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Recoil sensitive shotgun advice needed

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 4:34 pm
by Soccerdad1995
A couple months ago, SWMBO mentioned to me a while back that one of her friends got a shotgun from her ex-husband and was very uncomfortable with it. Being the kind soul that I am, I suggested that we have her friend over to the house for a tutorial on gun safety and proper use of the gun, followed by a trip to the range for practical experience. SWMBO has been going back and forth with her friend, and they finally scheduled this Saturday for the occasion, to be followed by dinner.

Both my wife and I are in our 40's, and this whole time I am picturing her friend as someone about our age, but wasn't sure if we are talking about a petite lady or somebody more stout. So I asked my wife the other night whether her friend was a large person. My wife gave me a weird look, and then told me that her friend is a petite lady who happens to have just turned 70. SWMBO assures me that her friend is in good shape for her age with no significant medical issues, etc. I also verified that the shotgun in question is a 12 gauge. And the range I belong to does not allow birdshot. Only buckshot and slugs.

So my question is how to minimize recoil for this lady. I have plenty of standard power 12 gauge shells, and I would custom order the lowest recoil shells I can find, but I need them by Saturday, so will likely need to get whatever I can find at either Academy or Bass Pro. I also have a recoil pad from my 30-06 that may fit her shotgun. Do y'all have any other advice. And do you think that it is a good idea to let her shoot her shotgun at all?

In case you are wondering, my wife has never fired any long guns and has no understanding of recoil, etc. And I was not able to pry any other details out of her about her friend's shotgun. I am picturing a nice heavy full size gun, which should help with recoil but might cause issues with her friend being able to hold the gun properly.

Re: Recoil sensitive shotgun advice needed

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 4:46 pm
by SQLGeek
Aguila Mini Shells, Reduced Recoil or #4 Buckshot might fit the bill.

Why doesn't the range allow bird shot?

Re: Recoil sensitive shotgun advice needed

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 4:58 pm
by Soccerdad1995
SQLGeek wrote:Aguila Mini Shells, Reduced Recoil or #4 Buckshot might fit the bill.

Why doesn't the range allow bird shot?
No idea on the reason for the restriction. I assume it either messes with their backstop or they are worried about ricochets. The mini shells would be an option but I don't think I can get those + adaptor locally and don't have time to have them shipped.

Re: Recoil sensitive shotgun advice needed

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 5:35 pm
by twomillenium
It may be a bit out of the way. but Pasadena Gun Center allows shot guns with birdshot, slugs or buckshot.

Re: Recoil sensitive shotgun advice needed

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:28 pm
by Jusme
The type of 12 gauge will definitely be a factor. Single shot, side by side, over under, etc, will create more felt recoil than a semi auto, or even a pump. The main issue is shoulder placement. I have seen, very small women/girls as well as boys, handle all of those with no issues. Low recoil, and mini shells, will alleviate felt recoil, but if this woman, plans to use her gun for SD, she will need to feel confident shooting it, with any load. Try to find an area, she can shoot without restrictions, on shot, even if it is private property, where she can get comfortable with lighter loads, and practice good habits, with shouldering and aiming, without the pain, and anticipation of recoil.

It may be that 12 gauge, or the type of shotgun, is not suitable for her. You can then reccomend, a different gun, which she could trade for.
It's great that you are willing to help out someone who was obviously not properly trained, and now you have a great opportunity, to show, that it's never too late to learn.

Re: Recoil sensitive shotgun advice needed

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:46 pm
by Crossfire
The PAST recoil pad is a great help, also.
Many of the gun ranges carry them, as well as online retailers, like Amazon.

Re: Recoil sensitive shotgun advice needed

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 7:07 pm
by skeathley
Limb-Saver recoil pad. Game changer.

:thumbs2:

Re: Recoil sensitive shotgun advice needed

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 7:19 pm
by rotor
SQLGeek wrote:Aguila Mini Shells, Reduced Recoil or #4 Buckshot might fit the bill.

Why doesn't the range allow bird shot?
1 1/4 oz of 4 buck at say 1300fps will have the same recoil as 1 1/4 oz slug at 1300 fps won't it? Reduced recoil buck would be fine. My wife is somewhat recoil sensitive and prefers 1 oz shotgun loads but no matter what the label says on Monarch brand she says they kick more than any other.

Re: Recoil sensitive shotgun advice needed

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 7:59 am
by omegaman
Soccerdad:
Your wife and her friend are trusting your judgment. She could very likely have a severe adverse reaction to firing a 12-gauge shotgun for the first time. I suggest you let her try a 20-gauge if you have one. Then, talk her into selling the 12-gauge and buying a 20-gauge. Just my $0.02

Re: Recoil sensitive shotgun advice needed

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 8:19 am
by SQLGeek
rotor wrote:
1 1/4 oz of 4 buck at say 1300fps will have the same recoil as 1 1/4 oz slug at 1300 fps won't it?
Yes it would. And that's a great point. I was thinking of the lower weight #4 Buck loads that would satisfy the requirement of being buckshot while delivering performance more similar to birdshot.

Re: Recoil sensitive shotgun advice needed

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 9:11 am
by C-dub
This all begs the question about what kind of relationship the friend has with her ex-husband. I mean, really, who would give a petite 70 year old woman a 12 gauge shotgun and expect everything to be "okay?" Especially if the woman was not familiar with firearms or at least shotguns and had experience with this one in particular.

Re: Recoil sensitive shotgun advice needed

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 9:17 am
by Soccerdad1995
omegaman wrote:Soccerdad:
Your wife and her friend are trusting your judgment. She could very likely have a severe adverse reaction to firing a 12-gauge shotgun for the first time. I suggest you let her try a 20-gauge if you have one. Then, talk her into selling the 12-gauge and buying a 20-gauge. Just my $0.02
That's a good idea. I don't have anything other than a 12 gauge, unfortunately, but I do have other rifles, including .223 and even .22 caliber. I may also see what the range has available to rent, although I don't think they have many shotguns.

I am planning on bringing my Ruger GP100 along as well. I'll see if this lady is OK with shooting some .38's out of that gun.

Re: Recoil sensitive shotgun advice needed

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 9:36 am
by puma guy
Mini-shells are hard to find and present problems with functioning, though there is an adapter for Mossbergs. Reduced recoil 12 ga buckshot would be my suggestion paired with a good recoil pad. It's not done much any more, but some people used to remove the butt plate from a shotgun and put lead sinkers in the tang bolt hole. It will add weight of course. There are also inertia devices that fit into that hole as well.

Re: Recoil sensitive shotgun advice needed

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 9:40 am
by flechero
Soccerdad1995 wrote: And the range I belong to does not allow birdshot. Only buckshot and slugs.

In this particular case, I'd go to a different range that allowed birdshot. That or use a 28 ga. loaner gun. Do you have a skeet range close by? Maybe a 20 ga with #8 shot target loads.

Re: Recoil sensitive shotgun advice needed

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 9:43 am
by Pariah3j
I might suggest if she has not fired any type of longarms before, get her to shoot something like an AR15 or something first, get her use to good form and handling the gun properly before giving her the 'boom-stick' to shoot