Buying a shotgun without shooting it first?

[jasmina]

I'm a female and want to buy my first shotgun (EDIT: For home defense only). I've decided I want a semiautomatic. I've shot 12 gauges before but have little experience with shotguns overall and would really prefer to try several out before buying, but none of the ranges around me have semiautos for rent. So, my questions are:

1. How risky is it to buy a shotgun without shooting it first?
2. What shotguns should I look at if I'm going to buy without shooting first - both in terms of being good for a petite female, and also for resale value in case I don't end up liking it?

Was thinking of getting a Benelli that I had looked at in a store the other day - do these keep their value in case I want to sell later on?

Any other advice you have would be appreciated. Thank you!!!

[redfield96]

Check reviews on semi auto shotguns in your price range. Take it to a gunsmith and have it properly fitted to your length. Benelli makes great shotguns. But is it in your price range?

[jasmina]

Check reviews on semi auto shotguns in your price range. Take it to a gunsmith and have it properly fitted to your length. Benelli makes great shotguns. But is it in your price range?

Will having it fitted reduce its resale value?

Yes, Benellis are in my price range. Ideally I'd shoot a bunch of shotguns before trying but I feel a bit better with going with a well known "high end" make if I'm going to be buying without shooting :/

[nedro]

For shot guns, it's all about the fit. How it fits you and your body type. The length of your arms and so on.
This has nothing to do with you being petite. It just needs to fit.

[jasmina]

For shot guns, it's all about the fit. How it fits you and your body type. The length of your arms and so on.
This has nothing to do with you being petite. It just needs to fit.

I see, thanks. For fit - what should I look for specifically? (Or is there an article / resource out there that details this information?)

For the most part I've not had trouble shooting any 12 gauge that's been handed to me, but I do worry a bit about recoil & the weight of the gun being too much to handle when I'm practicing for more than few minutes. The Benelli I checked out felt nice and light, though.

[Xanthippus]

I see, thanks. For fit - what should I look for specifically? (Or is there an article / resource out there that details this information?)

For the most part I've not had trouble shooting any 12 gauge that's been handed to me, but I do worry a bit about recoil & the weight of the gun being too much to handle when I'm practicing for more than few minutes. The Benelli I checked out felt nice and light, though.

There's always a trade-off. For less recoil, you'll want the weight. For less weight, you'll receive more recoil. There are also "low recoil/low velocity" 12ga rounds, and I (and most LE agencies) use those to train, less abuse to the shoulder. I personally know of a handful of ladies (one of my sisters, for example) who use a 12ga but employ the low recoil 12ga ammunition for home defense.

[BOBGBA]

If you are willing to share your approximate location, someone on here might be able to recommend a range that you aren't aware of, that might have guns for you to try.

Or go to one of the skeet clinics (see stickies at the top of the shotgun forum), you will get a lot of good advice from the instructors.

Syren makes shotguns specifically for females. Might have a limited resale market.

https://syrenusa.com/syren-xlr5-sporting/

[jasmina]

If you are willing to share your approximate location, someone on here might be able to recommend a range that you aren't aware of, that might have guns for you to try.

Or go to one of the skeet clinics (see stickies at the top of the shotgun forum), you will get a lot of good advice from the instructors.

Syren makes shotguns specifically for females. Might have a limited resale market.

https://syrenusa.com/syren-xlr5-sporting/

I'm in southern California.

If I go to skeet clinics, won't they mostly have smaller gauge shotguns? I'm looking for something for self-defense (should've mentioned in my first post).

Interesting; I will check out the Syrens. Thanks.

[sandiego67]

Fit?

With those 18" barrels, don't you just blast from the hip?

[BOBGBA]

Syren won't have a home defense shotgun, didn't realize you wanted it for HD.

HD shotguns have short barrels and clay target guns are longer.

If you have any interest in shooting clay pigeons, try the skeet clinic out (but they won't have a HD shotgun).

[NATEWA]

I'd probably look into a 20 guage.

https://www.benelliusa.com/compact-shotguns

And add an extension.

https://nordiccomp.com/categories/nc-shotgun-extension-complete-assemblies-for-20ga/

The good thing about this is it could be used to shoot clays. Shooting clays will make you proficient with your shotgun.

See if anyone has one to rent.

I have a 20 guage montefeltro - love that gun. Very light and reliable.

[trapperjohn]

The clinics are a great place to try different guns that you can rent (and swap) at the pro shop at Triple B Clays. While there likely won't be a Benelli HD gun, you will learn a great deal about shotgun shooting for many purposes (including HD if you mention it to the coaches), and will learn firsthand about how a shogun should fit you, and what to look for in a well fitting gun.

Plus, it's just a damn lot of fun.

Good luck and safe shooting.

[jasmina]

This is JMHO,

If you state your budget range, you will receive several specific models in your price range that you could select for your HD shotgun. Granted, responses are often generic to what the person who is responding owns so many of the responses can be one-sided. With that said, it will be hard for you to try out many shotguns and get a good idea on what you like because the way a shotgun shoots and feels that does not fit you is much different than one that is fitted to your LOP. Your best bet may be to select from a list of 5 or so that are highly recommended, take the one you selected to a local Gun Smith and have it properly fitted, then just make it work. The old saying of "you don't know what you don't know" applies because you don't have the option to shoot several that are fitted for you so you basically need to select one and go with it. You should be happy with any of the current popular semi-autos as all of them have a strong following. In terms of resale, it will be harder to sell it because the local GS will need to cut the stock down so the only person who would buy it would be someone looking for the same size. Not saying you can't sell it, it would just limit your possibilities. There are plenty of good semi-auto shotguns that will work for you.

Thank you. This seems to make a lot of sense. I don't have a budget, really... under 3k?

[jasmina]

With that budget you can have just about anything and I would argue that most of the responses are going to direct you to this:

https://www.benelliusa.com/m4-tactical-shotgun

Personally, I went without the pistol grip as I don't like them but to each their own. Good luck with your selection....

That was the one I'd checked out in a store and loved. The pistol grip is always optional to use, correct? In other words the gun can still be held as it would've been if it didn't have the pistol grip?

[jasmina]

I'd probably look into a 20 guage.

https://www.benelliusa.com/compact-shotguns

And add an extension.

https://nordiccomp.com/categories/nc-shotgun-extension-complete-assemblies-for-20ga/

The good thing about this is it could be used to shoot clays. Shooting clays will make you proficient with your shotgun.

See if anyone has one to rent.

I have a 20 guage montefeltro - love that gun. Very light and reliable.

I tend to shoot every month and always practice my HD shotgun skills. I definitely won't be shooting clays to practice, at least not in the near future.