Shotgun for Girlfriend

[andrewdl007]

I have been shooting almost all my life, when I started dating my girlfriend 3 years ago she had never shot or held a gun (grew up in New Jersey). Early on I took her out shooting sporting clays and she loved it and is now hooked...the only problem is she is very petite and I have been unable to find a shotgun that fits her. I am 6'3" with long arms so none of my guns fit her. I have borrowed guns from neighbors who are shorter and even their guns are too big... recently for my birthday we went shooting and both of us shot Remington 870s supplied by the range. Mine was fullsized but hers appeared to be a small version or even a youth model and she said it fit her very well. I looked online and it looks like besides the standard sizes 870 the only small version is a youth model. Is this right? If so how much does a used one generally go for. Are there any other makers who make youth or scaled down guns? Thanks for the help.

 

[Centurian22]

I believe that Mossberg 500 and Maverick 88 come in youth or 'bantam' versions. Do some google, wiki, and / or manufacturer website searches.


http://www.cabelas.com/pump-action-mossberg-500-bantam-8482-super-bantam-8482-youth-shotguns-2.shtml

 

[Dave McCracken]

Besides the "Youth" 870s and 500s, Remington's 1100 can be found with shorter stocks.

And, Wenig stocks have a model with a shorter LOP, less drop and more curve to the PG for female shooters. They make these for lots of different shotguns,including a roughed in model you finish and tweak to size yourself.

Used Youth models do turn up. The last 870YE I ran across was tagged at $250. I thought about picking it up but didn't.

 

[Skribs]

Just get a PGO shotgun and then LOP doesn't matter! Kidding, of course.

 

[BYJO4]

I have always felt that Remington's 1100 or 870 youth models in 20 guage were excellent for the smaller framed shooter. Of course, you can always find a qualified gunsmith to fit/adjust any stock to a given individaul.

 

[dprice3844444]

plus the 870's have interchangeable barrels

 

[Hunterdad]

Depending how much coin you're willing to drop, see if you can find the Remington 1100 L T-20.

 

[Centurian22]

So do Mossberg 500's and Maverick 88's.

 

[Flyincedar]

I bought my girlfriend a CZ 712, and she loves it. Incredibly reliable, lightweight, and very soft recoil. She'll be in the dove field with it this coming saturday

 

[JayMust]

My wife is 5'1" and a little over a hundred pounds. When we went to buy her a shotgun she worked actions and shot several shotguns in both youth or bantam and regular sizes. She ended preferring the Mossberg 500 for the ergonomics. Specifically the placement of the slide and its operation verses the way the Remingtons or Winchesters operated. But YMMV.

 

[One_Jackal]

added image

Some of the bantam Mossbergs have a stock with a piece you can add or remove. In the end she is going to have to find her own gun. All you can do is help her get the best price.

 

[wolfe]

Youth model is what she needs. I'd find something other than an 870 but that is just me.

 

[Red Cent]

I would consider the 870 a light gun that would wear her down after a day of clays. If she doesn't have to carry it, I would buy her a semi-auto/gas operated. The lighter the gun, the more felt recoil.

The 1100 and 1187, for the price would be ideal. As suggested, have the LOP (length of pull) adjusted so she can shoulder and hold the gun.

Watch almost any novice, especially on the smaller side, and you will see them "leveraging" the gun. They will rare back using their body to keep the gun up. The shotgun will rock their world. They have taken the cushion of the recoil.

They make an 1187 Special Purpose with vent rib. I believe 26" barrel. Shorten the stock, pad it well, and I think she would love it.

If you reload, you got it made.

 

[Red Cent]

Here is some good reading on the subject. These are cowboys and cowgirls but the same principles apply.

http://marauder.homestead.com/files/Reducing_Shotgun_Recoil.htm

 

[orphanedcowboy]

Look at a youth model Weatherby SA-08, 12" lop, good recoil pad, lightweight with a 24" barrel, readily available, shims for drop and cast, very light recoil and easy on the pocketbook at $450-$500 range new and $350-$400 used.

 

[Red Cent]

Doing some research on the -08 and found this.

"However the Weatherby literature is quite upfront about the fact that the gun will not cycle with loads running at less than 1325fps, so if you want to use sub-sonic loads then this isn’t the gun for you."

http://www.gunmart.net/gun_review/weatherby_sa-08/

OUCHHH!! 1325 fps is strong trap load. Excessive for skeet, little heavy for sporting clays. Others will have opinions on the 1325 for sure. Trap guns usually weigh around 9#s. Weight absorbs recoil. I would guess you would want no more than 1200 FPS for skeet and I think it would do well for sporting clays and 5 stsnd.

The 1100s and 1187s will allow you to shoot slower loads.

Try an experiment. Go to Walmart and buy those cheap black Remington loads. Try them. They hurt unless you have one or more of the following: padded, heavy, gas operated, and/or ported barrels. The ported barrels sta rts arguments.

Be aware that Weatherby probably did not manufacture that shotgun. They have imported it as other companies do.

The SA-08 weight of 6 3/4#s will show on the shoulder. An 1187 weighs just over 8#s.

 

[78tsubaki]

Have you seen the Ithaca M37 Ladies stock 20 gauge.
My Wife loves hers. Fits like a glove. The initial investment is a little much but the payoff is worth it.

 

[FullEffect1911]

Since I am a Remington fan I will link to their site:

http://www.remington.com/product-families/firearms/compacts/compact-shotguns.aspx

The 13" or so LOP of the compact models (not youth) seems to fit my 5'1" Fiance. Best part is they they have spacers to increase it to 13.5", 13.75", up to 14".

20 will have just a little less recoil then the 12 gauge. Those 20 gauge compact models are super light.

The 11-87 Gas guns will have less felt recoil then the 870 Pump Gun.

The 21" barrel is probably not ideal for clays, but in my opinion it is a handy all around length

 

[orphanedcowboy]

Read the manual, it says nothing about 1325 fps or higher. The gun comes with 2 pistons, a light and a heavy. The gun will cycle pretty much anything other than very low recoil trainer loads. I bought one for my daughter and it would cycle 1100fps 3/4 oz loads all day after it was broken in.

Weatherby SA-08 Manual

I don't know who the clown was that did a review on the gun and couldn't get anything but 1325+ loads to cycle, but he needs to hang up his pen and pick up a fry ladle, he doesn't know squat about shotguns.

I went and read his review, then noticed another SA-08 review on the same site, made no mention of the 1325fps or higher load requirement:

Weatherby SA-08 part 2 Review

Funny, if you read both reviews, they both give glowing endorsements to the gun.

I almost wonder if he meant 1325bar? The Brits like to play the pressure/dram game quite a bit.

 

[TAKtical]

Mesa tactical has adjustable stock options for the 870. They also sell recoil reducing buffer tubes that work amazingly well. It can get expensive but you can shoot full power 3inch shells all day and not even get sore.

 

[AI&P Tactical]

The Remington 870 20ga youth model comes with a 26" barrel and a stock that has spacers to adjust from around 12" to 13" LOP. There is a $30 rebate on the 870 till December 31st.

As fulleffect1911 said, the 11-87 Youth is one amazing little weapon. I purchased one last year for a client and was able to shoot it with him when he picked it up. The rebate on the 11-87 is $75 if purchased through December 31st.