410 gauge for HD

[OkieDokie1982]

My wife just can't shoot my 870 12gauge. I was thinking of getting a 410 pump for her, something she can handle and not be afraid of knocking her shoulder out of socket. any suggestions? oh and it has to be a 18" barrel (no reason for a 24" barrel for HD). She is small 5'4" 110 lbs.
let me know what you think

 

[SMS]

Why drop all the way down to .410?

Have you tried a 20 guage yet?

 

[Larry Morgan]

Can she shoot the 12 gauge at all? What I'm getting at, is if she can shoot it controllably and accurately and it just hurts, you may not want to back it down. In a situation where you think your life is on the line, shoulder pain won't even register.
Also, you could check out some reduced recoil loads if you haven't already.

If it's just flat out too much recoil for her to handle, then I'd back it down some. Like SMS said, I probably wouldn't jump all the way down to .410.

 

[Calamity Jake]

Every 20ga I've ever shot kicks more than a 12. The 410 would work,

BUT

The stock/gun needs to fit her small frame, any gage is going to kick her wrong if the stock doesn,t fit her properly

Take her to a gun club(oil capitol gun club in Tulsa) that has a trap/skeet range and get someone to teach her how to hold/mount the gun. They should have shotguns that will fit her better.

 

[OkieDokie1982]

Can she shoot the 12 gauge at all? What I'm getting at, is if she can shoot it controllably and accurately and it just hurts, you may not want to back it down. In a situation where you think your life is on the line, shoulder pain won't even register.
Also, you could check out some reduced recoil loads if you haven't already.

If it's just flat out too much recoil for her to handle, then I'd back it down some. Like SMS said, I probably wouldn't jump all the way down to .410.

to answer the first question no she hasn't had the opportunity to shoot a 20 gauge and for the second question
my 870 with extended mag tube is too heavy for her/ the length of pull is too far for her/ the recoil is too much for her to handle. No she cant control it or is she accurate

 

[dieseltech09]

I would try an adjustable Knoxx recoil reducing stock with some Managed-Recoil Buckshot buckshot.

 

[daugbl5]

or a youth 870 20 gauge. you can get one of those cheap and if it dont work then let me know and I will buy it from you lol

 

[SMS]

Try an 870 youth model 870 with reduced recoil buck....fits my wife nicely and she's small statured. She'll shoot that and a single shot 20 all day with regular, and even 3" loads, but the 12 is just a bit over the line for her.

 

[Hobbes]

A .410 shotgun for HD as opposed to what? That's the question.

The .410 with slugs is in the same ballpark as a large caliber handgun as far as effectiveness goes.
If she shoots it better than a handgun then that's a valid choice IMO.

 

[SMS]

A .410 shotgun for HD as opposed to what? That's the question.

He kinda answered that already...as opposed to a 12 guage.