Shotgun???

[KaceCoyote]

I have the double Defense O/U's more practical relative, the Outback. Its an OK shotgun. Fit and finish are good, not amazing. Mechanically it functions with thusfar 100% reliability. With its fixed blade sights, its proven quite capable of providing tight groups out to fifty with rifled slugs. (Tight for a shotgun, so we're talking just over 2 MOA). However the over under does not open much further than the sxs, meaning that unless the thing is physicaly held open it will not allow you to feed the bottom barrel. Thats sort've a big nono for a tactical arm, with strongside reloading and for my intended purpose its entirely GTG. I got mine as a camping companion and hunting gun, its not at all a tactical gun. I like mine plenty, its definitely a keeper!



Heres a picture of mine, and yes it and all that shit fit in that bag. That said, its getting replaced by something semi auto for this season's less awesome adventures. Likely a CZ-712.

As for the little lady, a lot've 20g guns I've fired have recoiled as bad as or worse than a 12g. a lot've the 20g guns out there are much much lighter, and so the comparative felt recoil remains fairly similar between the calibers. I'd look at a single barrel 410 honestly, they're cheap enough that once she's got the idea you can transition to an auto loading 20 or 12.

[Laevatein]

Not sure if it's worth anything to you but I've flip flopping between an 870 and a 500, back and forth, forth and back. After watching a pretty thorough review of both on youtube by someone who actually takes the guns out and uses them I ended up leaning a bit more toward a 590a1. the reviewer was very pro 870, actually 1300 but that's another story but his bullet points, to make a pun, on the two inched me toward the mossberg. I simply liked the ergonomics of the controls better, the thumb safety, the pump release and the raised carrier when the gun is bolt forward meaning you don't have to fight against the carrier to reload.

it was finally settled yesterday when I stopped at a gun store for something else entirely and to see if they had any 870 tacticals in stock, no one ever does, but lo and behold they had the 590a1 and in my desired configuration (8+1, ghost rings, standard stock and corn cob pump). After shouldering it and some sight drills, it left with me.

I'll be at the range tomorrow but today cycling dummys through it and feeding them into it from speed clips, I have to say I'm happy at the moment with my choice.

The 870 is a very very solid choice and all I can really say is shoulder them both in the configurations you like, if you can find an 870 that is, literally there's nothing around herein an 870 but turkey guns but you can fondle a metric asston of 500's (not 590s).

Good choice! The 590A1 is a great shotgun. Its not hard to believe that handling it was what sold you on it. It just feels.... tight... The tactical HD 870s also feel very nice in form but in a working situation I too prefer the feel of the 590A1. Better stock sights go to the 590 as well (and the extra shell capacity doesnt hurt).

Nine in the tube, and one in the chamber works very well for me... no choke BS, just CB. Just make sure someone doesn't sell you a standard 590.
Unless is has a metal trigger action, and safety,,, it's not an A1

[Tperkins]

Okay so I thought I posted this already but apparently I havent...

Has she ever tried a 12 gauge, or more importantly a 12 gauge with low-recoil buckshot? In the comparison testing I have done, it's very possible that felt recoil was about 20-40 percent less, as close as I could possibly calculate it. I let tinyang and summerzepyhr (I think her) shoot it when we were at the range, and they both felt the low-recoil rounds were very manageable, and they could definetley feel an (uncomfortable) increase in recoil with regular Federal Buckshot over the Fiocci Low-Recoil LE rounds I had as well. If possible, I would try to get some of the low recoil rounds and a 12 gauge shotgun with good buttpad, and see if that alleviates any issues you may have. I went through about 30-40 rounds of low recoil buck in about an hour with absololutely no discomfort, but after about 5-10 rounds of regular buck it started to get a little uncomfortable.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

At 100lb, she might have more of an issue swinging an 8lb gun around (most tacticool'd scatterguns) than a lighter-weight 20ga. I feel a difference in the recoil between 12 and 20, but not much. I was thinking weight and handling, similar to how my mother can swing my AR like a pro, but struggles and hunches with my AK. The weight difference is 2lb with both guns unloaded.

My advice is take her window-shopping at Cabelas or summat first and see if she finds something that feels more natural in terms of balance and swing, and then work on gauge, load, and accoutrements.

I'll echo Kace on the O/U option, both for badass points and ease of handling, and the weight will be lower than a pump or semi. The 2 round capacity will be a handicap though.

[Tperkins]

At 100lb, she might have more of an issue swinging an 8lb gun around (most tacticool'd scatterguns) than a lighter-weight 20ga. I feel a difference in the recoil between 12 and 20, but not much. I was thinking weight and handling, similar to how my mother can swing my AR like a pro, but struggles and hunches with my AK. The weight difference is 2lb with both guns unloaded.

My advice is take her window-shopping at Cabelas or summat first and see if she finds something that feels more natural in terms of balance and swing, and then work on gauge, load, and accoutrements.

I'll echo Kace on the O/U option, both for badass points and ease of handling, and the weight will be lower than a pump or semi. The 2 round capacity will be a handicap though.

Yeah, I guess I never thought about what the weight differences may be. Now, life or death, the weight might not be super noticeable, but I guess it depends on the person.

[Visionz]

Well if you haven't gotten one yet. I would suggest an auto for your GF.
The gas pistons in auto shotguns seem to lessen the recoil tremendously. I am no shotgun guru, but that has been my experience.

[KaceCoyote]

At 100lb, she might have more of an issue swinging an 8lb gun around (most tacticool'd scatterguns) than a lighter-weight 20ga. I feel a difference in the recoil between 12 and 20, but not much. I was thinking weight and handling, similar to how my mother can swing my AR like a pro, but struggles and hunches with my AK. The weight difference is 2lb with both guns unloaded.

My advice is take her window-shopping at Cabelas or summat first and see if she finds something that feels more natural in terms of balance and swing, and then work on gauge, load, and accoutrements.

I'll echo Kace on the O/U option, both for badass points and ease of handling, and the weight will be lower than a pump or semi. The 2 round capacity will be a handicap though.

Yeah, I guess I never thought about what the weight differences may be. Now, life or death, the weight might not be super noticeable, but I guess it depends on the person.

a 410 SxS or O/U would be an easy pick, they're cheap and they remain utilitarian no matter your skill level. Great gun for squirrel!

[jeremy1391]

I have a mossberg 590 and my wife has a 18.5" barrel youth model 500, both in 12GA and to compensate for recoil and what not we use low recoil buck and slugs. for practice and what not we use 100 round low brass bulk packs of bird shot from wal-mart.... it only took her about one afternoon of shooting to comfortably handle my 590.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

At 100lb, she might have more of an issue swinging an 8lb gun around (most tacticool'd scatterguns) than a lighter-weight 20ga. I feel a difference in the recoil between 12 and 20, but not much. I was thinking weight and handling, similar to how my mother can swing my AR like a pro, but struggles and hunches with my AK. The weight difference is 2lb with both guns unloaded.

My advice is take her window-shopping at Cabelas or summat first and see if she finds something that feels more natural in terms of balance and swing, and then work on gauge, load, and accoutrements.

I'll echo Kace on the O/U option, both for badass points and ease of handling, and the weight will be lower than a pump or semi. The 2 round capacity will be a handicap though.

Yeah, I guess I never thought about what the weight differences may be. Now, life or death, the weight might not be super noticeable, but I guess it depends on the person.

Have you ever played with an ungodly-front heavy gun? I just ask because weight is a big issue come life or death. Once I figured out why Moma Doc couldn't swing my 9-lb AK, I put her on the AR and she was doing the Generation Kill with the best of them. It's less about weight than balance. Those of smaller frame and shorter arms often do well with bullpups, due to the weight balance and decrease swing.

I have fond memories of a Benelli Somethingerother in 20ga (there was also a 12ga model) that, while not tactical, was a dream to handle solely because there was nothing up front that didn't need to be. Unexpected doubles on a clays shoot? No problem.

[FatBoba]

How about a Benelli M4? That thing is a shooting machine. And it shoots pretty soft, unless you put 3 inch turkey loads in there. Ouch! Put an adjustable stock on it, you're good to go. Your pocket book might not be afterwards though.