Youth-model shotguns

[zahc]

My wife is very small and skinny. A youth-model 870 is still just too heavy, and especially too long, for her to heft upward comfortably, and pump properly. What she needs is an H&R/NEF youth model. However, I know for a fact that they are going to kick too hard for her due to their lightness. So I'm thinking of buying her a NEF youth model, and adding some lead to the stock, or, finding reduced-recoil loads. I would consider a .410 but they are so hard to hit with, I don't want to. The gun will be used mostly for clays.

Any other suggestions? I have heard that the NEF shotguns' buttstocks have a hole in them that can be filled with shot, but I'm not sure if that's the wood stocks, the plastic stocks, or both.

I wish they made one with a pink stock. She would like that.

[PTK]

Try a youth-model 28ga. Great for clays, light, low recoil, but still 7/8oz loads! 

[41magsnub]

If you can find it look at a youth model winchester 120 or the like.  That's what I have, it has an aluminum receiver so it is very light.

[schutzen]

Try adding weight to the stock.  Remove the recoil pad and insert a wad of tissue paper, then a roll of pennies, and the enough tissue paper to wedge the pennies in tightly.  Reinstall the recoil pad and see if she can handle the gun better.  You may have to experiment to get sufficent weight to alter the balance effectively making the fore end lighter.

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

A youth-model 870 is still just too heavy, and especially too long, for her to heft upward comfortably, and pump properly.

The 20ga youth model is too heavy, or the 12? I think the 12ga youth just adds a short stock. The 20 youth is a much lighter frame. I got mine because I could bring it to the the shoulder one-handed.
You might look at some of the cheap (sub $1k) double barrels. The center of gravity seems much further back, which might make things easier.

[zahc]

Well, it's true I haven't tried the 20 ga youth model, but I assumed it just had the shorter stock and barrel. I think the forward center of gravity is a main problem, and the receiver being long. She's very weak. Now a short double-barrel, like a coach-gun, might work.

I did check out a youth model Mossberg 500 at academy with the pink-camo stock and I imagined it to be too front-heavy for her. I mean she could do it, but I know it wouldn't be comfortable...I remember when I was a kid, my dad bought me a baseball bat that was too heavy for me out of some sense of "it'll be good for you" and I want to avoid that in favor of reality.

Oh, and the pink plastic stock on the mossberg was so cheap feeling as to be unbelievable. I'm positive better plastic can be had on guns in the toy aisle. It was like cheaper than super-soaker feeling, like milk jug or something.

[Tuco]

Fistful Savalas is correct - the Youth 20 has a smaller frame
Remington lists a pink laminate wood stock for the youth 20/28 on their factory parts list.

My daughter's 870 28 ga Wingmaster has a small receiver, and a 25-ish inch barrel.
The youth stock (not pink - shhhh  ) for a Youth 20 bolted right on.  I DO know that the stock for a standard 20 won't.  
Look into the dimensions of the 870/1100 youth models before writing them off..

... and then there's always the Berreta 687 series on a 28/410 frame.

Also ALSO, the Franchi AL 48  is renowned as a lightweight and reliable hunting/target autoloader.  Twenty and 28 gauge guns weigh about 5.5 lbs.

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

Well, it's true I haven't tried the 20 ga youth model, but I assumed it just had the shorter stock and barrel.

It was that way for several decades, IIRC. They've only recently changed it.
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model_870/model_870_express.asp
According to the maker, the 20s are about a pound lighter.

[zahc]

Well, the 870 express youth jr with 18 inch barrel would be just about perfect. They even have one with pink camo. The challenge is going to be finding one in a store with in two weeks.

[41magsnub]

If the pink 870 is what you end up going for Buds has them in stock right now...

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/manufacturers_id/3/products_id/57582

[Jamisjockey]

Why not .410?

[zahc]

I'm just worried .410 will be too difficult due to the poor patterns. I've personally tried to shoot them (not extensively) and couldn't hit anything. Then again I can't hit anything anyway, and I didn't try long.

[roo_ster]

Used Rem 1100 20ga LTS autoloader with a wood stock FTW.  Cut stock to fit.  Add top-line recoil pad (limbsaver, decellerator, etc.)

"LTS" is the small frame. The 20ga 1100 was also made on the large (12ga) frame.  It would kick even less due to greater mass, but I don't see any reason to go to that extreme.

If you want to stick with a pump, Knoxx/Blackhawk produce recoil-reducing stocks that actually work as advertised.

[Jamisjockey]

I'm just worried .410 will be too difficult due to the poor patterns. I've personally tried to shoot them (not extensively) and couldn't hit anything. Then again I can't hit anything anyway, and I didn't try long.

I've had good luck shooting .410s.  Might be good to see if someone's got one she can borrow and take for a spin.

[Scout26]

Also look into the 20 ga. Mossberg 500 Bantam.  It weighs 5.25 lbs.

Stoeger Condor Youth in 20 ga weighs 6.8 lbs.

Add a good pad/vest and a reloader to make some powder puff Win AA Green Dot loads and the recoil is quite soft.