1st Trap/Skeet shotgun for a woman

[Silent Service 7]

What is a inexpensive 1st shot gun for a woman to shoot trap and/or skeet with? Should I buy her a over/under, side x side, pump? Is a .410 too small ? I'm leaning towards a .20ga. What brand? I don't want to spend more than $450.

 

Thanks

[kenw 293]

Take a look at a Stoeger over/under in 20ga. It's a nice starter gun, and can be had for around $350 on sale.

[hd2000fxdl 422]

870 youth 20ga..

[djg0770 481]

IMO 410 is too small.

 

Has she shot much at all? Does she have a fear of recoil or is she an advanced shooter and can tolerate it?

 

If she has issues with recoil I would suggest a gas operated semiauto 20 ga and a limbsaver pad.

[chris327 30]

I would suggest a remongton 1100 in 20 ga. I had the same dilema with my gf. Shes using a 12ga 1100 and loves it.

[M4BGRINGO 139]

I have a Rem 1100 in 12g and 20g, wanna try them? You will be suprised how similar they feel recoil-wise. Maybe the only advantage I see between them is the weight. My wife only uses her 870 for everything, that is her baby. I have a Browning O/U which has a really nice recoil system. I wouldn't advise you letting her try it, she may not like anything else after it. Softest-shooting shotgun I ever handled, but that recoil setup costs more than you want to spend for a gun.

[bry@n 195]

I bought my wife a Mossberg 500 in 20ga. Is it the best gun for skeet / trap? No but serves double duty a s a HD shotgun for her. Did it also just in case she didn't like shooting clays.

 

Now I am upgrading her to a semi auto or o/u 20ga.

[Silent Service 7]

Thanks for the reply's everyone.

 

She's a beginner (right handed, left eye dominant, yikes).

 

I want her to be comfortable with the gun foremost, but something that she can't out shoot me with. Just kidding.

 

She shot her, (oh yes it is beautiful), heirloom AH Fox Sterlingworth SxS 12ga loaded with a lite target load. The recoil was, I feel, a little much as she is a beginner.

 

I think we want something that we can bang around a bit and not worry about the nicks and bumps while learning.

[Silent Service 7]

What about 16Ga? Is that a viable option? Just curious.

[Silent Service 7]

Take a look at a Stoeger over/under in 20ga. It's a nice starter gun, and can be had for around $350 on sale.

 

Wow, nice looking guns. (Looking at the gun bible). I'd love to shoot em all.

[kenw 293]

Wow, nice looking guns. (Looking at the gun bible). I'd love to shoot em all.

A few of the guys on the forum have them for occasional trips to the trap fields. They don't pretend to be Perrazis, or even Browinings, but they work, and if she loses interest, you're off the hook relatively cheap.

[Silent Service 7]

A few of the guys on the forum have them for occasional trips to the trap fields. They don't pretend to be Perrazis, or even Browinings, but they work, and if she loses interest, you're off the hook relatively cheap.

 

It's not the sword, it's the swordsman I always say. If she needs a Perrazi, she'll have to get a night job. (5k - 10K, again gun bible) Purdey's list for 100K!? I assume that's a gun for the person who's has everything already. Can a gun that cost that much really be that better quality?

 

I'm looking at the uplander (for me) and the short barrel coach. Cabelas lists them at $379.

 

Thanks for the advice.

[kenw 293]

It's not the sword, it's the swordsman I always say. If she needs a Perrazi, she'll have to get a night job. (5k - 10K, again gun bible) Purdey's list for 100K!? I assume that's a gun for the person who's has everything already. Can a gun that cost that much really be that better quality?

 

I'm looking at the uplander (for me) and the short barrel coach. Cabelas lists them at $379.

 

Thanks for the advice.

Spielberg and Tom Selleck both have Purdys. The guns are custom fitted before the first wood is cut and built specifically for an individual's shooting style, and take upwards of a year to complete. They're like a custom tailored suit, and yeah, they're for the guy who has everything, and money to burn.

 

I'd settle for a Perazzi.

 

Glad to help, and good luck with your new guns.

[Parker 213]

What about 16Ga? Is that a viable option? Just curious.

A great round, but not the most viable only because offerings in loadings are limited compared to other gauges and availability of such are often limited. The 12 ga. was always the go-to gauge for trap and skeet and when skeet sanctioned only the 12, 20, 28 & .410 as qualified gauges for competition, the 16 ga. sort of fell out of favor with the shooting public and became the red-headed stepchild. Every now and then some interest spurs and a run of guns come out for it, and there are some 16 ga. available today, but limited compared to the 12 & 20.

 

It's a great round if you reload and when it's chambered in the appropriate sized shotgun. By that I mean a 16 ga. should be chambered in a 16 ga.-frame. It's always had favor among upland gunners. When Remington re-introduced their 870 in the 16 ga., they simply put it in a 12 ga. frame. Defeats the purpose of a trim and smaller gauged shotgun. ("Hits like a twelve, carries like a twenty" was a popular phrase years ago.) Browning's BPS pump 16 ga. is built on a smaller frame, and it feels trim and suited for the round. Browning occasionally makes a run of their O/U Citori's on a true 16 ga. frame, but they sell out fast. Last run was 2010. There is a rumor these will be introduced again.

 

Bill Hanus had a run of them back in 2010, but they are gone now. They can be found on used on Gunbroker, GunsAmerica and some of the doublegun forums. http://www.billhanus...browning16.html

 

I wouldn't get a 16 ga. unless you plan on reloading for it.

 

Can a gun that cost that much really be that better quality?

Yes, you'll know it the instant you first eyeball then pick up the shotgun, and then open and gently close the action for the first time.

[tt-33 8]

are you looking at trap skeet or just off a launcher in a field no one gun can do it all well skip the .410 the lack of recoil wont make up for all those misses