Daughter wants to shoot skeet

[Incitatus]

or trap or sporting clays.  She surprised the hell out of me over Winter break.  First she, out of the blue, said she wanted to learn to shoot and to get a carry permit.  Oooooooooooooookay.  No problems there. Then a last week she said "I want to shoot those thing that go in the air"  I said "Skeet?" she said "Yeah, I think I could get good at that".


Anyway,  I'd like to get her something to start off with.  Not 12ga.  I figure that she can use whatever I get until she figures out what she really likes.  Someone suggested 20ga auto loader.


Thoughts?


ps we'll get her lessons with someone who knows what they are talking about, not me.

[BUGEYE]

A 20ga auto with light skeet loads would suit her fine.   be proud, there a shortage of girls like that.

[curteric]

Incitatus:
When my wife decided that she wanted to shoot Sporting Clays with me she went to Shotgun World. She spent some time reading the woman's section. Shotgun fit is more important than anything else. She ended up with 2, 12ga. A Benelli Sport, and a Remington 1100. Then had them fitted. Here is a link to the womens section of Shotgun World. Also a link to about the same question you asked.
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewforum.php?f=9&sid=7ccaeb45df7b037aa5d8de0d25b3b992
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=275290

[spruce]

Remington 1100 in 20ga or 12ga.
The 20 ga would be fine for skeet, but 12 ga would break more targets in trap or sporting clays.
 
They're one of the softest shooting shotguns ever made.  With light target loads there's not a whole lot of difference in recoil between the 12 and 20, either is very comfortable for the average person.
More important is making sure the gun fits her and has a good recoil pad on it.  Good gun fit will lessen the perceived recoil and also break a lot more targets.

[Bugflipper]

I would say 12 ga in an 1100. She can shoot 7/8 oz loads if 1 or 1 1/8 are to heavy, but doubt they would be. You can drop a 12 shell down in weight to that of a 20. But you can't get the shot column out of a 20 that a 12 will deliver. I use a 28 ga most of the time for everything these days. So not a bigger is better type guy. But for a new shooter success is very important. While a 20 wont stack odds against her. A 12 does give an advantage even with the same weight load. As spruce stated, there aren't many softer recoiling guns than the 1100. Stick a limbsaver style pad on it and 1 1/8 oz shells will kick less than 3/4 oz shells from a 20. Assuming she hasn't shot, or has shot very little a recoil shield may be another viable option if she doesn't care for the push. I doubt that she would have an issue though. My wife is small and shoots a 12 ga 1100 with just a plastic butt and has never complained of a sore shoulder with skeet.

[SHOOTALL]

Remington 1100 in 20ga or 12ga.
The 20 ga would be fine for skeet, but 12 ga would break more targets in trap or sporting clays.
 
They're one of the softest shooting shotguns ever made.  With light target loads there's not a whole lot of difference in recoil between the 12 and 20, either is very comfortable for the average person.
More important is making sure the gun fits her and has a good recoil pad on it.  Good gun fit will lessen the perceived recoil and also break a lot more targets.

all true , would add a 12 with the stock cut to fit weighs a tad more than a 20 which will help tame recoil. If you sgoot 7/8 oz loads in the 12 in many cases it kicks less than a 20 . Also the bigger foot print of the 12ga stock  , even when cut off spreads recoil. And when needed you can step up to 1 or 1 1/8 oz loads . Also try a 21 inch bbl. for her. BTW if you get a stock cut get someone to cut it that can fit a lady it makes a big difference to her. And Ithica is making a pump for ladys with proper stock deminsions .

[Incitatus]

Hey, thanks everybody.


We'll be moving to Myakka City Fla soon and I will join the club there.  I figure springing for some lessons is probably a good first step.  She can see what works, and even if this is a sport for her.  When she gets the basics down I'll see about buying her her own gun.


Thanks again guys.

[Savage .250]

20 ga is fine .Smaller pattern though.  Re-Think the 12 ga.   You can buy low base loads or re-duced loads . Not as bad as you might think.   Course,she`s the one going to shoot it.   

[FPH]

One word......MEC.

[dukkillr]

Many of the above are right.  You're better with reduced 12 than standard 20.  I bought my wife a Benelli SBE II which has a kind of recoil pad built into the cheek piece of the stock.  It really works.  Slick gun.  She's killed ducks, turkeys, and down to doves and skeet...
 
I'm a die hard pump guy, but when I hurt my shoulder last year during duck season I finished the season shooting her gun.  I've got a safe full of guns... that benelli is the best combination of light weight, light kick, smooth action, and adult level killing power.

[Incitatus]

I have a Franchi 48/al that I got from a friends family after he died.  Perhaps that with a light load, at least to start.