Trapshooters Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Light recoil for the wife.....

1 reading
Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 47 Posts
#2 ·
More flexibility with a 20 gauge. Cheaper ammo and probably more available.

Remington lightweight 20 gauge 1100s were a great gun for the field. Dunno if they are currently available. Franchi made a very light 20 gauge automatic. I'm not familiar with Beretta, Browning, or Benelli autos.

Recoil in lightweight 20 gauge O/Us and SxS can be brutal.
 
#4 ·
Winchester SX4, Browning Maxus. The Winchester has the same gas system as the Maxus for soft shooting. It does not have the price tag of the Maxus. The Maxus comes with a magazine cutoff, speed loading and a big price.

If the gun is only going to see a few rounds of target games and hunting duty, either one would be great.
If the gun will see serious use year over year, I would go Beretta.

IMO stay clear of Benelli and Franchi. Great guns mechanically, but too light and inertia driven. You take much more abuse compared to a gas operated auto.

We have youth students and particularly girls show up with the Benelli's and Franchi's because they are light to lift. They take a beating every practice.

If you get really crazy, find a 20GA Browning Lightning. Plenty of weight for games and dream to carry and shoot in the field.
 
#8 ·
My wife shoots a BT99 micro which is 12 gauge. She is a small lady at barely 5'0". She has no complaints about the recoil and it doesn't have any particular recoil reducer. In fact, to get the LOP down, I had to change the stock butt pad to to thinner one. The BT99 can be had with the Gra Coil system which adds their recoil absorber. I have seen a number of threads say that weight is a better recoil reducer than any SA action. My step son is a big dude and he shoots an A400. He says its OK for hunting where you don't shoot a lot. However, for Trap its been pounding his shoulder.

Anything other than 12G is just very difficult to find ammo. Even 12G is in short supply. I make my own now so don't buy factory ammo.
 
#11 ·
I'll second the A300 Ultima 20 ga. Just picked up one and at $725+ it is a great value with many stock adjusting options, a recoil absorber, enlarged bolt handle and bolt release. They shoot so well, three of my sporting clays buddies also bought them. Plus, they are made in the USA!

If you are looking for the best chance with a youth or new lady shooter and cost is no object, the best solution in my opinion is the Beretta A400 28 ga. with 26" barrel. It is light enough to be easily handled by small statured folks and the 28 ga. offers the best balance of low recoil and target breaking efficiency. Some of the 1100s can be rather heavy and the lower cost turkish guns that are saturating the market are noted for excessive trigger pull and questionable reliability. Good luck!
 
#13 ·
Every time this comes up. There are always those who say go with a 20 Ga. The fact is a standard 20 Ga. load ( 7/8 oz.) is being pushed down a smaller and narrower bore. A 7/8 Oz. load loaded in the same 12ga, gun will both be more effective pattern wise and kick LESS than a 20 Ga. gun of the same make with the 7/8 oz. load . A gas operated semi auto like the A300 is both light weight and has very little felt recoil. That is is the pro side. The only down side is the difficulty in finding ( Factory) ammo in 12 Ga. 7/8 offering However, if you reload that problem is not a factor. I have a sister in law that is recoil sensitive. The reloads I make for her to shoot are 15.8 Grs. of Red Dot and 7/8 oz. of shot. They are a cream puff load in my light weight Beretta 391 and have no problem clearing the ejection port.
 
#15 ·
Starting your wife out is like starting a very small light framed kid. A combination of Gun Fit,,, Shell payload and speed and Great Stance and gun mount. You can do that with a 12Ga ..even better if you reload. IMHO.

I have been told that a 28 ga is a great ladies gun.... but the price of those shells are outta reach. A 20ga can kick harder than a 12ga .. But if you reload you can make a great ladies shell no matter the Gauge.... again IMHO
 
#18 ·
My son (5,7 125 pounds) is shooting an A300 outlander 12ga that with 1oz 1180fps loads has very little recoil.

Sometimes women do have more felt recoil due to gun fit to their body shapes, mounting higher up with a more heads up posture seems to help some.

I was looking at a a300 ultima 20ga to play around with for skeet, but I read enough reviews of problems I will give Beretta a year to iron them out.

Im borrowing a Tristar Viper G2 Bronze 20ga for the time being for 20ga skeet, picking it up tomorrow.
 
#19 ·
capt4fish said:
I'm thinking a gas operated 20 ga. or 28 ga.
Click to expand...

capt4fish said:
Im already partial to Beretta, so we are leaning that way with the A300 or A400 in 20 ga.
Click to expand...
Bingo, You already had the info you needed already. Seems to me, you just wanted to hear others agree with you.

I too will agree with you as well. Its hard to beat a A-300 or A-400 in 20 ga. for a soft shooter for a lady or young adult. A jr. sized stock would be a plus, if you can find one? break em all jeff
 
1 - 20 of 47 Posts
About this Discussion
46 Replies
36 Participants
Last post:
fastarget
Trapshooters Forum
posts
4.3M
members
93K
Since
2005
A forum community dedicated to Trap shooting enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about targets, clays, hunting, gunsmithing, gear reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Shooting Related Discussions For Sale Reloading Want to Buy/Trade Threads Gunsmithing