Best Shotgun for a Newbie

[Newbshooter]

Im looking for advice on purchasing my first shotgun (first gun period). My 11 year old daughter really wants to get into hunting and shooting so I am helping her get into this. A friend lent her a shotgun to learn on. I'd like to join her on hunts and trap shooting.

I shoot left handed and I was thinking of getting the bottom eject browning BPS which is about $550. this is about the max I want to pay for a gun I was hoping to get get an 870 but the ones with left hand eject are not much less and the BPS I can let a right handed person use it.

Any other suggestions for a left handed shooter who doesn't have a lot of money to spend on guns?

[kmca]

Bottom ejectors are a pain for trap/skeet shooting, but they are great for hunting. With your budget, I'd look for a used left-hand 870 or a little more for an 1100 or 11-87. Be advised however, extra barrels for left handed guns are difficult to find.

[epic1856]

Actually the first thing I would do is check which eye is your dominant eye. Since you say this will be your first gun I'm going to assume you haven't shot a lot. I say check your eye because if your left handed and right eye dominant, I would shoot right handed.

How to check eye dominance

http://vision.about.com/od/contactlenses/ht/Eye_Dominance.htm

[kmca]

Remembered seeing this in the classified section:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=623727&highlight=lh

Don't know the seller or the gun, but I thought it might be interesting.

[Newbshooter]

Bottom ejectors are a pain for trap/skeet shooting, but they are great for hunting. With your budget, I'd look for a used left-hand 870 or a little more for an 1100 or 11-87. Be advised however, extra barrels for left handed guns are difficult to find.

thanks Im left eye dominant determined that it my hunter saftery class. Why are bottom ejectors a pain for trap/skeet?

[sephy]

The BPS is a great gun. I wouldn't hesitate to get one.

[kmca]

thanks Im left eye dominant determined that it my hunter saftery class. Why are bottom ejectors a pain for trap/skeet?

1. Close the action.
2. put a shell into the magazine.
3. Rack the slide to chamber a round.

With an 870 or 1100/11-87,
1. drop a shell into the chamber
2. slide forward or push a button

[epic1856]

1. Close the action.
2. put a shell into the magazine.
3. Rack the slide to chamber a round.

Interesting, with my BPS I just flip it upside down, put a shell in the chamber, rack it, then more in the magazine. I could see if you don't flip it upside down, then it would be hard to put one in the chamber since gravity is working against you.

[epic1856]

To the OP.

I'm left handed and I started out using right handed guns and I still use them. It's never bothered me having the shells get ejected on the right hand side. My suggestion is to rent a semi-auto shotgun and see if the ejected shells bother you. It will be cheaper and you'll have a lot more options buying a right handed shotgun plus you can use the money you saved on ammo.

[Subotai]

Actually the first thing I would do is check which eye is your dominant eye. Since you say this will be your first gun I'm going to assume you haven't shot a lot. I say check your eye because if your left handed and right eye dominant, I would shoot right handed.

How to check eye dominance
http://vision.about.com/od/contactle..._Dominance.htm

Don't matter if you close one eye when you shoot.

[Newbshooter]

To the OP.

I'm left handed and I started out using right handed guns and I still use them. It's never bothered me having the shells get ejected on the right hand side. My suggestion is to rent a semi-auto shotgun and see if the ejected shells bother you. It will be cheaper and you'll have a lot more options buying a right handed shotgun plus you can use the money you saved on ammo.

Epic1856 thanks alot this is good advise, Im sure I can borrow a semiauto from my brother in law. I can use the money for waders/jackets and other hunting gear needed

[Cruznegao]

H&R Pardner single shot for $99 at Big 5.
For that price you could get a 12ga for you, a 20ga or .410 for her and still be under $250
If you find that you actually like shooting you can always get something better and keep the Pardner as a spare gun to take friends to the range.

[thenodnarb]

Start her off right. a 20ga over under. Condor makes some entry level guns that come in under your budget. There may be other brands that are better for that price, and a used higher quality gun is nothing to be afraid of. You both will be able to shoot it, they look great, are classic, and you'll never grow out of them.

[RayPDA]

loading a BPS for trap...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvM4GmBAfYY

Older models will also have the cutoff switch as well - my old field model did and it was easy to load once I got some practice in.

I'm a lefty as well, and my first shotgun as a kid was a 20ga 870 express (standard right hand eject)

actually, in most situations, a right hand pump or semi is fine for a lefty, as long as the stock is not cast for a right hander.

I would suggest finding a good used BPS, or RH (or LH) 870 wingmaster for under $500 and have some fun

An Ithaca 37 (older used model) would be great too, especially for hunting.

[XVIga_Rob]

thanks Im left eye dominant determined that it my hunter saftery class. Why are bottom ejectors a pain for trap/skeet?

Don't worry about eye dominance. You should be keeping both eyes open when shooting a shotgun. When mounted, the gun should point to where you look.
A lot of lefties have learned to adapt to using guns made for a righty. Obviously, if you can afford a left handed model, that would be the best choice. If not, pick up a right hand model and learn to shoot it. You can change the safety from right hand to left hand on the 870's, and probably other models as well.
Don't be affraid to look at a used gun. There are plenty of great used guns out there to be had for a good price.