Background: I want to get my female counterpart a shotgun for Christmas so she can shoot skeet and dove hunt with me, but I need some input on models to look at. I know Christmas is a ways away, but the reason I'm asking about this so early is so I can have plenty of time to put a little bit of $$ away each month between now and then. I also need to narrow down what model to go with so I know how much to save.

Requirements: She can handle my Remmy 870 decently well and shoots it very well, but she can't shoot it for long. The recoil begins to hurt her shoulder and the gun starts getting heavy. So my two goals for her gun are as lightweight and as low recoil as possible. I'm assuming that based on this, a semi-auto 20 gauge is the best option. The problem is I know nothing about semi-autos, and there are a ton of options. Wood stock is a pretty firm requirement also.

Budget: Pretty open. I'm a buy once, cry once type. This will also be a gun that my future children can learn to shoot with. I'm wanting a pretty good quality, so my preference is something along the lines of the 3 B's. Browning, Beretta, and Benelli.

Help me out OB. What models should I be looking at?

Remington 1100LT 20. The end.

Benilli M2.

Expensive but one of the best shooting, lightest, lowest recoil, highest quality 20s on the market.

I will second the Benelli but I will suggest the Benelli Montefeltro. Gun feels super lightweight (to me) and very little kick. Is quite pricey though but a marvelous gun to shoot.

hatever you chose, get the target lighter loads in 20 gauge. It will reduce the recoil quite a bit.

RST makes a good light weight 20 gauge shell but i think it is only available online

http://rstshells.com/rst_classic_shotshells_shotshells.htm

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I will second the Benelli but I will suggest the Benelli Montefeltro. Gun feels super lightweight (to me) and very little kick. Is quite pricey though but a marvelous gun to shoot.

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I buy B&P shotshells for my daughter to shoot with. Much lighter recoil.

Saiga 20!!! Might try a Benelli M2. My girlfriend shoots 12 gauge just fine-- just give her a good semi auto and she will be fine

Browning "Silver Hunter" 20 gauge

Light weight. Looks good. Not too expensive. It's what I dove and quail hunt with.

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So my two goals for her gun are as lightweight and as low recoil as possible.

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You do realize that your two goals are somewhat opposed? The more weight you remove, the more recoil the shooter perceives.

That being said, a good gas-operated shotgun will use a lot of the recoil before it is felt by the shooter, and a good recoil pad/system will help a bit. Also, a correct fit for the shooter will go a long way - get a competent gunsmith to fit her for it.

I'd recommend something like an 1100 or a Beretta 391 if you want to step up. However, the best thing you can do is to find someone with different options she can try out and see what she likes (/standard OB response).

I made a chart to compare some options that meet my criteria so I could compare them all at once. Here's what I have so far. Unfortunately the Benelli M2 doesn't come in a wood stock option, so it did not make the list. Also, the Beretta and Remmington websites suck, so I'm missing a little info in those categories.





Anything else I should be looking at? I guess what I'm going to do next is determine if she is comfortable with a standard length of pull, or if a compact might be better. Once that is determined, that will narrow down the options. The only trouble is I'm gonna have to be sneaky about it because I really want to surprise her with this.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=330735849

My wife can handle my Winchester Super X3 all day long. No problems.

Semi-auto for sure. The cycling will slow the impulse of the recoil, and it will feel like there is less recoil simply because it takes place more slowly.

The lighter it is, the more felt recoil, of course, because the gun accelerates into the shoulder faster if it is less massive compared to the shot, so the lighter you go, you're working in favor of felt recoil.

Find a good balance, but semi-auto is a must.

Go with the montefeltro if you want the woodstock.

Anyone got the weights on a wood v synthetic for those that be listed?

I recommend a Yildiz O/U from Academy for two reasons:

1. I wanted the exact same thing to get my wife to shoot with me - now she shoots with me because the gun has little recoil, it's "pretty" (her words), and it's simple to operate.

2. I love the gun. I bought this as a cheap option for her, and now I shoot it almost every time I go to shoot skeet / sporting clays. It's low recoil, so it allows you to practice fundamentals.

Oh, and did I mention it costs $429?

http://www.franchiusa.com/franchi-48al-shotgun/#


[This message has been edited by tlfw378 (edited 2/25/2013 2:58p).]

caveman, a semi-auto gun of comparable weight to that Yildiz will have less felt recoil because it is absorbing the recoil as it cycles the action...

Remmington 870 youth model

FYI, the last time I checked, my local Academy hadn't seen a Yildiz since midway through dove season last year.

Love my Beretta 686e! Its light, which means you'll feel the recoil a little more. Shoot light loads and you won't have a problem.

I have to agree with AC on this one.

REmington 1100 LT-20 can't be beat.

I've had one since 1982 and it's never jammed or failed to shoot. Barely feel any recoil at all when shooting.

I will suggest the Benelli Montefelatio

FIFY

I have a Remington 1100 that my dad and I bought when I was in 5th grade. We bought it used and had a gunsmith clean it up and make sure it was in good working order. Sometime in high school it started giving me problems. We got it fixed by the gunsmith. A few years later it started having the same problem. It has never shot reliably since, but I haven't really tried to get it fixed again. I'm sure that isn't applicable to the vast majority of Remington 1100's though. It's a very popular gun, and the model has been around longer than I've been alive.

Check out the Browning Maxus (I'm assuming they make one in 20 gauge) It may be lighter than the Silver Hunter. I have the 12 guage, and one of its big selling points is the light recoil. If they can make a 12 guage with that light of recoil, then I can only assume the 20 gauge recoil is non-existent.

Since you're only going to be shooting clays, have you looked into a 28 guage? I don't know much about them, but I do know its a smaller shell. I don't know if they make semi-autos though. They may only come in O/U.

+1 on the Montefeltro. I have the 12 gauge model, and love it. Very light in the field, and surprisingly soft recoil. A very good looking gun, as well.

I own an Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight in 12 gauge. they also make it in 20 gauge. Made in 'Merica too!

I pheasant hunt with a guy that was shooting a Benelli 12 ga Super Black Eagle (II I think). Last year, the 4th year I was hunting with him, he bought a 12 guage Montefeltro. BEAUTIFUL GUN! This guy is a solid 6'2" and has to weigh north of 275. The first day we were hunting, after his first shot he started yelling, "Son of a Beyotch, it kicks! My beautiful new gun kicks!" He was comparing it to his SBE II, but for him to be able to feel the recoil says something. Of course, that's all subjective. Technologically speaking, Benelli advertises their Inertia Driven System, which means the "inertia" of the shot being fired drives the bolt head back to make the action work. Another way to put that would be to say the recoil drives the bolt head back. Benelli advertises this system as being the fastest, cleanest, most light weight. They don't make any claims about soft recoil. A gas powered operating system will have softer recoil. If you're primary focal point is less recoil, which is should be, then I would look at something different than the Benelli Montefeltro.

Yildiz O/U kicks like a mule

Lightweight an low recoil are opposites. An autoloader is a must. The very first post is perfect.

I own a Benelli montefeltro and it would be ideal for what you need in this case.

Beretta 391 Urika

I just bought one in 20. Anywhere near San Antonio? Would be happy to meet up at the SA gun club and let you throw a box through it. It's light and low recoil.

I would say if she is hurting, she isn't mounting the gun properly. My sister shoots Dad's 12 gauge O/U all the time and never complains about pain. But, I have never seen your SO shoot so I cannot confirm nor deny that.

I shoot a Yildiz O/U 20 and a Browning O/U 12... the felt recoil is about the same for me. Read that again before all you internet know it all's respond. Felt recoil is about the same FOR ME.

I would suggest, if you can, to see if you can borrow some guns from friends and let her try them out on a range... see which one she likes best (recoil, LOP, weight, etc...) Keep in mind that lighter weight generally equals more felt recoil...

"Today, we showed the resolve of the United States. Today we made a statement to the world... That you can hit us, you can knock us down, but we're gonna get up. And when we do, we will find you and kick your ass!"
- Robert E Clark II, Cpt USN, Commandant of Midshipmen May 1, 2011

+1 on teh Benelli Montefeltro. light, durable, shoots well, inertia system over gas makes for a cleaner gun to boot.

I think being able to try several different guns is the best option. You may be able to do that at the gun club where you shoot clays. The advice you're getting in this thread is, "get the same gun I have b/c its the best." Including the advice I've given. I know you want this to be a surprise, but it is a big investment. Not only monetarily, but in your future shooting experiences. Its worth letting her pick the gun she likes.

And the Inertia Driven System makes the gun lighter AND causes more recoil!!! Let your SO decide what is more important. Less recoil or a lighter gun.