ladies O/U recommendation

[flexible]

Hi Everyone; I'm looking for a shotgun for my wife.
She likes my Blaser F3 but her hand gets tired using the lever to break open the gun.
Looking for an O/U that has: extractors only, no ejectors (this should lower the effort using the lever - correct?) A adjustable stock and interchangeable chokes. This would be in 12 ga.
I also cannot afford another Blaser even through the ladies model seems perfect for her.
Any recommendations and i'd like to keep it under $2,000
thanks
flexible

 

[Jim Watson]

I am not up to the minute on O/Us but I don't know of any modern gun that opens other than by a top lever.

A gunsmith can take the ejector springs out of about anything, if that is the straw that broke the camel's back on operating effort.

 

[cdb1]

The Syren line of shotguns is designed specifically for women. Syren is a division of Caesar Guerini and offers semi's and O/U's.

 

[kudu]

Almost all O/U shotguns are going to have pretty stiff opening levers until they are well broken in and even some that are well broken in may not ever be real easy to open at that. The only one that I ever had that was real easy was a Ruger Red label that you just had to pop the lever over and the gun fell open like it was loose and ready to fall apart.

 

[sappyg]

I shot a Yildiz o/u 12 gage last weekend. Broke open easy but that, and the fact that it was low on price point, is about all the good I have to say about it. Seemed like the lever itself was what cocked the hammers. Ejection was quite weak... Kind of an odd bird.
A friend shoots a berreta sp1 that breaks open nicely. I'm guessing it must have close to 20k rounds through it by now though and it does have nice ejection too. You might try one of These on the used market well below budget WITH ejectors to boot.
I guess my Citori has close to 8k rounds on it by now. Too stiff for OPs goal. No idea what the possibilities might be minus ejector springs but if you find a good deal on one that fits her it's worth a shot in my book.
A browning cynergy nearly followed me home last week. Well within the OP budget too. Has wonderful ballance and just might just be the thing in a new gun minus the ejector springs.
If her hands get tired breaking open the gun I gotta lean towards an SA but then her back might get tired picking up shells. Make mine a Berreta a400 and call I'll call it a day.

 

[MRH]

I second Kudu. Look for an older Ruger Red Label 20ga. 26" - 28"

Mike

 

[PapaG]

The opening or top lever only moves the locking bolt. Opening the gun "cocks" the ejector springs so there shouldn't be any difference in effort for either.

 

[RPRNY]

How much is marketing and how much is real, I can't say, but Syren is supposedly designed for, not just marketed to women. So that's worth looking at. Sub $2,000 narrows things down a lot. There are very few new sub $2,000 guns that can manage a steady volume of target shooting.

- The "new" Winchester 101
- The FN O/U that is that exact same gun as the "new" Winchester 101
- CZ makes quite a decent field gun (with extractors) for under $2,000. It will not stand up long to high volume shooting, ie. 15,000 shots a year. but they are pretty good guns these days. The Lady Sterling is a target gun available around $1,000 but ejectors (should be able to have those changed to extractors. Seems your best bet
- Older guns - looking for an Italian gun. They tend to fit ladies better. Or, a Browning Cynergy with the Inflex recoil pad and adjustable Euro Stock.

Committed to an O/U? A very nice, low recoil Italian gas gun can be had for $1250. Something to consider...

12 ga target guns are rather heavy. If she's ok with your Blaser (as she should be - that's a FINE gun), maybe that's not an issue.

The CZ Lady Sterling: http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-lady-sterling/