Help with shotgun

[2glock3]

I would like to purchase a shotgun in the near future. I'm not sure of I want a 12 or 20 gauge. I hear most will be in favor of the 12g. I'm not a big guy. 5'6" about a buck 40. My buddy has a moss 500 and it feels too long. My arms are stretched holding it. I do see there are different stock available, lower recoil rounds, and other add ons if needed to accommodate any shooter. Depending on the gun you get.

My question is, is their anyone willing help me out ftf? I have not shot a shotgun since I was much younger.

I live in Woodland and would be willing to drive into Sac of needed.

I will be looking for a hd gun when I find one that fits me. I prefer a used one because I probably won't be shooting it much.

Thanks.

[MoltoMario]

I'm 5"4 and about 100lbs. I love my Benelli M4! . You should see me shoot slugs outta it! I bet it looks pretty comical haha

[Pistolgrip Pump]

You'll be fine man. Like you said, there are many things that can affect the recoil of the gun. I don't know how much you're willing to spend, but I have a mossberg 590a1 and that thing absorbs recoil very well, mainly because its heavy. I have the "20 but I know they offer an 18.5" one. A heavy barrel will also help with recoil.

[actium31]

I put the Magpul SGA on my 870. It's great because the stock has four removable spacer plates on the end. each are about .5 inches thick, so if you pull them all out, you remove 2 inches from the over all length. with the 18.5 in. barrel, it becomes very easy to handle. also, the recoil pad is extremely forgiving.

[Thefeeder]

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Read a bit.....learn a bit

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=425953

[2glock3]

Read a bit.....learn a bit

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=425953

I did see that thread and I am reading it again.

I guess I need to decide which gauge I want and then figure out which gun to get. Thanks all.

[shellslinger]

I'm about your specs, 5' 6" 140lbs as well. When I first got my 20" 590a1, I got used to holding it but still felt I was overextending myself. I switched over to a Hogue 13" LOP stock for my Mossberg. It feel's great in my hands now and I don't feel like I'm overextending myself.

You'll be fine with either 12 or 20. I'd get a 12.

[O'Brien]

I put the Magpul SGA on my 870. It's great because the stock has four removable spacer plates on the end. each are about .5 inches thick, so if you pull them all out, you remove 2 inches from the over all length. with the 18.5 in. barrel, it becomes very easy to handle. also, the recoil pad is extremely forgiving.

Bought that and the MagPul Forend and I love both. Worth the money for any 870 if you ask me.

[penguinofsleep]

easiest thing is to put a kick-eez pad on the end to kill recoil. they come in many shapes/sizes to fit almost any stock. absorbs more recoil than limbsaver. hogue makes 12 and 13" lop stocks for 870/500 also if you need to cut down LOP but want a quality item that is cheap.

other thing would be magpul SGA, but it isn't going to get that short. it also looks tacky imo but it definitely works for me.

last thing i see sometimes is the mesa tactical recoil reduction kit with the endinine recoil reduction buffer in the adjustable stock. this costs a bit more though. i have this but if i were to do it over, id go with the SGA (if this is for home defense) to save money, this system isn't $200+ better than the SGA for me (~225 or 250 kit, 30 new pistol grip, 55/60 for magpul moe stock). a friend disagrees. got the kit thinking it'd be fine, but the hogue ar grip it came with was not comfortable for my hands (love hogue ak grips though) and the m4 stock wobbled a lot and the plastic wasn't grippy at all and slid around after every shot.

[jbj]

Technique helps a ton. I'm your size, but have slightly longer arms for our type. When I took a couple of classes from Kent Turnipseed years ago, he showed me how to position my body and hold the gun (Benelli M1) and launch 1oz magnum slugs out of it as fast as I could pull the trigger and keep everything in an 8" circle at 20 yards. He could do it standing on one leg!

My point is that just throwing it up on your shoulder and firing will get lead down range, but to be effective, you have to learn how to do it right. A stock fitted to you, with a thick recoil pad will do wonders. And remember, low recoil ammo isn't for sissies, it's for pros who want to put effective hits on target.

[jbj]

Technique helps a ton. I'm your size, but have slightly longer arms for our type. When I took a couple of classes from Kent Turnipseed years ago, he showed me how to position my body and hold the gun (Benelli M1) and launch 1oz magnum slugs out of it as fast as I could pull the trigger and keep everything in an 8" circle at 20 yards. He could do it standing on one leg!

My point is that just throwing it up on your shoulder and firing will get lead down range, but to be effective, you have to learn how to do it right. A stock fitted to you, with a thick recoil pad will do wonders. And remember, low recoil ammo isn't for sissies, it's for pros who want to put effective hits on target.

[2glock3]

It looks like I will be waiting a while for my shotgun purchase. I refuse to pay gunbroker prices and will wait til the masses calm down. That doesn't mean that if a good deal falls in my lap I will let it go. I just picked a bad time to start looking. Thanks for the help all.

This will give me a chance to look more thoroughly and make a choice.

[Bill Steele]

My recommendation would be to follow your friend and get a 12ga Mossberg 500. I would put a stock watch on the Gun Genie and get the Field and Security combo (54169), which comes with an 18.5" defensive barrel and a 28" field barrel (in case you want to give some clays a try). It has a wood stock which is really easy to cut down for a LOP adjustment. When you get the email that the gun is in stock at Davidson's, request the quote and pick the bidding local gunshop that offers good gunsmith services, even if you have to pay a few bucks more at that shop.

Take the magazine plug out and you have 5+1, plenty for any HD situation. Take it to a gunsmith and have him fit you to the stock, likely something close to an overall 13" LOP will work pretty well for you. When you have the smith adjust the LOP, have him install one of the really good recoil pads like a kickez or limbsaver. For HD use Remington Managed Recoil 00 Buckshot. You are done for home defense.

Learn to put the 28" barrel on (takes about 30 seconds) and find a local clays range. Find an instructor, take a few lessons until you are breaking some clays, get really comfortable shooting the only shotgun you will ever need. Note, I didn't say the only shotgun you will ever own, at least if you follow the last bit of advice.

Good luck, have fun.