Hello, Im looking for a good pump action, 12guage shotgun. I will be using it mostley for skeet shooting. I am a smaller person, so the length and over-all weight does matter.

What do you suggest?

It depends. I would suggest visiting a few gun shops and handling as many shotguns as are available to determine what suits you best. You will get a number of opinions and advice. In the final analysis it is what you like that matters. I would suggest looking at excellent used Remington 870 Wingmasters or Ithaca Model 37s. Both are classic guns. All the best...
Gil

Find a used gun, and put the savings toward a good recoil pad and correct stock dimensions.

You can shoot skeet with a pump (I did for a few years) but will probably appreciate an auto-loader after a while. See if you can find a good used Remington 1100 or 1187......

I am really disappointed with all my local gun shops (except 2) They treat me like a kid.... Granted I am a kid, I’m 19 years old. They don’t want me to touch anything, ( I’ve had someone tell me once “ Well you cant handle the gun, because your not going to buy it. Only serious people with money can hold my guns”) they give other customers there attention, even though I might have been there first, and they give me snobby "toned" responses when I ask a question. The only two shops that let me handle a gun, answered all my questions and were nice were RangeMaster(Local Gun Shop) and Big5SportingGoods. Although at Big5 you cant really rely on what they say because they are not a real shop with real gunsmiths.

The problem is my local Big5 doesn’t carry too many shotguns, mostly rifles. And my other local shop RangeMaster deals mostly in hand guns.

So I have a limited selection of shot guns to determin what fits me best.

(Thank you for your suggestions, and keep em comming!)

my 22yr old daughter 5ft1in 110 lbs shoots a ithaca mod 37 in 20ga with a factory skeet barrel aprox 4 days a week which is about 200 rounds but has been using my ithaca 51 feather light auto loader also with factory skeet barrel at least one day for about 50 rounds and she shoots basicly the same score 46-49 out of 50 birds both guns are 1974 in vintage but the bigest thing to remember is to practice till that makes the gun comfortable to you. So with that said buy the best gun you can afford and start shooting believe me any good club will have members that will let you try quite a wide veriety of guns once you show them that you are realy interested in this, all of us (relics) as the young members of the club I belong to will work hard to keep the young people interested so that hopefully they are going to keep working as they get older to keep clubs open and nice for there familys as we helped them and hopefully I will see you answering questions for another young shooter from your experience which will all be good I hope. mike(stevensrimfire)

I think I may have found a winner. I found this shotgun online, and am going to go see if any local dealer has one so I can see how it fits me Right now im looking at a
Mossberg #50411 12 ga. 500® Pump Action Persuader®

Anyone have experence with this particualr Shotgun?

I wouldn't suggest a Special Purpose Persuader. The reason is because these are mainly for home protection. The barrels are 18.5 to 20 inches. I suggest a field model from Mossberg. They can be had with 28 inch barrels with screw-in chokes, which I find helps me with my follow through in clays. They look nice with the Honey Satin wood, and they can also be had in Bantam Models (shorter length of pull and longer forearm). I have four Mossbergs and I have one that I use specifically for Turkey and clays. They are convienent because you can change out the barrels for different lengths. Plus they have many aftermarket companies that help outfit your gun to suit you. They are really reliable guns and inexpensive for what you get. I'm a Remington fan also, but you can't beat a good simple Mossberg. If you don't like wood, Mossberg makes a synthetic stock model in all black. A competent gunsmith can shorten the stock for you if you would like. If you are a small shooter, and are recoil sensitive, I suggest a 20 gauge, unless you like 12 gauges. It's all in your preference. The best thing for you to do is find someone you know that has a similar gun and they know what they are talking about. See if you can shoot it and get a feel for what is going on when you squeeze the trigger. This is really the only true way to know what suits you and how you will handle the gun.
I would guess you are just starting in clay target shooting and want a good beginner gun that will satisfy your every need or desire. Always remember that gun manufacturer's make their products to suit a mass majority of the market, so no gun will fit you perfectly. If you find something that feels fine and shoots great but has one little thing you're not pleased with, get it taken care of and you will definitely have more fun afterward. I think customizing your gun to you is fun anyway. And you can boast to your friends that it is truely your gun, taylored to you. Go and find the gun you really like and practice, practice, practice. Good Luck and let us know what you purchased. Maybe we can help along the way.

Thanks for your Reply.

I shoot my brothers 12gauge all the time, Yes it has enough kick to push me back a tad, but for some reason I like it. He has a Savage 12Gauge Pump, his has 18.5 inch barrel on it, it seems pretty simillar to the persuader, and I like the feel of my brothers shotgun. I also Have a friend that ive gone shooting with, and I shot his browning (not sure wich model) wich I believe had a 28inch barrel (maybe a 30) it just didnt feel right. The butt felt comfortable on my shoulder, but I donno, I also didnt hit a **** thing with it :D .
Also this is just recreational skeet shooting with my bro, and friends. ITs not hardcore compitition or anything like that :)

I plan on doing a lot of looking before I buy, all you suggestions are very helpful

stevensrimfire had a very good suggestion about the Ithaca Mod 37. They are good looking guns, are ambidextrous, and I just saw one in better than good condition go for $190 at auction (locally).

I had been looking for a shotgun for my 14 year old daughter, she has been goiong with me to teh trap shoots twice a month, and been shooting borrowed guns, so I figured it was time for her own - one that she can shoot each time. I found that Benelli makes a fine, not expensive Nova model, all synthetic, with the "illuminated" front bead,and brass bead halfway back along the vented rib. I bought it, and thought the action is stiff, Megan it thrilled to have one that she can shoot every time and not have to depend on someone lending her a 20 ga. at the range.

I may have gotten the Ithaca instead if I had seen it first, but it was a 16 ga. and I really wanted a 20 ga. I like the look and feel of the Benelli, and as others have mentioned, it can be modified to fit the shooter. It is light, lighter than a synthetic Mossberg in the same caliber, and has a 26 inch barrel with three chokes. I am very satified, and can't wait for her to shoot it, so that I can shoot it after!

Good luck!

I am also 19 years old and have ran into the same problem at my local gun shops as you have...they really don't pay me any attention eventhough I deserve the same respect as other customers. Just because we are young does not mean we should be discriminated against and predetermined as kids who know nothing at all. But anyway, I purchased the 12 ga. Mossberg 500 Persuader with an 18.5 inch barrel for my first shotgun. I got it at a very good price brand new. I bought it mainly for home protection but I still bring it to the trap range and do quite well with it. Although it is not intended for trap and certainly not skeet, it is still a reliable and fun shotgun to own. It all depends on what you want to use it for mainly. But I would recommend this shotgun to you especially if it is in your price range and fits your needs.


-Good Luck, Shoot Safe
Phil

I own an Ithica Model 37 and a Mossberg 500. The Ithica is a wonderful firearm for shooting birds, clay and feathered alike. The Mossberg was a xmas gift when I was 13 years old, I hated it until I pumped about 2000 rounds through it and now its loose and sloppy enough that I won't shoot anything else. With the 28" modified barrel on it I do very well shooting clays, the longer shots are my only weakness.

Hello, Im looking for a good pump action, 12guage shotgun. I will be using it mostley for skeet shooting. I am a smaller person, so the length and over-all weight does matter.

What do you suggest?

If your looking for a one gun does it all! I would suggest the model 1100 Remington hands down. We like em a lot around this place, got 4 last time I took inventory of the vault. They aren't fancy but get the job done just great.

I was put on em about 30 plus years ago by a fellow who was our state champ in trap and also shot skeet as well. He used a model 1100 Remington. I bought my first one and never looked back period. I have more expensive O/U fancy guns for Sunday shooting sporting clays and trap & skeet at the gun club, however if I am shooting all day Saturday & Sunday, I want that 1100 Remington going to my shoulder.