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Posted: 3/29/2026 9:31:10 AM EDT
| We used to shoot a lot of clays years ago but haven't in 20yrs or more. I have a few hundred 20ga shotshells to get her started but still need to buy her a shotgun. She's a petite so I think she'll likely need a youth model or something with a shorter stock. What's a fairly inexpensive route to take to get her out back busting clays? I honestly don't think she'd care if it was semi or pump. I've always just used my old 870. |
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I bought a youth 20 ga Benelli M2 Field for a female; she loves it albeit from a limited experience standpoint. I somewhat regret getting the 20 since the shells are so much harder to find and $$$$$/$$$$$ when you do, but it sounds like you have that base covered, at least for a while. |
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No rules today, sport…just orders.
It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.
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should be able to get a youth Mossberg marverick 88 for about $250 at Academy seen them cheaper on local hunting forums (like 180), as well as an SXP for 220 keep an eye out for o/u Yildiz too |
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Wife shoots a 11-87 20 gauge. I really like that gun Might want to check out some used shotguns if you have any pawn shops around. The pawn shops in town always have shotguns |
I was born in Birkenhead and I was poor , I was dressed from the local army and navy store and I can tell you its no fun going to school dressed as a Japanese admiral-UKjohn
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Originally Posted By dphill: Wife shoots a 11-87 20 gauge. I really like that gun Might want to check out some used shotguns if you have any pawn shops around. The pawn shops in town always have shotguns Good luck, I've been keeping my eye out for one of those too. I did get lucky and found an 870 Wingmaster in 20 gauge recently , but no 1100s. |
“Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a 10mm at your side, kid.”
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I would stay away from a pump, they are usually light and aren't as soft shooting during the summer when you're wearing a light shirt. Nice O/U shotguns are expensive so that leaves a nice auto. What's your budget? If it's around a grand look at a Beretta A300 or one of the Franchi autos. If you want to bump it up a bit more the Beretta A400 20ga is a really sweet gun or get a basic Benelli M2 or Montefeltro. ETA. The Winchester SX4 is supposed to be a nice gun but I'm not sure on their youth or sub gauge offerings. |
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A Friend has a nice TriStar over under and my Grandson got a TriStar pump from his other grandpa for Christmas. The Grandson has a Benelli Nova 20 gauge pump youth model which has worked out really well. TriStar sell a 20 gauge O/U for $500 I would consider. https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/347636/98732/tristar-upland-hunter-20-gauge-over-under-shotgun- |
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Semi auto is the way to go IMO. It’s easier to pick up and just send it. My wife hated it using an 870, combine that with having to be outside and it was a non-starter. I set her up with a semi-auto and it changed everything for her. It was much softer recoil and she didn’t have to worry about short stroking the gun like with a pump action. It was just a lot easier for her to get into and just have fun. She started with my old gen one 1301 tactical. We tried a O/U but she is recoil sensitive. Even in 20ga it was too much. We got her a Beretta A400 Xplor Action 20ga which she loves. It shoots very soft, the 26” barrel swings nice as well. She is in a ladies league at our local club which has a massive indoor field which was a huge plus. I didn’t marry an outdoorsy girl so compromises had to be made. https://governorsgunclub.com/indoor-shotgun-field/ |
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Originally Posted By dphill: Wife shoots a 11-87 20 gauge. I really like that gun Might want to check out some used shotguns if you have any pawn shops around. The pawn shops in town always have shotguns The "11-87 compact", with shorter LOP stock and shorter barrel, is a perfect shotgun for petite people (including kids). Sadly, they're like hens' teeth these days, and if you find one, they're priced accordingly. 
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Last year I bought a youth CZ 720 and it is nice to shoot. I'm hoping that at least one of my daughters will end up liking it. They come with a set of five chokes as well (my only complaint is that it doesn't come with a skeet choke, its C/IC/M/IM/F)
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“Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a 10mm at your side, kid.”
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Originally Posted By Vague: Appreciate all of the insight. She's going try and get her hands on a Franchi Affinity or a CZ for a test drive. If over-unders are your thing, the reduced-length CZs (quail and redhead) are even lighter than the 720 youth, and the redhead has a shorter OAL than the 720 reduced length. And IME, a shorter OAL is much more productive for petite people than just a weight reduction, so double-win. |
| As others mentioned keep in mind a light field 20ga can have as much recoil as a 12ga. My wife finally settled on a browning 20ga cx. We shoot a lot of clays and she is very happy with it. You’ll spend a couple thousand but it’ll hold up and you can probably get most of your money back out of it should you decide to sell it. |
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