Shotgun for wife? New to trap and skeet-

[maseratisportgts]

Hello, I'm new to shotgunworld! I just picked up a Beretta Silver Pigeon IV, and I am in love. I went to my local range for the first time last week, and found a new passion. I hunt and have shot shotguns for years, but never like this!

I am on the hunt for a gun for my wife. I include her in all of my hobbies, as she is my best friend. She doesn't hunt, but she said she thinks she could hunt for pheasant, so this is my motivation. I would love to take her hunting with me.

I am looking for a shotgun with the least recoil, that she would enjoy shooting. Currently, she is assigned to her ruger 10/22 and loves to plink with me in the woods. Shes such a natural, better than most guys I know, really a good shot.

Can anyone recommend a shot gun for me? She is 5 foot 5 inches tall, about 125 pounds. I am a BIG beretta fan, so in the beretta lineup, what can one recommend? Money is not a problem in this case, I plan to buy the best, and use it for life, as I do with all my guns. Should I go with 12 ga or 20 ga? I want her to shoot trap/skeet, and eventually go pheasant/duck hunting with me later on down the line. I want her to get confident, and be proficient with this gun. Any recommendations? She is scared of shotguns, but I have shot some around her without ear protection, so she assumes the recoil is terrible.

Please let me know, thanks in advance ladies and gentlemen!

 

[throdgrain]

Did you get the wrong forum ?

 

[ilmonster]

Well, if you are a Beretta fan, they have a number of great options. The one that comes to mind is the Beretta 391 semi-auto SG. Semi-auto SG's have lower perceived recoil as the gas operation spreads the recoil impulse over a longer period of time thereby reducing felt recoil. They also make a youth/womens model with a shorter length of pull for the stock. You can get 391's in both 12 ga. and 20 ga. Haven't shot the 20 ga., but it might also have a lower amount of recoil with std. 1200 fps, 7/8 oz. loads. You can buy these both new or used as there are a lot of them around. As important as which gun is gun fit. A $15,000 Krieghoff that doesn't fit right won't help you hit more birds. If you are not familiar with proper gun fit, see someone who is - can make all the difference. Good luck!

 

[oneounceload]

Take her with you to that local range - see if they have guns to borrow or rent, or maybe some of the folks there will have one that might fit her close enough at least to try out.

Many will immediately jump and say a 20 gauge - not always the best choice, as far as recoil goes, because while the shells have a little less recoil, the guns tend to be lighter, and as a result, can "kick" even more. This is especially true if the gun doesn't fit her. One of the women I shoot with, in her 60's, shoots a 9# Kreighoff 12 gauge, and does very well with it, because it fits her....

It's great that you and she want to do these things together - good luck!

 

[PJR]

I just picked up a Beretta Silver Pigeon IV, and I am in love.

Pick her up a Beretta Silver Pigeon IV in 28 gauge and she'll be in love. Low recoil, nice handling guns and a suitable companion to your gun.

She is scared of shotguns, but I have shot some around her without ear protection, so she assumes the recoil is terrible.

With people who have no experience with shotguns I recommend doubling up on hearing protection (ear plugs and muffs.) It's the recoil they fear but the noise is what's bothering them most.

 

[maseratisportgts]

Thanks guys!

Thanks for all your advice, guys. I don't know how it will "fit" her, I will bring her to our local gun shop, and have the guys help her out. I think it will be best, I was trying to find out which model would work to get it on gunbroker, or guns america, but I guess it will have to be tried out. Thanks!

 

[ArmedBear]

I don't know about the SP IV. My wife really likes color casehardening.

The Silver Pigeon V is one hell of a pretty gun, if you're in that price range anyway.

 

[trstafford]

First time shooter

Just took my sister shooting a shot gun for the first time last weekend. Don't know how we never took her before but last year she was concerned with a growing crime problem in her neighborhood so I gave her a pistol and this year took her shooting with my 20 ga. The 2 most important thing I did was used light field loads to reduce recoil and showed her how to lean into not away from the shot gun to absorb the recoil, I also only let her shoot only about 5 times so she would not get a sore shoulder. I also took her to the gun store and showed her the different types of guns and how they shouldered. She liked the fit and feel of a 20 ga youth model Mossberg best. As for recoil she could have shot my 12 gauge just as easily using the proper stance, the 20 ga. was all about fit and weight for her. She also bought herself a set of electronic ear muffs because she could not hear instructions while shooting her pistol with her friend, she said it made a great improvement in her shooting with me.

After returning home she e-mailed and said she was going to treat herself to a new shotgun.

The moral of the story is make her first outing pleasant and she'll be a hunting companion for life. But be willing to get her a wardrobe of top quality hunting clothing also.

 

[smoking357]

I am on the hunt for a gun for my wife. I include her in all of my hobbies, as she is my best friend. She doesn't hunt, but she said she thinks she could hunt for pheasant, so this is my motivation. I would love to take her hunting with me.

Don't. Women love a 10/22, sure, but few take to shotguns. You'll need to start with an 1100 with light loads and a gooey pad. I'd borrow one, first. I wouldn't try to force it. The sexes naturally break across different lines. Let it be.

 

[maseratisportgts]

Smoking357, thanks for the advice. I do see very few women in shotgunning. Maybe I should buy a beretta teknys for myself in 12 gauge, since it has the semi action and the recoil reducer, and let her try it. Whats an 1100? Compared to my remington 870 wingmaster, the Beretta Silver pigeon is a pleasure, that remington always kicked my ass, but I think its because it didn't have a recoil pad its an older late 80's model my dad had. I'm very cautious about introducing her to it. For me, its all about "killing 2 birds with one stone" - I get to do what I want, and by including her, I'm spending what few moments I have away from work to spend time with my family, and get to shoot, which i love to do when I can. Thank you all for your generous comments!

 

[oneounceload]

Women love a 10/22, sure, but few take to shotguns.

Sorry to disagree, but women are the fastest growing segment in shotgun sports - all versions of them......get a gun that fits, get her a lesson from a coach and watch what can happen

 

[Scoupe]

Listen to oneounce load. Women are indeed the fastest growing segment in shotgun sports.

There are usually some hurdles for womes - fit, perceived lack of strength, recoill shyness, etc. MOst often theses are addressed better by someone other than a signifcant other. Pay someone to teach her. You'll get her back as a better shooter and maybe more willing to try some hunting.

I've got a 5'3" 130lb partner who shoots a 9.5lb skeet gun and outshoots most men at our club. I got her interested, but let someone else teach her. Don't ever expect her to enjoy the experience in the same ways men do. Mine loves shooting, and we do it together, but we tend to value different parts of the experience.

 

[oneounceload]

plus a MILLION on getting someone else to teach her - you can tell her the same thing, but she will listen more to the third-party coach....(kids do it in little league all the time...."but the coach said to do it this way". type of thing.....you'll be glad you did.......

 

[maseratisportgts]

Okay, guys thanks for the advice! I need some lessons myself to get re-aqquainted!
Its really hard to find the right gloves for her, and I'm worried about getting the right gun that fits for her-