Recommend my first shotgun

[sarahbn]

I'm not a big person and I have really stubby arms, so that I don't feel comfy handling a regular adult size 12 gauge shotgun. I've tried my friend's shotgun and I have to hold my arms all the way out to hold it up, it wears my arms out just to hold it up like that, and I can't work the pump action very well. But I don't want a kids' shotgun, I want a grownups' one. And I know virtually nothing about shotguns other than that I want to get one, primarily for fun at the moment but eventually (as I work my way up to it) for hunting. Can you knowledgeable guys fill me in on what brands are good to get, what kinds of features would make the shotgun suitable for my stubby arms (shorter stock maybe?), and anything else I might need to know to ask about so I don't walk into a gun store being completely ignorant? Thanks in advance.

[UtahJarhead]

You might be a perfect candidate for the KelTec KSG. It's SUPPOSED to be hitting the market sometime very soon, but it's SHORT, holds a ton of ammo, and not very heavy.

[Paul]

Look at the youth Mossberg 20 gauge. They are adjustable for length of pull (think length from stock to trigger).
http://www.mossberg.com/images/Mossberg ... /54210.jpg
MOssberg 500 super bantam.

[Snowman]

I'd look at a remington 870, a mossberg 500 or 590, and the winchester 1200 series. There are TONS of aftermarket stocks and things for the 870 and the 500/590. You can get a recoil absobing, adjustable stock. Blackhawk makes one, I think. But if you have a larger budget, look at semiautos. Some of them have stock that can be shortened quite a bit. Some, like the mossberg 930, can't be shortend, because they have a buffertube style thingamabob that extends behind the reciever.

+1 on the KSG. But... you won't be able to find one under 1,000 dollars on gunbroker for another 2 years... I'm number 1 on a waiting list for one... and nobody has seen one in Utah yet, that I can find.

[MarshallDodge]

Look at the youth Mossberg 20 gauge. They are adjustable for length of pull (think length from stock to trigger).
http://www.mossberg.com/images/Mossberg ... /54210.jpg
MOssberg 500 super bantam.

+1 for the Mossberg youth models.

We have a friend that shoots one and while she is short in stature the gun seems to fit her well.

[Zacharia]

I have a break action cz single shot 20 gauge that is perfect for personages with shorter arms and less muscle mass.
They run under $100 at most pawn shops, and are great guns. Being a single shot limits its role to a fun/trap/teaching/practice gun, but I love it. If I were to go Dove hunting I would probably take it, and realistically it could be used for most bird hunting, its just not ideal due to capacity.

[jobot]

How about a break action 20GA side by side. such as this one.

http://www.jgsales.com/cai-model-jw2000-20gax3in-side-x-side-coachgun-20in-barrels.-new.-p-2615.html

[Zacharia]

How about a break action 20GA side by side. such as this one.

http://www.jgsales.com/cai-model-jw2000-20gax3in-side-x-side-coachgun-20in-barrels.-new.-p-2615.html

Does anyone else think side by side's are hideous? I love a good o/u, but side by sides just look bad.

[Snowman]

How about a break action 20GA side by side. such as this one.

http://www.jgsales.com/cai-model-jw2000-20gax3in-side-x-side-coachgun-20in-barrels.-new.-p-2615.html

Does anyone else think side by side's are hideous? I love a good o/u, but side by sides just look bad.

I see it the other way around... sxs are pretty, o/u are ugly to me.

[RoccoRacer]

I see it the other way around... sxs are pretty, o/u are ugly to me.

I tend to lean more this way, too. But truth be told, I'm not much of a shotgun guy.

[Wolfman]

Youth models are usually 20 gauge, if you find yourself needing a 12 gauge, you can always buy a shotgun with a short barrel (so long as the choke is appropriate, or threaded), and cut a couple of inches off of the stock. That's a pretty easy job, and can easily be done to look like that's how it came from the factory.

In any event, weight is not nearly so much of a factor as most people think, rather overall length is nearly all of it.

But... on the subject of youth shotguns, Savage has the "Stevens 512 Gold Wing Youth" that I'd love to get my hands on, when my son is a bit older, I would love to buy something like that for him...

[UTGunslinger]

Shotguns are so cool. I personally have 4. For what is worth I am an armorer for LE Agency and can lend my opinion if you like. As stated. There are a ton shotguns out there and 10 tons of accessories to go along with them,

I use a Remington 870 express with 18 inch barrel. It is about 15 years old and still functions like it was new. It has had literally thousands of rounds fired from it over the years. The problem with the express was the magazine tube was crimped at the end of the tube so you could not add an extension to it. I solved this problem by taking it to a gun smith who drilled and filed the crimps out of it and added the extension tube. This took the round count in the mag tube from 5 to 8. I bought a tac star extension tube which looked nice but did not function too well. Something inside the extension was binding up the spring and would effect the round count. Then I tried a Wilson Combat extension and it worked flawlessly. It is even flat black like the gun. The Tac Star was glossy so it looked weird. Even though I love my Remington I would not under any circumstances recommend you buy a new 870. Remington has lost the mark on their quality control. I personally have worked on 2 brand new 870s. One of which was right out of the box that needed work. If you can find an old one good on you, grab it fast before someone else does.
http://www.remington.com/products/firea ... 8inch.aspx

My Department issues both the Mossbergs and Remingtons. We have both 590s and 590a1's. The only difference between the 590 and the a1 is the trigger is milled steel or aluminum on the a1 and the barrel is thicker. Primarily for law enforcement and military but you can get them on the civilian market too. I would have to say my favorite feature of the Mossberg is the location of the safety. It is right on top of the receiver so you can operate with your thumb and not moved your trigger finger from fire control if needed. It also with time on the gun can be manipulated at the exact same time as the trigger so you can take the safety off and fire at almost the same time. This takes practice. The 590 series also has a short fore grip (pump) so if you choose to add a side saddle you can do so with out having to change the fore grip. The Mossberg also has dual extractors and the Remington only has one. http://www.mossberg.com/products/defaul ... n=products

The only major difference between a youth model of any shot gun is the stock. It is shorter on the stock than the regular adult ones. Most companies offer the youth model in 20 gauge but you can find them in 12. Hogue makes a shorty over molded stock to that is awesome. http://www.hoguestore.com/index.php?mai ... ath=654_17 looks like you can even choose your color now.

We have also cut down the stocks. Be careful if the angle is off at all the butt pad with not sit properly and you will have to keep working on it. I have heard of guys in the past taking the stock that they cut down and the butt pad to a shoe shop to have the excess taken off by the sander. Works well and they are happy to do it.

The AR15 style stocks are nice. Some are spring loaded. I had one on my 870 for a few years and changed it back as I found I liked the standard stock better. To each their own.

I bought my son a New England Arms Pardner 12 gauge for Christmas a few years ago. It is short in the stock, has an external hammer and a 26 inch barrel. Very nice in-expensive shotgun. However it kicks like you would not believe on the shoulder of a 13 year old. http://www.nefguns.com/item/6807_HR_Rif ... Shotg.aspx

I have for my “Bird Gun” a Benelli Super Nova with a 28" barrel on it. I am planning on purchasing an 18" inch barrel so I can use it in more training. I love this gun. Even my teenager can break clays with it. I have never been bird hunting in my life so I have no idea how it functions in the field as a hunter. Why do I have it? I am not going to tell the wife NO when she tells me she is buying me a shotgun for Christmas. Bring it on, I’ll figure out how it works.
http://www.benelliusa.com/shotguns/bene ... ernova.php

My last shotgun I bought of KSL. I have no idea how old it is. It is a Winchester model 37a. It has either 26 or 28 inch barrel on it. It kicks HARD!!! It is way accurate and is a lot of fun to shoot.

If you get a chance I highly recommend you pick up, or try and watch what you can on YouTube on the Magpul Art of the Dynamic Shotgun DVDs. They are great training tools. I have the entire set of the Magpul DVDs and I could not be more happier with them.

They go over every aspect of the Shotgun from it’s history to Drills. There is 328 minutes of info. They are great. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XCv0X6SqUg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF78YsF4 ... ure=relmfu


Sorry the post so long but like I said, I love the shotgun and have a lot of experience running one.

As stated this is my experience and opinions on the weapon system.

By the way, That new KelTec is freaking AWESOME!!!

[Gunlvr]

My wife used to love the remington semi auto 12ga (1950's era Sportsman 48) I had. It was too long for her, but since it wasn't mine (long term borrow, long story) and it was vintage I did not shorten the stock. The semi absorbs recoil of the 12 ga. She hates my much lighter and shorter Winchester 1300 speed pump. It is a pump action 18" bbl Defender. It is very light (5.5#s ish) due to the aluminum reciever and plastic furniture. I installed a youth stock so at least it would fit her better (HD gun). Now when I shoot it my thumb hits my eye

[Wolfman]

Overall length of the shotgun will be more important than absolute weight. Get a shotgun with an 18" barrel, and cut an inch or two off of the stock if you need to. It's a 15 minute job.

[G1785]

The safety on the mossberg was a deal breaker for me.since I knew I wanted a pistol grip its much easier for me to work the safety on a remington with pistol grip than the mossberg. Although if not looking onto the pistol grip the mossberg safety is great

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