mickeylove Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 My better half has decided to give shooting a go so was thinking of either a lightweight 12g and use subsonics or a 20g. Any thoughts appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJN Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 my personal thought unless she is very petite, go for 12g, 24gram shells, if she is petitie then 20g and 21gram shells M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveB916 Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Started mine on a 20g semi, very low recoil, she has now moved on to a 12g o/u with 21gm shells. She has said if she had started with a 12g o/u she would not have stuck to it, so you have options.......lol Dave B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yanibaby Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Started mine on a 20g semi, very low recoil, she has now moved on to a 12g o/u with 21gm shells. She has said if she had started with a 12g o/u she would not have stuck to it, so you have options.......lol Good advice! When I first started shooting I used a 12gauge, which I hated, and never wanted to do it again. Eventually tried again using a 20gauge, which was perfect... After a few months of using the 20G regularly, I tried 12Gauge again (21gram Steel) and it was absolutely fine. It wasn't just the recoil that caused the problem for me, but the weight of the gun, my left arm ached far worse than my right shoulder did... so I think it's better to start with 20Gauge just to get used to the weight of the gun, as well as the recoil... then if she's anything like me, she won't notice any difference in recoil when moving on to a 12G. (I'm a girl, by the way) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 To add my contrasting view .... My wife started out with an instructors 20 bore and hated it - the recoil seemed to hit her something chronic (more down to fit than anything else I think.) She absolutely loves shooting and I bought her a 12 gauge 686E after she tried a mates and fell in love with it. Before she shot it we had it properly adjusted by a gunsmith to ensure a perfect fit and she happily shoots 28 gram carts through it without any problem. In contrast, I recently let her have a go with my 20 bore 687 silver pigeon and the recoil gave her bruising after only two shots. My advice for what its worth would be to try and get into a 12 gauge and have it properly fitted (included ensuring that the toe of the stock isn't going to whack her chest.) Stick with low load cartridges to start with and she'll have no probs. Recoil is more down to gunfit and cartridge load than what bore the gun is. However, remember that the lighter the gun is, the more recoil will be felt regardless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glensman Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 To add my contrasting view ....My wife started out with an instructors 20 bore and hated it - the recoil seemed to hit her something chronic (more down to fit than anything else I think.) She absolutely loves shooting and I bought her a 12 gauge 686E after she tried a mates and fell in love with it. Before she shot it we had it properly adjusted by a gunsmith to ensure a perfect fit and she happily shoots 28 gram carts through it without any problem. In contrast, I recently let her have a go with my 20 bore 687 silver pigeon and the recoil gave her bruising after only two shots. My advice for what its worth would be to try and get into a 12 gauge and have it properly fitted (included ensuring that the toe of the stock isn't going to whack her chest.) Stick with low load cartridges to start with and she'll have no probs. Recoil is more down to gunfit and cartridge load than what bore the gun is. However, remember that the lighter the gun is, the more recoil will be felt regardless. That sounds like spot on advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Mrs Baldrick uses a Beretta 687 20-bore, loaded with 24g Express. She had a squidgy Pachymr recoil pad installed, once the gun had been fitted exactly to her. Very few partridge or clays get past her. She also consistently refuses to swap to a 12-bore, disliking the additional weight to cart around all day (bear in mind also that 100 20-bore rounds occupy a lot less space than 100 12-bore cartridges). I use a 20-bore also, for a lot of game shooting, and I rarely use anything heavier than 24g loads. It will kill cleanly if you're a capable Shot. Gun fit is as significant an issue as the bore/load combination. Get the fit right and perceived recoil can be mitigated to a great extent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RArch Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 My advice for what its worth would be to try and get into a 12 gauge and have it properly fitted (included ensuring that the toe of the stock isn't going to whack her chest.) Can you explain what was altered? In particular, was the toe cut off at 45 deg, the angle of the pad altered etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Logic Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 My other half is pretty small, only 5' 5'' and very slim, everyone said to get her a 12. Her problem is that she physically cannot get teh right position if she's got that size of gun, so she has a 20 bore silver pigeon which she enjoys shooting. She's never had a problem with the recoil - no issues from that or a .308 that she shoots on the range, it's just the size. She uses 24g at clays and 28g/6s at pigeons. Doesn't hit much but it's early days and she's enjoying it so that'll do me! (For the record, she can shoot a rifle OK, it's just the shotgun she struggles with - too much analysis in that one, the idea of point and shoot doesn't work for her!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 (edited) My wife has just started on a whim 1 day had a go with my light weight (6 oz) Westley Richards as I had the stock pad off with gauge changers started with 410 then 20 bore (24g) and loved it let her try my AYA which is heavier had it kicked her about. Gun fit is more important than wieght. She is now shooting 21 or 24g 12 bore carts and loves it she fined 28g abit heavy on the shoulder. I have now lost my Westley and my days shooting cost me twice as much Oh and she is 5' 2 and size 8 Edited September 28, 2009 by welshwarrior Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikee Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 it doesntreally matter as long as it kills her clean mikee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Can you explain what was altered? In particular, was the toe cut off at 45 deg, the angle of the pad altered etc. The first thing that was done was to replace the standard beretta pad with a Kick-Eze which was altered exactly how you mention - the toe was cut off and the angle of pitch was also altered. She also needed the comb raising which was done in the first instance with a bit of wood and electrical tape. Nice! (We've since made a semi-permanent job of that by putting a cheek-eze pad onto the comb.) The other thing she had done to her gun was to add a 'Jones Adjuster' which effectively allows the recoil pad to sit free of the stock at any angle and height. This not only has allowed her to mount the gun 'head-up' but also has ensured that the pad is angled slightly away from her chest - which not only stops her head rolling over the rib but also stops her getting whacked in the lady bits. Another advantage to the Jones Adjuster is that it weights the gun slightly to the stock end which means the muzzle end is a tiny bit lighter - not enough to affect the guns balance, but does give the appearance of a lighter gun. It wasn't exactly a cheap venture, but given the cost of the gun and how well she now shoots it, it was a worthwhile investment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveK Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 A shotgun for your girlfriend would be a damned fine swap. Go for it. 20 bore. Lorraine is 5' 4" and slightly built. 12g is a bit too much for her but she gets on well with the 20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 I would say a good fitting 20 bore with lighter cartridges! I would choose a nice 20 over a 12 any day for game shooting the only real advantage of a 12 I see is for wildfowling/clays. 20 patterns better at longer distances Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 (edited) My Mrs has asked to ''have a go'' too, I was thinking along the lines of a 20b? But, what if she likes it and gets into shooting **** law says she will end up being a better shot than me but, and worse still, she will learn how much my guns really cost and that ammo isn't really £50 per 1000 Anyone got a 10b I can borrow :blink: Edited September 28, 2009 by chrispti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveK Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 My Mrs has asked to ''have a go'' too, I was thinking along the lines of a 20b? But, what if she likes it and gets into shooting **** law says she will end up being a better shot than me and worse still, she will learn how much my guns really cost and that ammo isn't really £50 per 1000 Anyone got a 10b I can borrow ................ and worse still want guns of her own and end up with better ones than you. believe me, I'm a victim of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 ................ and worse still want guns of her own and end up with better ones than you. believe me, I'm a victim of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 The same advice applies for kids, whatever they are comfortable and happy shooting, they don't want to lug something overly heavy about but don't want to get beaten up either. I would also keep in mind what you might like as an additinal gun, just in case she gives it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RArch Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 The first thing that was done was to replace the standard beretta pad with a Kick-Eze which was altered exactly how you mention - the toe was cut off and the angle of pitch was also altered.She also needed the comb raising which was done in the first instance with a bit of wood and electrical tape. Nice! (We've since made a semi-permanent job of that by putting a cheek-eze pad onto the comb.) The other thing she had done to her gun was to add a 'Jones Adjuster' which effectively allows the recoil pad to sit free of the stock at any angle and height. This not only has allowed her to mount the gun 'head-up' but also has ensured that the pad is angled slightly away from her chest - which not only stops her head rolling over the rib but also stops her getting whacked in the lady bits. Another advantage to the Jones Adjuster is that it weights the gun slightly to the stock end which means the muzzle end is a tiny bit lighter - not enough to affect the guns balance, but does give the appearance of a lighter gun. It wasn't exactly a cheap venture, but given the cost of the gun and how well she now shoots it, it was a worthwhile investment. Thanks for the info, its been enlightening Off to search google about a 'Jones Adjuster'... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 I think we are approaching this from the wrong angle. Get the cheapest gun you can find and then get a girlfriend who fits the gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr salt Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Go with a 20 bore. Dont put her off before she has started. Then as and when go up to a 12. I use a 20 bore alot ,and like them. They are nice to fire and are more than up to the job. cheers scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickeylove Posted September 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 To be honest I was looking for an excuse to try one of them 20g hatsan autos so cheers for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
covlocks Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 My wife tried 20 & 12g - but on the weight front found that a 28" B325 was as light as most of the 20's she tried. Using CompX 21's she can shoot all day long, clays and flying rats. We had to fit a s/h shortened stock (that left the original stock - and gun value intact) , which eliminated any prospect of bruising, and have never looked back. I feel 20's have got their place (i'm looking at buying a moderated one before christmas), but its not necessay to start out with one if the fit and load of a 12 is correct. Oh - the main point is, she is 5'4", and is 8 stone wet through - smaller than many school kids starting out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.