What gun for a woman new to clay shooting? 410? 20g?

[landymike]

As in the title really! My missus has taken a bit of interest in clay shooting and has come along a few weeks running. She can hit a few with my 12g but its too heavy for her. Mines nothing fancy, an old midland gun company o/u bt it does the job. She struggles to swing it smoothly and after a dozen shots she gets knackered!

 

Im thinking I might get something more suitable for her (not that I fancy another toy or anything!) just to see if she actualy wants to take it up as a hobby! My 12g was less than £200, I dont want to spend a fortune on something for her to try out! I was thinking that a 410 might be making it a bit hard for a beginner (tighter pattern?) and that maybe a 20g would be more suitable? Are cartidges much more expensive for either?

 

Of course, I am going to start looking for some pest conrol permission soon so something that may have two uses would not be a bad idea...

 

Any suggestions gratefuly received!

 

 

Mike

[welsh warrior]

i take my missus to lol ..ive got a 20 bore that she can use shes only 5ft 5 tiny lol and she shoots well with the 20 bore lovely gun to use just as effective as the 12 ..price wise i pay about 190 for 20 bore 25grm fibre frocchi game cart ( or how ever you spell it ) and theres some cracking 20 bores out there just cant find them ! lol

[swiss.tony]

20 g mate yes cart are a quid or two more but who cares as long as she like it she wont shoot that many any way plus you can sneek it out when she is not looking

[apache]

My gf is only a shade over five food but shoots a Beretta Ultralight and a Winchester 101 XTR Lightweight both in 12G.

 

For clays she uses 21G cartridges and has no problem with with recoil.

 

Don't underestimate a lightweight 12G with light loads.

[Billy.]

I think a .410 is a tad patronising.

 

20 or a 12 will be fine.

Edited December 13, 2010 by Billy.

[seeker]

410 is hard to shooot well and could be frustrating ... agree with Apache ... lightweight 12 with shortish barrels - 21g, or even sub sonics will give better results.

[bakerboy]

410 is hard to shooot well and could be frustrating ... agree with Apache ... lightweight 12 with shortish barrels - 21g, or even sub sonics will give better results.

Definately not a .410 as good as they are, a 12g semi auto good for clays and field work, not too heavy and absorb the recoil well,a 20g is also very user friendly and versatile, the cartridges are a little more expensive, but nothing to worry yourself about.

Take her somewhere where she can try a few differing guns, check the weights and handling. and a lesson or two as this will benefit her and show her what she can handle with comfort.

[HDAV]

Franchi falconet or similar lightweight 12B, if she is short you may need to have the stock shortened, problem with this is balance a well balanced but heavier gun is better than a light unbalanced gun, look for some thing with 26" barrels but expect to pay a bit more for either a 12 or 20 (20 bores are quite in and as such hold value well) Some Semi auto's are lightwieght and light recoiling if you fancy a semi it may be an option if you look at the Hatsan (cheaper range) you can pick them up secondhand for £250 ish and the later ones interchangeable recoil pads to adjust length.

 

Definitely get her some lessons (xmas) as gun fit/correct mount is more important for women (boobs) as is selection of clothing and underwear, really.....

 

IF your going to look for some pigeon/rough shooting then the semi auto may be an idea for yourself. There is a Franchi for sale on here bit more money than the Hatsan but a much nicer gun, nearly bought my missus one but she didnt like the look or operation of the semi.

Edited December 14, 2010 by HDAV

[Red 9R]

Had a similar situation when my wife started to shoot, I decided to get a Franchi raptor in 12g so we could not confuse cartridges only having one cart bag means no picking the wrong one up, I just know if I was rushing out I would grab the wrong bag LoL

[Mungler]

Don't use a .410 there's just not enough shot in them and she'll get hacked off at not hitting or breaking anything.

 

20g have as much recoil as a 12g and the carts are pricey.

 

As has been said on here get a lightweight 12g and use 21g loads. Job jobbed.

[malkiserow]

I would say..........

 

1 get her some lessons

2 restrict options to 20 and 12 guage

3 let her choose the gun around what she likes, what fits and what she shoots best with all supported by her instructor.

4 Apart from the above, keep out of it! otherwise "it's all your fault" when things go wrong

[welshwarrior]

I got my wife a 20 as she felt happier with it the weight was an issue but she has now got used to it and can shoot a 100 sporting in a morning but is tired.

 

I can then fit a rubber boot and use it for rough shooting mid week

 

The cartridges do cost a bit more but hey.

[landymike]

keep out of it! otherwise "it's all your fault" when things go wrong

 

How do you know my missus| :lol:

 

Thanks for the comments everyone! I have been looking around and am amazed how much more expensive 20g are! I will get her a lesson or 2 and then take it from there I think. Can anyone recommend anywhere for lessons in the North west?

 

Thanks again

 

Mike

[poontang]

 

 

Im thinking I might get something more suitable for her

 

 

A new iron or hoover perhaps?

[HDAV]

Beretta i think on here is a coach in the North West and can advise on suitable places IIRC

 

Other option is http://www.a6ctc.co.uk/cgi-bin/site-editor.pl/5/-ecommerce?action=item;item=HAGTHUR;eid=2910175

Edited December 14, 2010 by HDAV

[garden gun]

All missues are the same it will forever be held against you at a time of her choosing. We are in lesson mode at the moment and she is shooting a 12 OK. missing sitting teals, but hitting rabbits and high flying game................nuff said.

[coneyhunter]

despite its label as a childs gun, the .410 is actually requires quite a bit of skill ( and luck) to shoot with to great effect and would probably only frustrate and dishearten, a box of shells cost me £9!

 

The 20g would be my reccomendation and would be suitable for live targets without any issue at all although im not sure of the price of shells but am sure they are more expensive than the 12 g.

[berties]

A 12 semi will have shims to fit her and low recoil ,or a 20g that fits ,she will get more hacked off with gun fit issues,or try a 12g with 21 carts again the gun needs to fit

[Quist]

20g, 16g, 12g.........there's usually little difference in the shot load and that's where the recoil is coming from.

So, choice of calibre needs to be dictated by whichever weight and length of gun she can hit things with.

The swing's the thing..

[Jega]

See ,you let them out of the kitchen and you get all these problems .

[Dekers]

Apologies, not read past the opening post.

 

Forget a 20g etc, get a decent weight/balance/fit of 12g for her.

 

20 carts cost more for no return, and you must be able to find a 12g that works for her, give consideration to the semis if needs must.

 

Plenty of girls/women shoot 12 at national/international levels, Charlotte Kirwood won Gold in the 2002 Commonwealth at the age 15 or 16, (with a 12g) and has done well in the Olympics since.

 

A dedicated 20 will not be cheap and if you are concerned about weight/recoil then you will only be able to use light carts anyway, put a heavy cart in a 20 and it will kick more than a 12.

 

Do not demean woman/children, my lad let go his first 12 at age 10 and is more than happy to show me how it should be done with one now!

 

[Guest cookoff013]

actually firing a 20 for the first time a few months back, i`d say go for it. i`ve used most shotgun cals. the 20 is a sweet little thing.

the .410 is mainly for those who are skilled at shooting.

just find the lightest shells, i know they are expensive, but a pound more a box, the 12g can be very big and heavy, esspecially with a small frame lady.

there are some gents at the club who use them.

 

i only use a 12 because ammo can be picked up cheap. thats the only reason.

 

the 20 is a great partridge gun. (so i`ve been told.)

Edited December 15, 2010 by cookoff013

[HDAV]

actually firing a 20 for the first time a few months back, i`d say go for it. i`ve used most shotgun cals. the 20 is a sweet little thing.

the .410 is mainly for those who are skilled at shooting.

just find the lightest shells, i know they are expensive, but a pound more a box, the 12g can be very big and heavy, esspecially with a small frame lady.

And some 20 bores are just as heavy as 12bore, its the GUN not the calibre that is important, the gun needs to be the right weight, balance, LOP, drop etc for the shooter whether it is a 12B, 20B, 28B, or .410g Buying a gun for her before she knows how to shoot it is a pretty sure way to waste money and put her off, women generally are just as daft as blokes (who will buy a gun and shoot it for 20 years assuming the pain is normal and man up......) You need to think like a woman, the way she feels about shoes, you feel about guns, the way she feels about guns you feel about shoes (and while you will pick the comfy slip ons everytime over the pain inducing beauties, she may well pick the impractical and painful heels)

 

I have done a lot of research into gun fit and it is an art not a science you have to learn to shoot before a you can be fitted for a gun, which means you start shooting with a gun that isn't a perfect fit, why so many say a Miroku fits like a glove and berretta don't (gues what they learnt with?) once you know how to shoot you can get a gun that fits but it takes time which is why i would spend the money on lessons rather than "a gun"

 

I would still love to buy more guns but i know buying a 20 bore and shoving it at my missus is the fastest way to stop her wanting to shoot, she shoots a 12 bore club gun very well and is happy to use that when she fancies.

 

There is also a an underwear analogy i am working on.....

[PhilR]

My wife, 5ft 3in and 8 stone, has always shot a 12 bore, now a Perazzi MX2000 trap gun which is about 8.5lbs and she also uses Eley Superbs. Her stock was custom made to fit her and that is the important bit as for most women an 'off the shelf' stock won't suit them.

[artschool]

i have the same dilema as the OP.

 

currently when the wife and i go down to shoot clays she either borrows the club gun or uses my hushpower 410 .

 

i use the hushpower for vermin on farms so does 2 jobs.

 

however she is now wanting a "proper looking" O/U so i have been hunting round for a 20bore.