Getting girlfriend into shooting clays...

[LkWinnipesaukee]

I recently started trap shooting and love it. And for once,think it's something gun-related my girlfriend would like too. I have a Mossberg 500A 12ga with I think a 26" barrel. With a 2.75" shell loaded with 1oz of #7, it kicks about the same as my Mosin 91/30, which I know is too much for her to enjoy shooting. I've talked this over with her and offered to take her to a gun shop and buy something specifically suited to her needs, but she wants to instead try mine out rather than burden me with a purchase (how nice of her).

If she shoots what I've been shooting I feel she would be discouraged from the sport.

I have a recoil pad for the shotgun, but is there anything else I could do to make her more comfortable trying mine out?

 

[Virginian]

Either load, or get someone to load for you, some 7/8 or 3/4 ounce light target loads for your gun, or even better rent her a youth gas action 20 gauge semi auto to try. Unless she is a tall lady you stand a much better chance of having a decent fit. I just know someone is going to say you can shoot light loads in a 12 and all that, but a 20 with a shorter stock is usually a lot more comfortable for a lady to handle, especially starting out. Encourage her to mount and shoot properly. So often women and kids try to hold the gun up and aim and they start leaning back to support the weight. When she's trying out fit, you hold the barrel up so this awful habit doesn't get started. They need to throw it up, take a quick sight look, and yell pull before they start shaking. Good luck.

 

[interlock]

you can buy 3/4 or 7/8 oz 12 guage loads which will give nice light recoil. be careful the gun is not much too big for her.

 

[oldfool]

personal fit matters more than gauge or action
take her to a store with lots to try (hold up to shoulder), see what fits well, and is a weight/length that suits her, don't be in a hurry
(pumps and autos generally being a bit longer/heavier, might not be her thing, but a nice o/u is going to cost you, you know)
28, 20, or 16 (or even a 410) will bust just as many clays as 12 will, it's where you point it that counts... it's recreational sport, not survival or dinner at stake, and learning how to be on target consistently yields higher satisfaction than a few fringe "hits" ever will

but if she really wants to try the 12 ga pump, let her of course
just check her hold and stance with it thrown to her own shoulder first (eyes closed, then open, see where it points for her)

 

[oneounceload]

There are many shotgun clubs now offering free or low-cost initiations and lessons for ladies and youth - typically includes gun safety, stance, eye-dominance check, the basic fundamentals of each game and some trigger time with a gun that should be close to fitting the person.

You might ask around at your local clubs if they know of such an operation. Ladies take better instruction from a third party, so if she is going to have someone teach her, a few dollars now spent on a lesson or three will mean a long time of fun shooting with her

Good Luck

 

[txhoghunter]

I would agree with oldfool and say that its the fit that reduces the most felt recoil. But a limbsaver can go a long way.

I was shocked when my girlfriend asked to go shooting clays with me. I grabbed a Beretta out of the safe that has a shorter LOP and a 26" barrel and she loved it. She actually hit 8 out of her first 10 flyers, and she had never shot before!! Even though the Beretta is a soft shooting gun to begin with, the smaller one felt better to her than mine because of the better fit.

 

[bigalexe]

If a Mossberg 500 is kicking as much as a Mosin I daresay something is wrong with your shooting form or the gun. Is the gun a synthetic stock, or otherwise abnormally light for a 12 gauge? I would make sure you really are pulling the stock into your shoulder securely and see if you can't cut down that recoil some with some technique improvement.

I weigh 84 lbs, shoot the same gun with a 24" Barrel for trap and it doesn't bug me at all.

Anyway a more useful answer is this:
20 gauge, adult size gun. I know most people are saying youth but unless your G/F is the size of a 12 year old kid then the gun isn't designed to fit her. Youth guns are designed for youth fits and if the gun doesn't fit her then it won't be comfortable.

What I suggest is this, find a range where you can shoot trap loads at some paper from a bench. Get her to shoot a couple loads downrange with your gun and see if the gun feels right. After she knows what a shotgun feels like, go around and try out a few different guns and different barrel lengths to see what she feels comfortable holding up. Even better is if you know a person or people and can get a few different guns then have her shoot a bunch of different shotguns and see what she likes. When I was looking to buy my first shotgun a friend got about 6 different guns for me to try until we found what I liked and didn't like.

Also another key question: Does she want to start trap shooting or is it something you suggested and she said.. well ok. Shotguns are big and loud and quite frankly a bad intro to guns for the hesitant beginner. About half the girls I have intro'ed to shooting that now like to shoot when they can, still don't like shotguns. They just stick to pistols and AR's.

 

[cfullgraf]

Good suggestions from oneounceload.

When my 5'-2" wife started shooting some skeet we modified a gun to fit her (20 ga Citori with 26" barrels) and got her some instruction at the range. The range happened to have some lady instructors.

Otherwise, it would have been a bad experience for her. Once she learned the basics, I was able to help with small issues.

 

[jamesb]

When my wife got started into clay games, she started with my buddies browning citori xs in .410 and on the wobble trap range. After she go the hang of it we moved her up to a browning citori 525 sporting in 20ga. The recoil for her was very manageable. We recently went to bass pro had had her mount and swing about 10 different shotguns so she could see what she likes. We are saving up for a 525 now. The one recommendation to keep her into it is to start her on a course that is pretty easy, the more bird she hits the more fun she will have and the more likely she will be to want to do it again.

 

[mps111]

IMHO oneounceload has the perfect suggestion. Additionally when she takes her first lesson or two, be supportive and don't go with her.
I shoot clays twice a month and have seen several women try it once with with their 'partners' 12 gauge pump gun and see them cringe and are ready to leave after the first shot. I have offered to let them shoot a my 28 Ga AL48 and they like it.
Good luck

 

[Chance55]

My better half has just started shooting shotgun. Bought a CZ Redhead 12 with her tax refund. Started her shooting some pretty mild FIOCCHI 7/8oz. #8 shot. She is a small woman and she is realy getting into our new sport of shooting trap together.

C55

 

[kayak-man]

I think she'll be better off with a semi auto 20 guage, BUT...

I took my friend shooting for the first time today. She tried out my 870 12guage with a 28" barrel. It kicked a lot, and she said it hurt a bit. She also said she loved it, had a massive grin on her face, and when I got home, I say her facebook status said, in all caps "I LOVE GUNS!" She's 5'1.

So the 20 guage is the way to go, but if thats not an option, theres still hope!

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson

 

[Mr Kablammo]

First impression is important. I recommend scouting for a semi~auto in 12 or 20. Gas operated preferred. Do you see other females of similar ststure at your club? What do they use?