Forums / Gun Discussion / Newbie looking for advice

Hello there . This is a good place to start off anything firearm related, so congrats on getting here. Choosing a shotgun is possibly the best home defense decision that you can make. The sound alone of "Racking "one is a great deterrant to criminal action. The 20 guage in a kids version is a fantastic idea. I could recommend the Remington 870 youth. You do not sound like the average 225lb , 5ft 10.5 door kicker, so lets even the odds some. The 20 guage round with 1.0 oz shot is as effective as the 12 guage round with 1.0 oz shot. Just easier for a smaller framed shooter to use. If anything the range is farther for the 20 guage. The shorter barrell will help you "balence" the weapon as you learn to shoot it and will aid you in aiming it as well since the stock is shorter. The help is two sided in that respect. Too the 20 will take a lot of weight off the weapon. There are pads out there bolster or protect your shoulder as you shoot. Some are for the shotgun, and some are for you to wear. Thus far the kids 20 will be a better idea than the 12 guage. There will be no working differences between the two of them except size of the gun, and guage. You will be probably welcomed at any range that has trap or skeet areas. Don't be afraid to ask for help at the counter ever. That is what they are there for. If you can get a range officer to help instruct you good, if you can get a shooting /safety instructor that's better. I have never seen one say no to giving advice or helping a novice shooter learn. Such a thing would be contrary to the shooters creedo. Not to mention bad for business. I hope that this hasn't been too vague to help you in your quest. I wish you well in your endeavors. MV

I noticed you said you dnt want to knock your shoulder, me just throwing a few cents , i think you can handle at least a 410. Is a shotgun shell in where you can also get a revolver that uses that ammo. It would be an ideal gun of the nature you seek and something you can learn easily if you put your mind to it. Thanks

I appreciate your comments, margaritaville and wilwhitewidow. Thank you for taking the time to comment! I will look into all suggestions for sure.

always nice to have a lady find our humble site.870 20 ga youth=perfect for a smaller woman,or anyone looking for compact/weight savings.saving weight and size will help in a real home defense situation by making your weapon more easily or more quickly maneuverable.weight and size savings will most likely also make you feel more confident as you will not feel as though it is too big for you,this is common for beginners.as mentioned above you should seek some professional training if you can,especialy since your stated purpose was self defense.

Youth 870 20 gauge. Find an 18 1/2 inch barrel version. Google it. You can shoot slugs as well with a smooth bore.Might i suggest a couple night lights plugged into an outlet inside your door way and hallway to backlight anyone coming down the hall if you ae at the other end prepares to shoot that 20 gauge.Now i am a 12 gauge fan myself but nobody is gonna ask what gauge sjotty you have as they are trying to break in.

First off, welcome, we're glad to have you with us. Second, before I changed careers I was part of the ownership and management family of one of the most successful independent sporting goods stores in the Southeast and my main line of expertise was firearms. Just to give you a little bit of an insider's hint, more women shoot the youth model shotguns since the average woman is about the same size as the 13-15 year old boys they're designed for. If you can find a nice youth model 20 you should definitely invest in it, since there's little in the line of home protection that's more effective, plus that "ka-chuk" sound of a pump shotgun loading a shell is a real attention getter, to the point where you might not even have to fire your gun and the police will find the miscreant by following the brown streak he'll leave behind. Good luck in your gun hunt, if you need any advice on pricing, capabilities, or anything else just speak up, you've got hundreds of guys here more than willing to help.

870 has come up twice, are you talking about Remington? Any thought about Remington vs. Mossberg?

Can't thank all of you guys enough for your guidance!

I got a Mossberg 500 20ga youth model for my wife a few years ago and she doesn't have any trouble shooting it at all. She is 5'3" and 120 or so. She can shoot a 12ga, but prefers the 20.

younger, I had a Remington's 1100 20g semiautomatic synthetic body
not sure I'f it's the youth model but mines greatfor youth