SHOTGUN SUGGESTIONS

[BETH]

Josh its too heavy for me

[JLA]

That might be an issue then.. Let me think..

You may have to go with an O/U. Probably a purpose built 20 ga as they will be lighter and slimmer than a 12. I did some work on an older Beretta O/U a week or so ago for a guy. It was perfectly built for a lady shooter. Had a raised cheek and everything and extremely trim at the wrist. Whole thing with 26" tubes weighed about 5 pounds.

You could always consider going with a shorter barrel. General consensus on shotguns for sporting competition have at least 28" barrels but it Just isnt the case nowadays. Propellants are so much more efficient and load components too that you can get excellent performance from a short barreled shotgun. I shoot clays with a 20" SXS and a 19" pump. both 12 gauges, and do pretty well.

If you took that 1100 and had the barrel shortened to 20 or 22" and the chokes re-installed youd easily shave a pound or so off the weight and it would help the balance tremendously.

Point im getting at here is its very difficult for a small stature shotgunner such as yourself to get into the sport cost effectively. You will most likely need some custom fitting to realize your full performance potential and that can get very pricey. Sticking with the rem 1100 if you can will keep the less expensive aftermarket parts available to you, and help keep you on the line shooting clay birds.

How is it heavy to you Beth?? Muzzle heavy? or just heavy overall?

[aa1911]

my skeet buddy shoots a tube gun O/U that has a custom built stock, it's got a slip on external piece and it's got a recoil dampener inside; shooting full power 12g tubes in it, feels like a 28g or less.

If you can find an Ithica model 37 in 20g, those things are super light, lightest pump I've ever held.

If you're not objected to a .410, I have a Verona LX 501 that is very light but well balanced and is a fantastic skeet gun. I think they're about $1200 or so new if you can find one. There's a nice Russian .410 O/U out there that is around $600 I think.

[aa1911]

I guess my point initially was to say that I will ask my buddy this Thursday what the name of the place was that did his stock; I think somewhere in AZ? It wasn't cheap but it really is amazing. Sounds like weight is more the issue though?

[BETH]

it seemed muzzle heavy they told me to try a youth 1100? the other two i picked up were fine

[aa1911]

the autos will be a bit heavier than their respective pump counterparts. but a pump is not really the 'preferred' gun for skeet (unless you ask me!)

I would look at the youths for certain, smaller and lighter overall. 20g will certainly shave some more weight off as well and is common enough to shoot on the cheap. it's ridiculous that .410 and 28 are so expensive.

[BETH]

I will have someone show me skeet and then have someone show me trap and try different shotguns then decide i think i am jumping the gun. why don't they have ranges where u can try out shotguns?????????

[aa1911]

the place I shoot at has all kinds of guns, pumps, autos and over unders, mostly 12 and some 20g's. Maybe worth travelling to another range for a day that offers rentals. Most folks are agreeable to letting someone try their gun though too, I never have an issue sharing my boomstick with someone who either doesn't have one yet or forgot theirs.

If my regular skeet buddies don't show, I have no issue walking up to anyone on the range and butting into whatever they're shooting and never had anyone turn me down unless of course they're already at 5 capacity. (and even then I've been invited in to shoot)

[gun runner]

I would go with a Semi Auto 12 Gauge. That way you wont get your arm tired out from a pump shotgun

[JLA]

your arm doesnt get tired. you pump on recoil, thus using the inertia of the shotgun recoiling rearward to do most of the pumping. A practiced pump shotgunner can sling shot just as quickly and accurately as an autoloader.

Beth.. I thought you did get the Youth. I hadnt even fathomed you getting ahold of a full sized 1100. A youth 20 ga will be perfect for you. They are smaller and lighter.

[aa1911]

yeah, the pump action doesn't wear ya out at all, it's holding the gun up; so pump or auto, won't make much difference. O/U's tend to be a bit more balanced with more weight up front, makes for a smoother and less herky jerky swing.

on my 870 express, I put a Choate 5 rd extension tube, it puts enough weight up front that it feels like an over under and helps control the swing, making it smooth and consistent. (and it's 9 +1, yikes!)

I think a youth 20g would be great also.

[BETH]

i did not get anything yet the one i held was a full size i will ask others to try theirs and borrow the 1100 youth don't want to get anything until i try it just asking alot of questions because i don't know anything about a shotgun and i know everyone will help as always

[gvw3]

I just picked up a Ruger Red Label 12 over and under. It was this or a Beretta but I couldn't bring myself to spend $2000 on a shotgun. Got the Ruger for half that.

Can't wait to try it this weekend. It came with the wrong choke's for trap but I have them on order. That cost me $80.

[myfriendis410]

Originally Posted by JLA

your arm doesnt get tired. you pump on recoil, thus using the inertia of the shotgun recoiling rearward to do most of the pumping. A practiced pump shotgunner can sling shot just as quickly and accurately as an autoloader.

Beth.. I thought you did get the Youth. I hadnt even fathomed you getting ahold of a full sized 1100. A youth 20 ga will be perfect for you. They are smaller and lighter.

In point of fact; a good pump-gunner is FASTER than an auto. I've seen it numerous times. A REALLY good shotgunner could shoot a broomstick and beat most of us! My best friend went to a local Sporting Clays shoot (with some really good shooters present) using an 870 Express 20 ga. with a mod choke. As a joke, he dragged the gun by the buttstock behind him to each station--and won the shoot!

[aa1911]

yep, pumps can be faster than autos!

station 7 doubles, I make both targets dissapear with my 870 in about .3 sec for both. working with the shot timer last time, I put the 870 and the 590 to the test, averaging about .21 sec splits on a pump for 8 rounds each. almost 5 shots a second!

[gvw3]

I just got this shotgun. It's a Ruger Red Label 12 gauge. It was made in 1999. Like new condition. Came with the wrong chokes for trap but I have a full and IP on order. Will try it out this weekend...

[JonnyBigBoss]

I love my Mossberg 590. Give it a look.