Ladies Shotgun

[welshwarrior]

I'm looking to buy the wife a new gun, she has just started shooting. I have had a look and think a 20B would be best or a light weight 12B with light loads.

The problem is she is only small 5'2 and slight build. I remeber as a young lad shooting a 12B and it kicking like a mule (bit like my 8B now) and don't want to put her off.

 

Has anyone (particularly ladies) got any advice or experience. Don't want to spend the earth in case she gives up.

[The Burpster]

As I only shoot 20g now I get ladies asking me 'for a go' quite often.

 

 

The secret is not the gun but the ammo. Shorter barrels help too !

Use 24gm loads as a MAX until she is used to the handling. A fellow gun on our shoot bought his wife a 20g and came to our clay shoot, the only ammo he could get was 30grm 7's. 2 shots was all the lady manged and she put it down, put off.

 

 

later in the day while he was telling everyone about something irrelevant I persuaded said lady to have another go with my 20g Hatstand with 24grm loads. She could manage it and broke her 1st clays. She's hooked now but only ever uses 24grm loads.

 

The 20g Hatstand Escort is loads more reliable than the 12g (which doesnt have a wonderful reputation), is not expesive and in 26" is a dream to handle and will sell again if you decide its not a good idea.

 

Edited March 24, 2009 by The Burpster

[beretta]

my ex used to shoot a bit and she was tiny (same as yours) i would go for 12g with light loads.

if you went 20g you would prob be shooting same weight carts but with a lighter gun, more recoil.

you could always go the auto route.

get some light subsonics and get her shooting yours to see how she gets on and likes it.

word of warning though. if she does get the bug your expenses will double.

[welshwarrior]

Cheers guys got get a gun I'm 6'4 and with my guns in the shoulder she can't reach the trigger. I would rather get a break barrel as don't like semi autos myself, (never owned one) but use pumps and S/As at work and there can be safety issues with people not used to shotguns.

[casts_by_fly]

I've started to look at the same. My wife went out with me on saturday for a few clays. I started with 21g Eley's, but the gun was too long and with too much drop for her. If she put the stock in her shoulder pocket, the comb was at her chin. If she brought the gun higher to her cheek, the bottom point of the butt plate was jabbing her in the shoulder/chest. After two shots (she hit 1 of 2) she was done for the day. So I'm casually browsing for short stocked guns with little drop in 20 or 28 gauge. I say casually because she isn't serious about doing it all of the time.

 

That said, I wish I had my 1100 from home. It is an 1100 LT 20. The barrel is short (maybe 21") and the stock is really slimmed and shortened. It should fit her really well.

 

Thanks,

Rick

[RhiannonBW]

I'm 5'4" and a slight build. Forget gun size, it's all about gun mount and gun fit. I've shot some guns that have horrible recoil but other women have found them fine, and I've shot some with no recoil at all, even when shooting 28 grm. I shoot 24 grm through my 12 bore and have less bruising and recoil than some of the airguns I've tried.

 

The tricky bit is finding the right gun. I've met women who swear by Miroku and Baikal, both of which I've had major recoil issues with. Berettas have suited me okay, but I think Brownings are definitely for the men.

 

Correct gun mount is also important, I've had a few knocks and bruises even with my darling Winchester when I've mounted it incorrectly, so it's worth warning her that she might get a few of these but it's all part of the learning process. It's amazing how quickly your gun mount improves when you know you're going to get a kick if you do it wrong.

 

*** easily embarassed men look away now ***

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One thing which I find also helps is wearing a top with built in support rather than a bra. I find the bra cup and strap really get in the way of good gun mount, even under clothing.

 

Hope this helps.

 

It's great to see another woman wanting to get involved. If she wants any more advice I'll try and help, though I've only been shooting a few months so still very much a beginner myself.

 

Rhiannon

[Jan147]

This is something that you should take a long time over and try out both 12 and 20 bores. I am only 5ft 1" but well built and the recoil was something that really put me off and scared me.

 

I started off at game shows many years ago and kept having a go on the teaching lines. Had a friend who had a 12 bore lanber but I never felt comfortable with it.

 

Got my own licence back in 2006 and bought a lincoln 20 bore, whilst it was light I really struggled to swing it and follow through. I put up with it and kept debating whether to change to a 12 bore or not. I went and had some coaching and my coach had a 12 bore miroku 3800 and i tried that out and the difference was unreal. Even though it was heavier to handle i could swing it more and follow through.

 

I sold my lincoln and one of the guys at my clay club was selling a miroku 3800, I bought it, went and had a gunfit at a gunsmiths, had the recoil pads taken off on the end and a smaller pad put on and I have not looked back.

 

Dont make the mistake I did and just go out and buy a gun, and let the shop sell you what they want to see you with, try out as many as you can in both 12 and 20's and see how they handle. Take your wife out shooting down a club and other members will let you try out their guns and help you. Just remember no gun is the same for two people, what suits one lady does not suit another.

[clayman]

The secret lies in the point of balance of a gun. It matters not if its 20b or 12b, if the balance point is too far forward, the user leans back to counterbalance the weight and will neither mount the gun correctly nor shoot well.

 

If the barrels are short, 28" or better still 26", and the stock is taken right down to say 13", the gun becomes very handle-able even for a short person.

 

Couple that with light loads, 21g or 24g, and she will be using the gun, not fighting it.

Edited March 24, 2009 by clayman

[casts_by_fly]

I'll echo the balance bit from clayman. My wife was shooting my sxs which weighs in right around 6.25-6.5 lb or so. That's hardly a heavy gun, but she had difficulties with her front hand as it is a bit barrel heavy (for her), even with 26" barrels. I think to find her a gun it would have to be a semi with a slim front end and short barrel.

 

Thanks,

Rick

[welshwarrior]

So if I have this right a gun with short barrels (24-26inch) with 13 inch stock (with a pad) that is then fitted to her correctly. Item 12 or 20 Bore firing light loads not more that 24g.

 

Most guns people have recommended are O/U are these better or does everyone just use them now? What happened to the Great British SBS.

 

If and O/U is best could I get a short stock and barelles for my Beretta 682 and then have it fitted by a gunsmith?

 

To many questins now.

[RhiannonBW]

Mine has 28" barrels and I've shot 30" no problem too. 32" were a bit too much though. I don't think it's as simple as saying "go for 26" barrels".

 

As someone else has said, it's all about balance and weight distribution.

 

One thing I forgot to mention is training with the gun. I practice 10 gun mounts and also follow the line where ceiling meets wall and up and down the corners (sort of like drawing three sides of a square) with the line of the gun too. Again, I do this 10 times every evening. It doesn't take long for the relevant muscles to get the necessary strength. A bit of general fitness training helps cope with the recoil fatigue of shooting 75-100 shots too.

 

Best advice is probably to borrow as many different guns as possible and give them a go, and see which ones your wife favours.

 

It might also seem blindingly obvious, but don't give her any advice when the gun is mounted as this is really tiring. Make sure she gets into the habit of unmounting the gun whilst advice is being given as otherwise you end up getting very knackered.

 

Rhiannon

[The Burpster]

So if I have this right a gun with short barrels (24-26inch) with 13 inch stock (with a pad) that is then fitted to her correctly. Item 12 or 20 Bore firing light loads not more that 24g.

 

Most guns people have recommended are O/U are these better or does everyone just use them now? What happened to the Great British SBS.

 

If and O/U is best could I get a short stock and barelles for my Beretta 682 and then have it fitted by a gunsmith?

 

To many questins now.

 

Sounds a sensible solution. SBS guns tend only to be used on formal days now, their biggest bain (although somne still prefer it) is 2 triggers. Very few SBS have single selective triggers. O/U can be used pretty much everywhere, as social clay busting, comps or game and rough shooting.

 

I recommended the Hatsan as its cheap alternative to find out if your lady is going to persue this as a hobby. Of course you can get a set of barrels and stock made for your 682 but that will be VERY expensive like teh cost of another 682 ( you never really mentioned your budget).

 

My O/U is a Beretta Onyx that I've have oil finished with a Geltec pad and retro fitted adjustable trgger, its 28" barrels with extended chokes. It is a peach - although I am seriously tempted by the 20g Synergy. These are all £1k+ guns, that Hatsan you can pick for £250 and get your money back, it has an adjustable stock, its light and easy to use and balances very well for a cheap gun.

 

As to the semi issue, as this gun is going on your ticket you will be supervising your lady whilst she is shooting so I dont see this being an issue .

 

If your lady gets hooked and shoots regularly enough to warrant it, I'd suggest she gets her own ticket and THEN shops for a custom made stock and a £1k+ keeper of a gun that fits like a glove, balances like a magic wand etc.....

 

Its a shame you're not a bit closer you would both be more than welcome to try mine......

Edited March 25, 2009 by The Burpster

[yanibaby]

Definitely a 20Gauge with subsonic cartridges... I've only ever tried 12Gauge once. Won't be doing that again in a while.

[welshwarrior]

I was thinking of a second stock and then have it fitted (paid £250 for Westley Richards to do my gun and less for the local gunsmith with my Beretta). Saw a stock on Flee Bay for £65.

 

She has no problem with holding the gun up we are both in the Army and used to heavier rifles so she has the muscles (just keeps trying to aim not point).

 

Not keen on Semi Autos don't like not being able to see if the gun is safe from a distance.

 

I'd look to spend around £500 for frist gun for her.

Edited March 25, 2009 by welshwarrior

[mudpatten]

Which ever type of gun she finally decides upon, take it to a gunsmith and get him to round off the toe of the stock. Its a common adaptation for a ladies gun and he should know how much to round it off even if you don`t.

 

Should only cost a few quid and, although it won`t actually reduce any of the recoil it will prevent the toe of the stock from digging in, being that ladies are built differently from us in the upper chest region.