye dominant Southpaw, I can only agree with e4c4ever. As for the powder issue mentioned by Bronko, that is an extreme oddity, and should be checked by a competent Gunsmith (not the guy at Gander Mtn. who cleans guns & mounts scopes, but the honest to goodness trained Armorer/repairman). The breach of a firearm is designed to contain any & all safe chamber pressure. If debris or powder is escaping past the breach block, there is a problem and asafety issue.

Pay attention to what Moose said. Although his taste is a bit pricey for your budget, his selections arebeyond reproach. Hit the used racks to save on cost. Autoloaders tend to be gentler, as 1) they're heavier, 2) cycling the action absorbs some of the recoil impulse. Pump actions tend to be less money, therefore more common. Don't worry about second shots, light loads not cycling the action, etc., as you will be using this piece as a single shot for quite a while. By the time either of you is ready for Doubles or Skeet,the recoil sensitivity will be gone and/or this "entry level" set up will have been modified and/or changed significantly.

Managed Recoil& Trap loads tend to have far less energy, and energy produces recoil. Clay pidgeons don't have heavy feathers or adrenalinprotecting them, and ANY noticeable chip, break, etc. counts as a "dead bird."

Lighter weight of the 20 ga. Youth models leaves less to counter-act the effects of felt recoil, and the lesser recoil generated by the smaller guagecomes froma smaller payload of shot. Targets are less likely to be hit, as you are sending fewer pellets and a shorter shot string down range.

Back to that used pump orauto... If it's one of the "Big Name" models, you can pick-up an aftermarket stock for cheap. Add a little more weight in the butt, the best recoil pad you have handy, find your Sweetie a decent recoil shield (ie: PAST, etc.), make sure the length of pull suits her, and you're good to go. And, you're well under the $500.00 you mentioned.

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

the remington managed recoil loads (check out the details on thier website) are VERY manageable...and i noticed no change in broken birds.

a 20 gauge can punish you worse than a 12, if not matched to the shooter. i have an old ithaca 20 gauge O/U that kicks worse than my SBE with 3-1/2 turkey loads!

i will say this... there is NOTHING more frustrating for a newbie than having a gun that does not "come up" nice or that kicks the heck out of 'em.

if you've gotta scrimp and save up a few extra bucks (like i had to) to get the RIGHT gun the FIRST time, do it. the many rewarding YEARS of love for the sport will be the payback.

An 1100 rem with a shell catcher can be picked up used reasonably priced... but if it's target shooting you're gonna be doing, a field gun just is'nt the same as a trap gun.. dont get me wrong, you can break clay with ANYTHING, but why not make it easier on yourself?

Kinda like brook trout fishing with a muskie setup, it can be done, but it's not as fun!


let me know how you make out!
moose

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

Moose1915; Thanks for the input. What is a bt -99 micro?

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

Browning Trap model 99 micro is the youth/womens version of thier regular bt99... beautifull gun, i shoot it well too.

heavy enough not to kick but light enough to be easily held by smaller people.

you can get em brand new for about 1100-1200 or pick up a good used one for 500 to 700 bucks. they are VERY well made and built sturdy to last a lifetime.

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

HTN,
Do whatever you can to reduce the recoil to an acceptable level for her or you risk the chance of losing her interest in shooting at all.

If it takes managed recoil loads with a limbsaver recoil pad along with a pad she wears on her shoulder then do it. Make sure the gun fits her. a poorly fitting lightweight 20ga will hit her much harder than a properly fit 12ga.

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

I love my bps in its field trim . I too shoot left handed as I 'm left eyed but strongly right handed . I picked up a Boito O/U cheap wood ok finnish but an excelent shooter .I cut an inch and a half off the stock and put a white line pad on it I have about $350.00 in the gun . 3 field seasons and a 12 or so cases of clays. I shotmaybe 2000 rounds in a used 6 or 7 owner "trap" gun and am still happy .

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

1 more thing I had a poorly fitted .410 (to short) gave me the worst shoulder bruise ever .

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

I would NOT buy her a right handed gun. Espically for trap. I am a lefty and NOTHING is more annoying than trying to shoot a right handed gun that has the safety at the back of the trigger like Remingtons do. If you shoot it very fast, it is VERY easy to knock onto safety while shooting.

Buy her a left-handed gun or one that goes either way.

I have a Browning BPS myself and LOVE IT. Best shot gun in my safe, PERIOD. I have put that thing through hell and it has never missed a beat.

For all of those saying that a right handed good is just as good for a lefty....its b/c most of them have never shot a lefty gun or one that can go both ways...

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

I would find a lightweight 20 guage that fits her well. Fit is the most important thing in getting a smaller person shooting well. Don't be afraid to have her shoulder some of the side x sides either, some good deals in them also.

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

get the 20 stoger have one excellent

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

A few thoughts:
Much of perceived recoil is caused by the sound. There are some huge differences in noise reduction depending on the ear protection. Going through the shop and looking at db ratings, esp. at low frequencies, can be enlightening.
Fast burning powder allows you to use less grains for equivalent shot performance. Powder gas contributes to recoil as exit velocities can be high.
Gas operated semi-auto shotguns kick noticeably less than pumps or doubles, in my experience.
Stock design can also increase/decrease felt recoil. A stock that has a large drop will tend to kick the gun up into the jaw. There are custom stocks available aftermarket that are supposed to reduce felt recoil.
Some say synthetic stocks can reduce recoil since they absorb energy.

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

Definitely do NOT buya right handed shotgun for your wife. I would get her a remington 870 20gauge youth model (left handed of course). I'm pretty sure remington makes a left handed model 870. If they don't, then this makes me look stupid. ;)

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

I actually own a Browning BPS, except in 12 gauge. Great gun, I love it as much as my Benelli. I shoot both rightandleft handed, and would recommend the micro version, as it tended to get heavy. That gun was hauledinhardwood swamps throughout my youth and mistreated but still was a great functioning gun.

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

A well established local gunsmith suggested a Beretta AL391 Urika Youth. He said the gas action has less recoil, the safety can be reversed, weight is 5.9 lbs., and the angle of the butt can be shimed to accomodate a left hand shooter.

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

As a starter gun you don't want an over/under. The recoil will just scare her more than anything. Start with an auto loader to reduce her felt recoil.
This will give her confidence as she learns. Even shooting left handed , which I do , the Remington 1100 20 gauge bored to skeet with a good quality recoil pad is perfect. Reliable, lighter than most, easy to learn with,
and easy to resell later to upgrade to another gun as she improves.
Good Luck! Eric S. Stacy http://www.wideworldofhunting.com

RE: Help with shotgun for wife
 

I shoot trap with my Remington 1100 12ga.The only thing your wife might find is it a little heavy.I am right handed, not sure if they make a left handed one.I do agree with StutNTom when he said don't buy her right hand gun if she lefty because of where the safety is on the Remingtons.