Wife's first shotgun

[bigred76]

I don't know about you all... I just let my wife shoot a 12ga pump and 20ga pump first. She is recoil sensitive so I let her run my Mossberg 930 12ga and it was more than soft enough for her but too heavy.... so she convinced me to buy her a Montefeltro. In 12ga.

The Weatherby SA08 are nice, but the added front weight of a piston design can be prohibitive. An inertia design has less front end weight and can be easier for a longer shooting day. Fit is the most important for a shotgun, too. Doesn't matter how fancy and how awesome the list of specs is if she can't pick it up or shoulder it properly or have a good sight picture.

My advice is simple: stop assuming what she can handle and let her tell you. Don't be over-assertive, answer questions with as few words as possible (don't over-explain), and let her set the pace. If you can't do all three, let someone else introduce her to shooting.

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[Off the Roster]

Women can only take on important skills through play, because they aren't mentally capable of planning for an emergency?

That's the most sexist thing I've ever read. Also doesn't describe my wife, or many of the women I know.

YOU may not like to plan for problems, but please keep that broad brush in your pocket.

"Aren't mentally capable" never left my fingers, only yours'.

[BigFatGuy]

"Aren't mentally capable" never left my fingers, only yours'.

HOWEVER, we do not plan and prepare for such a scenario (unlike men)

Were you describing a physical infirmity, then? Emotional? Spiritual? Please enlighten me on what you think makes all women incapable of planning for emergencies... then ask yourself what you'd think if I said your exact words.

The fact that I summarized your bigoted statement rather than quoting it word for word doesn't make it any more true, nor does it make my disdain for your statement any less reasonable.

Please keep your opinions of the limitations of female shooters to yourself.

[Makarios031]

Like OP, I have been looking into a shotgun for the wife. It is to re-introduce her and fulfill the purpose of home defense.

After handling several at LGS she could not find one she was particular to - 12, 20, 410 and youth variants. Weight was a factor, but recoil and muzzle climb really indimidate her. The ONE she found and loves is Remington's 870 Express Compact Jr. She was beginning to loose patience as she handled another youth 870, but it was longer and laminate wood. It just fit like a glove - the prefered model was 81161 as opposed to 25561.

One store had a Mossberg in a 410 and it had loose components and I was surprised Mossberg would put their name to it. Feedback and advice here only affirm previous experience/advice that I will likely never invest in a 410.

Putting hands on made a big difference for her as opposed to my research. It will be personal preference but it is a model to consider. Personally handling and operating will go a long way for her. I read a lot of sound advice (BFG, TheFeeder, CSACannoneer) and lessons are in our future.

On a side note, I am also introducing my 7year old son to a new 10/22. I let him handle the youth model and I was impressed - he thought mommy needed it now. Good luck OP and thanks to everyone else for their info.

[JagerDog]

I'd stay away from cheap autos, especially in 410. The better ones like 1100's will fetch a premiumin in subgauge.

For skunks and occassional hand thrown clays, the 410 is fine. More capable to 20 or so yards than most give them credit for. Seems some responses assume commercial clay games.

For commercial targets 28 is superior. But I'm not sure anyone even makes 28 in buckshot for the HD function. If HD is high priority, then I'd recommend 20g, but in a different gun.

[savannah]

I never wanted nor did I like guns earlier in life. I was raised by a family that did not have huntin nor guns in the house. It was my son that took me to his range one day and was very encouraging when I tried trap. I was hooked that day and owned my own gun within weeks after a handgun safety class. I learned to love handguns, shotguns and sporting clays.

Give her time, go with friends and make it a fun event rather than a teaching event.

I don't think this is a men vs. women issue. I think it is more how someone is brought up and whether or not guns were part of your early upbringing. Just because we are women, it doesn't mean we are recoil sensitive, to weak to shoulder a gun or afraid. We are women, not children.