Sister wants her first shotgun... Need help

[T-SULLI]

Hey guys! Well my sister has decided that she wants to get a shotgun with her Christmas money and I could use some help. I am not a shotgun expert so I thought I would rely on your expertise. If she had asked me about AR's it would have been a different story haha.

Here are her criteria...
20 gauge
synthetic
pump
wants to hunt with it
wants it for home defense
wants to shoot clays with it

Basically she is looking for a one shotgun does it all kind of thing. To me, some of these criteria are slightly in conflict with each other but that is just how I like to run my setups I guess...

So far I have looked at some of the obvious stuff like the 870's or the 500's but I am stumped as to what model would be a good all around shotgun for her. Any and all help is appreciated!

[olhunter]

How much does she have to spend?

She'll have trouble with some clays using a pump.

A nice semi-auto would fit the bill and you can get one for $500-ish with 2 barrels.

But if she really wants a pump, the Combos they sell at Big 5 are decent for a beginner. With a shorter barrel for HD.

[BLKFJDC]

I got my wife who is 5'2 90lbs the Big 5 12 guage Mossberg Combo. Swapped out the Stock for Hogue Short LOP and she loves it. If I remember correctly it was around $425 out the door including the stock.

[T-SULLI]

How much does she have to spend?

She'll have trouble with some clays using a pump.

A nice semi-auto would fit the bill and you can get one for $500-ish with 2 barrels.

But if she really wants a pump, the Combos they sell at Big 5 are decent for a beginner. With a shorter barrel for HD.

I think she wants a pump because that is what she has always seen me shoot. I have a Winchester 1300 that I got like 15 years ago. I tried suggesting a semi-auto but she didn't bite.

At what point would you want to change the barrel length from home defense to hunting? What is the shortest barrel commonly used for hunting?

Also around 500 would be the upper limit of what she wants to spend.

I never realized how little I knew about shotguns. All of my energy has always gone into handguns and rifles. I have a lot of catching up to do!

[T-SULLI]

I got my wife who is 5'2 90lbs the Big 5 12 guage Mossberg Combo. Swapped out the Stock for Hogue Short LOP and she loves it. If I remember correctly it was around $425 out the door including the stock.

That's another thing... I tried convincing her to bump up to the 12 gauge (more options) but she feels like that would be too much for her. So we are kinda stuck looking for a 20 gauge which limits our options a little bit I think.

[olhunter]

...At what point would you want to change the barrel length from home defense to hunting?

Just before you load up the truck to go hunting....lol

What is the shortest barrel commonly used for hunting?

26 - 30" is most common. You can hunt with the HD barrel, but your range will be limited because the pattern will open up earlier.

[Bill Steele]

Sounds like she knows exactly what she wants.

[T-SULLI]

Just before you load up the truck to go hunting....lol

HAHA!

[Revoman]

With a pump, you get all of the recoil. A semi-auto is the way to go. Less recoil, easy to use. Easy to learn on....just gotta pick up yer empty hulls!

[Canucky]

Start looking for an older 20 ga wingmaster?

[ciwhite]

I've seen mossberg combo's in both 12 and 20 advertised from Big5. Just got check ad's weekly.

[MrMarco]

Can't go wrong with a Mossberg 500. If she's smaller in stature, they sell a bantam model. You can pick them up for around $300.

[MrMarco]

PS, please post pictures of your sister.

[Euphoria526]

I'd suggest a semi as well. A TON less recoil to manage.

[Friar5119]

You can hunt with the HD barrel, but your range will be limited because the pattern will open up earlier.

The barrel length does not affect the pattern assuming the same choke is used. The length of barrel affects how smooth the swing is.