hunter1983 Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 I want to get my misses a gun to start shooting with what's peoples opinions on the best calibre after 4 shots with a 12g her shoulder is bruised. I was thinking maybe a 20g or a 28g mostly just be clay shooting.thanks for any replys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 I have a Winchester select light fitted to me with a kick-eze pad. It is a 12g and I shoot it with no problems despite having arthritis. I can,t use my husband's Browning B725 because that doesn't suit me. Your wife might find a suitable 12g still OK. Also cartridges can make a big difference as some kick more than others. If you can get to somewhere like Doveridge where I got mine from they have demonstrator guns your wife can try out on the clay ground there. They will make sure a gun fits her properly then its less likely to be such a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobba Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 Maybe it's not a question of which gun but whether she is mounting and holding the gun correctly? If she was wary of the gun or a little timid and held the gun loosely then perhaps the effect of the recoil was accentuated. Before spending money on guns the first step may be a good coach with a selection of guns and loads so that together they can determine what's right for her. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominicrobed Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 My wife shoots 12 bore maxus and shoots it very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbietherimmer Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 sounds to me that shes not handling the weapon correctly. Larger woman should be able to shoot any gun without issue. I personally hate it when a gun turns up with their other half as guest - nothing more un nerving than an incompetent woman flaying about with a gun. surely to heck, a lot of the joy of a days shooting is getting away from the OH for the day.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 It's going to depend on her build and strength Gun fit and balance are very important for teaching ladies. Also use light cartridges 21g in 12 or 20 until she is more confident. If your near me happy to show her some of the option to help her decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 so important that she has a pro see her early on.4 shots and bruising is a disaster start...it aint the gun thats wrong!see welsh warrior comments above.....about build/strength......but without gun anywhere near the right part of her shoulder in mount she is going to get put off soon.If 12 g too big to handle etc then will need smaller gun etc but needs to know where in shoulder to pocket the butt........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 for a start, with what ever calibre she eventually ends up getting, try some "subsonics". they recoil less than normal shell and reduced payload shells such as 21g load. in the 20bore this is even more reduced as 24g subsonics recoil less than 28gram or 32gram loads. yes the performance is slightly reduced but you cant have 1400fps without recoil. now the shells are either marketed as trainer loads or subsonics. buy these. without treading on any ones toes here, you can chop and change guns till the cows come home, you can even add recoil pads until its 10" thick, but none of those things are going to change the fact that shells apply recoil to a gun. reduce the energy input, reduces the recoil. the 20bore subs are especially low recoiling and have the added bonus of having light guns, for ladies and small framed "humans" at some point she`d just naturally progress to a "normal value" shell that inherently will be faster and have more recoil, but she would be used to anticipating a little nudge. i keep on going on about these shells because they are training loads. i`ve seen it all, guys being punished shooting 32g loads at 1450fps, children being knocked senseless using 12gauges and pigeon loads. new people shooting HV loads and being hammered and hammered by the recoil. i test and fire alot of ammunition. i once pulled alot of muscles shooting 66gram loads for an afternoon. i`ve also fired silly shells, normal and great international shells. these subs (12gauge 1oz subs especially) have alot lower recoil than 21g loads. the 24g versions are even softer. i have both N/s data from a whole bunch of test loads (in english, thats i send shells to a facility to be tested. to the "test barrel" there is a recoil-o-meter) the numbers come back from the "multiple" subs i have tested are vastly reduced. my 24g that are fast, are not in the same league as "low recoil" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 How about a side by side with a kick eeze pad and ensure she wears a decent skeet vest and use light carts? Would be light enough to swing about all day but manage the recoil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 20 ga gas op auto is about the lightest kicking gun suitable for clays and quarry. The issue is however most likely fit nearly all Ladies need a different fit up into the shoulder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter1983 Posted October 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 Well she is only about 7 1/2 stone an about 5 foot 3 so all the guns she has used have been way too big so far.I have a o/u 20g that I may get chopped down to fit her better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter1983 Posted October 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 Thanks for the offer welshwarrior sadly I don't think Lancashire is near you although I could be wrong haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 (edited) Have you thought about a 410. I can break clays with my 410 too as well as the 12G and you can get them in S/S and O/U. What she does need is a gun properly fitting to her as if the gun doesn't fit it will never be comfortable. I started of using 12G low noise 21g and am now on low noise 28g cartridges with low recoil. Edited October 2, 2014 by loriusgarrulus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiep Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 With her height and weight, I'd agree with a number of the other posters. My wife is of a similar build For her, we went for a shortened 20 bore - lighter gun than my 12 bore, so it isn't tiring for her to use (for someone 8 stone or less, a large 12 bore O/U can really get tiring to haul and point), cartridges for a 20 aren't ridiculously expensive, either. Paired with some light (21g) cartridges, it'll make a huge difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalahari Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 (edited) Well size isn't the only determinant, I used to know a little old lady, probably less than 7 stone soaking wet whose rifle of choice was a 300 H & H magnum and believe me they have to mounted properly and controlled properly. I am afraid that is the answer. Take her to see a good instructor who will have a range of sizes and calibres to try. David, Edited October 2, 2014 by Kalahari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 Gas operated 12g semi auto. Usually lighter in overall weight and recoil a lot less. Easier for a woman to handle. A lightweight 12g with 21g or Hul compX carts. My 28 bore has next to no recoil but expensive to feed. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polester Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 My missis started with a cheap 20b and moved onto a 12 but found most of the 12b too heavy for her and it hurt her back and tops of sholders holding them up. She went back to a 20b and is shooting a lot better as she's able to swing the gun more and finds it less tiring to shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 What's best for the missis ? Lol A mop Brush Sponge Sauce pan :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 What's best for the missis ? Lol A mop Brush Sponge Sauce pan :) You will get lynched. No dinner for you tonight. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 What's best for the missis ? Lol A mop Brush Sponge Sauce pan :) you forgot the iron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 you forgot the iron That's what the frying pans made of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehb102 Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 I want to get my misses a gun to start shooting with what's peoples opinions on the best calibre after 4 shots with a 12g her shoulder is bruised. I was thinking maybe a 20g or a 28g mostly just be clay shooting.thanks for any replys. It's probably (1) the cartridge - use a 21g like Hull CompX (2) the lack of recoil pad - a decent one like kickeze or Isis makes all the difference (3) the mount - women are taught to mount incorrectly all the time. Put the damn gun in the shoulder, so she can hold it properly, and get it adjusted for fit and cast. Women taught to bend themselves to the gun, not expecting the gun to fit them. Mind you, my husband shoots a 20G and had all the same problems until he switched cartridges and got a recoil pad. He's a long drink of water though. I'm the solid one with my 12G coming out my cold dead hand :-) Persevering with a 12G will be worth thousands in the long run. Have you seen the price of 20G cartridges compared to 21g 12G? Lightweight or synthetic 12Gs are worth looking at. I rather fancied a Browning synthetic for a skeet gun, but it didn't have the cast I needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 It's probably (1) the cartridge - use a 21g like Hull CompX (2) the lack of recoil pad - a decent one like kickeze or Isis makes all the difference (3) the mount - women are taught to mount incorrectly all the time. Put the damn gun in the shoulder, so she can hold it properly, and get it adjusted for fit and cast. Women taught to bend themselves to the gun, not expecting the gun to fit them. Mind you, my husband shoots a 20G and had all the same problems until he switched cartridges and got a recoil pad. He's a long drink of water though. I'm the solid one with my 12G coming out my cold dead hand :-) Persevering with a 12G will be worth thousands in the long run. Have you seen the price of 20G cartridges compared to 21g 12G? Lightweight or synthetic 12Gs are worth looking at. I rather fancied a Browning synthetic for a skeet gun, but it didn't have the cast I needed. Very true. The important bits are gauge irrelevant its fit, load, weight in that order. doesnt matter if its a .410 try shooting 21g of shot at 1300fps+ through an i'll fitting light .410 will hurt and bruise more than shooting 21g through a 12 gauge that fits and weighs 2 lbs more..... FIT first i have a petite friend who shoots a 12 gauge 28" beretta 686 with 21g cvarts really well she always thought she would need a 20 bore and previous boyfriend said that was all she could handle she ditched him got a 12bore that fits and shoot really well with it, it has an adjustable comb a kick eez pad has been shortened to fit and the toe undercut. Worst thing you can do is give anyone especially a women a poor fitting gun especially a light one with 28g+ loads. Get her to have 3-6 lessons with a proper instructor before considering buying a gun.Pound to a penny she'll handle a fitted 12 fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 you forgot the iron How silly of me lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistolgrip Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 The wife uses a 4 bore but I can't see the point as her tongue has a killing radius of 300 yrds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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