Can you guys recommend the lightest load that can be used in a 12-gauge? I want to get some light loads that my wife can practice with, getting use to the shotgun. I don't want to start her off with 00-buck or slugs, since the kick will probably discourage her from shooting it. If this is not possible or pratical in a 12-gauge, would a 20-gauge shotgun be a better choice?

Try the remington gun club bird shot http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/shotshells/target-loads/gun-club-target-loads.aspx

 

Pretty light. Of course, depends on the gun I suppose.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Ammunition/Shotgun-Ammunition%7C/pc/104792580/c/104691780/sc/104567580/Federal-Top-Gun-Pink-Target-Loads-Per-Box/1188670.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fshooting-ammunition-shotgun-ammunition%2F_%2FN-1100191%2B4294751476%2FNe-4294751476%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104567580%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253Bcat104792580%253Bcat104691780%26WTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU%26recordsPerPage%3D108&WTz_l=SBC%3Bcat104792580%3Bcat104691780%3Bcat104567580

 

^^ they're pink.....

buyable i believe 1/18th is the lowest but if u load on www.shotgunforums.com there is a guy who loads 3/4 oz 12 guage loads and says they are like bunny farts

http://www.cabelas.c...%3Bcat104567580

 

^^ they're pink.....

 

Nothing wrong with pink! I give to anyone or anything that has to do with cancer research! i buy these buy the flats! great loads cheaper to buy this then reload shotshells

winchester puts out a bird shot load with a feather on the box I think its called a feather lite.hastings has a reduced recoil youth load I found pleasant.in bird shot you can shoot lighter pay loads 7/8ths vs 1 1/8 1200 fps avoid 1300fps or faster

Nothing wrong with pink! I give to anyone or anything that has to do with cancer research! i buy these buy the flats! great loads cheaper to buy this then reload shotshells

 

same with me... i just bought my gf and her mom the remington pink real tree bookbags from walmart.... also got my girl the winchester pink edition shooting glasses....big ear muff protection and small pink ear protection.... she cant wait to go... lol

some 1 oz remington target loads would be best, you may even find some lighter loads under 1 oz..

 

http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/shotshells/target-loads/managed-recoil-sts-target-loads.aspx

http://www.cabelas.c...%3Bcat104567580

 

^^ they're pink.....

 

 

Thanks. I like them.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/255579/aguila-minishell-ammunition-12-gauge-1-3-4-5-8-oz-7-1-2-shot-box-of-20

 

Lightest load i know of. Worked okay in my 870. Your results may vary.

Can you guys recommend the lightest load that can be used in a 12-gauge? I want to get some light loads that my wife can practice with, getting use to the shotgun. I don't want to start her off with 00-buck or slugs, since the kick will probably discourage her from shooting it. If this is not possible or pratical in a 12-gauge, would a 20-gauge shotgun be a better choice?

 

I have the same situation with my gf.... shes all ready to go shooting... got her the pink real tree camo bookbag with pink edition ear protection and shooting glasses... same dilema as you... she is on the smaller and fragile side and i dont want her shooting my 12 gauge and it kicking her shoulder in... sooooo i came up with what i think is a genious solution..... while at cabelas a few weeks ago i was thinking the same thing as what shot can i get that will be nice and light.... i got target load from federal ammo and they still kick decently hard... i think she will be able to handle that after she gets acclaimated shooting...so the 1st 25 she is going to shoot is KENT 12 gauge 2 1/2 inch FIELD BLANKS.... i shot one at the range and its going to be perfectttt for her... nice and loud....little bit of smoke and wad debris out the end makes it look like a shot etc....kicks a tad and i think it will be a perfect start to get her acclaimated with shooting a shotgun for the 1st time..... cabelas has a box of 25 for 11 bucks.... i know ramsey outdoor has similar but they are like 25 bucks for a box.... i was thinking about holding a pair of binoculars up and saying she hit the target dead on (positive encouragement)

Can you guys recommend the lightest load that can be used in a 12-gauge? I want to get some light loads that my wife can practice with, getting use to the shotgun. I don't want to start her off with 00-buck or slugs, since the kick will probably discourage her from shooting it. If this is not possible or pratical in a 12-gauge, would a 20-gauge shotgun be a better choice?

If you reloaded for your 12 ga., you can go as low as 3/4 oz. with pressures in the 6,000 psi range. I prefer 7/8 oz. as my "light" load in the 12. ga., but that's what I like. They are still soft shooters as well.

 

If you don't reload, you can try 1 oz. loads, but most target loads that light operate in the 1185fps range or higher. Stay away from 1 oz. field loads or game loads. Many operate in the 1260-1300fps range. These have a bit of snap to them.

 

You can try a box of light 2.5 shells, 15/16 oz. payload which work well and they are light shooters. Although these can be a bit pricey. However, you'll be the talk of the gun range shooting these shells.

http://www.classicsh...tgun-shells.htm

 

Or -

Winchester makes a light 2 3/4" load in 1 oz.

http://www.gamaliel....1oz1180-fps.asp

 

and a SuperLight 26 gram load at less than 1000fps

http://www.gamaliel....m-8-980-fps.asp

Can you guys recommend the lightest load that can be used in a 12-gauge? I want to get some light loads that my wife can practice with, getting use to the shotgun. I don't want to start her off with 00-buck or slugs, since the kick will probably discourage her from shooting it. If this is not possible or pratical in a 12-gauge, would a 20-gauge shotgun be a better choice?

 

Depending on how familiar she is with shooting, if not at all, I think if shes on the smaller side a 20ga would be better. Nothing worse than scaring a new shooting their first time out, that is if that's the case.

Thanks again everyone. Looks like I have several possible solutions.

Btw fiocchi makes something called a trainer load i forgot to mention its like 7/8oz load with the minimum possible dram i bet they are like shooting 9mm

 

It's actually called the trainer load from fiocchi 12 guage

Spend $30 to $40 on a GOOD recoil pad, it will do more for her shoulder than ammo will, and be far cheaper over the long run.

 

A 20g really doesn't have that much less kick than a 12g because it's lower weight doesn't absorb recoil as much. I have a Rem 1100 in 12g and 20g if you want to try them sometime side by side. Lighter custom loads don't reliably cycle the action on a lot of semis' but will work fine in a pump or O/U, but you lose the slight recoil-aborbing the semis already have..................

 

I have let people shoot my Rem 1100 in 20g, then 12g, then my Browning O/U with a really, really good recoil system, and they can't belive how easy the Browning is to shoot.

I have let people shoot my Rem 1100 in 20g, then 12g, then my Browning O/U with a really, really good recoil system, and they can't belive how easy the Browning is to shoot.

 

Remind me not to shoot the Browning, I can't afford another gun right now..

Thanks again.

Remind me not to shoot the Browning, I can't afford another gun right now..

 

Harry, I said the same thing to myself, but when I held that gun there was no way I was not taking it home that night. My wife thought I was crazy until she shot it one day, she now understands...........