Trying to find skeet gun for a lady

[Questor]

First of all, can you tell me anything about Condor over/unders? There's a used 20 gauge at for sale for $300 and it appears to be in mostly unused condition. I'd consider having the stock altered for my wife and daughter to use. My big concern with a $300 O/U is that it's likely to be a piece of junk. What price range makes sense for a used O/U in good condition, a gun that will be reliable and durable, but not heavily used.

Is altering a full-length gun a sensible approach to fitting a gun to a lady?

Alternatively, I like the idea of the gas autos, like a Remington. The lower the recoil the better, provided the gun fits alright. I don't mind wasting some hulls when I take them shooting because it won't be often. I won't be able to pick up their hulls at the range I go to.

[Graybeard]

I've never been able to talk Faye into taking up shotgunning even tho I tried. She'll use handguns and rifles but no wingshooting for her. When I was trying I bought her a Rem. 870 20 gauge tho I think a 28 gauge O/U is the best choice for a lady or any beginner really.

The Condors have their problems but those problems are fixable. They used to have forums on their site and the input there said factory customer service was awful and they told how to fix the problems yourself. I've not been to them in a long time.

I realize money can be a concern but going with a Browning Citori is the smart move. I'd not over look the Huglu guns as imported by CZ and DeHaan they seem like solid choices and are about half the price of a Citori.

Depending on how tall she is it might be all you need to do is shorten the stock. I've watched many ladies shoot skeet with full size guns just fine but if she is under 5' 5" or so something less than 14" is likely needed for length of stock. Go with 26" barrels if the stock needs to be cut and perhaps even if not. The 20 is tempting and is cheaper if factory ammo is used but you can load 28 for less and it has noticeably less recoil and yet is just as effective it really is the ideal skeet gauge. The .410 is an experts gun so don't even consider it for a beginner.

[Questor]

Thanks GB. I like the  concept of the 28 for skeet and I agree that more is not necessary. I just don't think I want to load another gauge. That light load of mine for 20 really is remarkable. I got it from an article on low recoil skeet loads and I found collaborating recipes in Lyan. It's not so much recoil as it is vibration.

One thing I like especially about the 28 is that this is the gauge where I really like the feel of a side by side.

[valkrod]

talked my wife into going skeet shooting, shot 20 gauge citori with limbsaver and she loved it. It is now HER gun. can't go wrong with this gun.

[shotgunner]

Be very careful of 20 gauge over unders. Some of them weigh 5 1/2 - 6 lbs and kick more then an 8 lb 12 gauge. Recoil will ruin a new shooter almost instantly. If you have the money a used 12 gauge OU with 28 gauge tubes is the best bet. If not a 20 gauge semi-auto, or even a 12 gauge semi auto with light loads is best. The 7/8s OZ reload in a 12 at no more then 1200 fps is very soft shooting. Shotgunner