My daughter has to move her flight so is now coming out in the end of April. She is intent on getting a gun for the home and I will take her out shooting with a bunch of different stuff and let her rent whatever she likes.

I dont know that she is looking to carry so I wanted her to try my shotgun. Thing is while I have plenty of ammo its all pretty stout 00buck and slugs for my 870.

My daughter isnt a princes and is physically strong but .. is there a cartridge you would recommend for someone trying a shotgun for the very first time? I only have the 12 guage.

Any of the low recoil low report loads . I used the Winchester bird shot loads for cowboy action shooting in 12 ga. they were vary mild.

They don't call it "sweet 16" for no reason.

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Expect the unexpected

Winchester low noise, low recoil. They are 980FPS and the lightest recoil factory load I have ever used. You may be able too find some on the net. Another option is .410 shells with an adapter. I have some adapters the same size as a 12 ga. shell and they will feed through the magazine. Larry

Trying to find a specific cartridge right now will be tough. I’d just pick up any cheap target birdshot, 7s or 8s, that is available and let her work her way up to some buckshot.

Yea, I would think target loads might be something, if more specialised stuff is not available. Clay shooters don't want to be beat up shooting a lot of ammo at one time, so they are not loaded like blasters for long range birds or something, presumably. Does your 870 have a decent recoil pad? Be sure she holds it tight against the shoulder so there is no movement backwards. Or use some padding on the shoulder too.

For the purpose described there is no reason not to use the least expensive light target loads you can find. 2-3/4", 1-oz. shot (7.5 or 8), 3 drams equivalent. Very modest recoil and most inexpensive factory shotshells you will find.

Good advice. But better start looking for such loads. Ammo shelves in stores are pretty empty.

Good luck finding any 12ga these days. There are none to be found now at LGS in this area.



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Slava Ukraini!

Agree with light bird shot loads. Or some Aguila Mini shells would be even better, but they may or may not cycle in your 870.

Find some Estate (Federal), or Winchester dove/skeet loads. usually 1-1/8 oz. #7-1/2 or #8 shot, 1200 fps. About as low recoil as you can get in 12 gauge. As far as that goes, take her skeet shooting, it's the best way to learn how to handle a shotgun. A pump can be challenging for a newbie, and shooting doubles is a good way to learn how to rapidly cycle the gun and stay on target for a followup shot.

If you live near an Academy store try stopping in early mornings shortly after they open. They stock ammo overnight, and early morning will give you a chance at some. A few days ago I found a 100 round sleeve of Winchester target loads in no. 8 shot. Those should be fairly light as far as 12 gauge rounds go. They have a limit of two, so I would have bought two, but they only had one.

I have a buddy who loads his own target shells very light. 3/4 oz. 7.5 shot at a muzzle velocity of about 800 fps. Those are very pleasant to shoot. Not available commercially, though, at least not that I've ever seen.

That said, an 870 (I have a 12 and a 20) is not known for light recoil. A good recoil pad would be helpful.

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Or something like that . . .

All the comments about empty shelves are correct. I've been sitting on a dozen boxes of 12-gauge target loads for several years so I have had no reason to even look for any more. By next pheasant season I'll need to locate some field loads so I think I'll start looking now.

You need to remember that 12 gauge guns have a heavier frame than 20 gauge guns, and the same for 410's. The felt recoil between 12 and 20 gauge guns is similar. Lesser recoil can be had using a semi auto. My GF has an 1100 with a mag extension and loves it. Glad to hear Your daughter is learning. Teach Her well.

12 Ga. "X-Lite" trap loads are best...... but any 1 1/8 oz. 2 3/4 Dram trap load is a standard load that many Ladys use, for all day shooting at 1145 fps.

The 1oz. at 1180 is also a nice light load, used by us old timers.

The weight of the shotgun and fit has a lot to do with how recoil is felt, by the shooter.
A shoulder pad, shooting vest can also help out...... and don't forget
your eye's and ears !!

For super Lite, I load a 12 Ga. 7/8 oz at only 1135 fps for skeet or the 16 yard line.

Have fun.

PS;
at one time, Federal had "Pink" 12 Ga. trap loads for the ladys
that was a 2 3/4 Dr load in 8's or 7.5's. I don't know it they still make them.

Simple, .410 with a full choke. I had an old Remington pump.

When I was a kid I could kill squirrels just as fast as my father using his 12ga. on our hunts together. He was amazed, looking at me and shaking his head.

When graduating up to bird hunting try a 28ga. or 20ga. auto if she can handle it. Accuracy is far more important than gauge when beginning so let her build her confidence with light recoiling shotguns and work her way up. Hope that helps!

Oh, I forgot to add you might want to add an extra recoil absorbing pad on the end of the stock to begin with when she is practicing so she builds up confidence and does not get a black and blue shoulder if she does not hold the shotgun tight enough to her shoulder until she gets used to shooting the gun as she shoots the heavier gauges.

I just checked ammoseek and didn't see any Win. low noise, low recoil at 980 FPS but did see Challenger 1 3/4 in. shells, 5/8 oz. at 1200 FRS. I don't have any experience with them but I think that speed and shot charge will have a light recoil. If they won't feed through the mag. they can be shot as singles. I believe that a beginning shotgun shooter should start with a low recoiling shell. Larry

Any 1 1/8oz load will give you some pretty good recoil. Most shells are loaded to 1200fps as that's what is specified as minimum for Clay Targte competition.

Not worrying about competition,,seek out a lower velocity and lower payload 12ga round.
That's the route to a lower recoil round.

Off the shelf loads in 12ga are mfg with shotloads as low as 7/8oz and will do anything you need them to as far as the Clay games and most hunting goes.
But again they are loaded to the 1200fps unless a 'specialty' round noted as Low Recoil' or some such tag.

To get the lower recoil,,you need the lower velocity,,or shot payload,,or better yet both.

I load my 12's with 5/8oz. I don't know what the vel is but the powder charge is a couple grains less than the load listed for 7/8oz.
Very nice load to shoot all day. Breaks skeet and SC targets out to 40yds and beyond w/a Full choke which most of my guns are.

Any trap or skeet load in #7 1/2 or 8 shot will work just fine as a comfortable beginning load and will also work very effectively as a home defense load.

There’s no need to fuss with buckshot for home defense: an ounce of bird shot at 1,100 FPS will produce a devastating wound at home defense ranges.

Never heard of that, but that's an awesome idea.

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Because of the metric system?

Rem. once loaded a 7/8 oz, 12 ga. and IIRC the speed was 1390 FPS but with my M21 Win., 30 in Mod. barrel they checked 1480 FPS. It was a black hull and several people called them black nasties. They would kick your eye teeth out. Many people don't realize that it takes less powder and shot to really reduce recoil. Larry

The first place I'd look is at your local Walmart for target loads. I'd shy away from the Winchester universals unless it's all they have. My Walmart has a pretty good supply of target loads but not much else.

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

With a pump action 12 gauge, unless you single load there is only so much you can do to reduce recoil. Even a factory 2 3/4" "light target load" will kick fairly hard. Perhaps if she is able to rent a single or double barrel break-open gun and find 12 ga "minishells" that would work.

Of course, if she wants a carry gun you can try something smaller.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

It does not get any lighter than this for practice...........
if you can find them.

Recoil comes with payload and fps. (8 lb gun )

3 Dram 1 1/8 oz 1200 fps.......... 20.3 ft/lbs of recoil
2 3/4 ............... 1145 fps ........ 18.1
1 oz ................... 1180 ............ 16.0 (Ladys)
7/8 oz ................ 1160 ............ 12.4 X-Lite

I have not shot the light 980 load over my chrony to get any data.

For years I have recommended the Win. Low noise-Low recoil 980 FPS load for kids and beginners. I would like too know what the ft/lbs of recoil is for it. I know it's not much recoil and it will break anything on the skeet field. Larry

tops;
I did not proff read my post.... I hade to add one worrd.......... "not" to it.
Sorry.

However the 980fps load should be around 8 ft/lbs of recoil and the info on recoil has stated that a Lady can handle 17 ft/lbs for a shoot .

I know that the teenagers at the trap club have no problems with my 7/8 oz.
at 1160 loaded with e3 or red dot, when I let them test it in a 12 Ga. shotgun.

Just understand that this light load is for close work and shots past 35-40 yards will add to missed targets, by most shooters.

The best ammo for a beginner is Winchester, Federal or Remington light skeet & trap loads in # 7.5 or #8 shot (1 - 1 1/8 oz). They are low brass, promo ammo and are actually pretty cheap. They are also available in the big box stores from time to time for about $6 - $7 bucks a box of 25. They are very mild, low recoil and should do the trick for a beginner without breaking the bank.

You don't mention what type of 12 gauge you own, but I find the Auto Loading models to be the softest recoiling while the Pumps to be the hardest.

I assumed "not" was left out. When my grandson was starting shooting I loaded him 7/8 oz., CB0178-12 wad and 14.8 Red Dot. It worked good on the skeet field. My brother and I have shot a carload of 7/8 oz. and Red Dot with a little more Red Dot than what I used for grandson. I also sawed the stock off of a M686 Beretta so it would be short enough for grandson. Larry

In the Rem STS hull with a w209 my 7/8 load starts out with

a Waa12L wad and e3 powder at 14 grs........
just in case you have the makings.

The type of action will make a big difference in recoil. My Rem 1100 makes 12 ga. feel like a 20 ga.
Get your daughter a gas operated semi auto, and recoil will feel like half that of the same load fired out of an 870.

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U. S. Army Veteran

Your 12 gauge 870 is fine. I agree with all the rest about the "sporting" or promo loads available at most stores. I have several boxes of 1 ounce of 7 1/2's or 8's that are fine for shooting doves or small birds normally recoil less that the same load in most 20 gauge guns.

True;

a gas or spring recoil operating ststem will cut down on the felt recoild over.........
all the other "Closed Actions" that many of us have to shoot.

A custom SxS or O/U with all the gold inlay and engraving does little to stop recoil, only add on's will help reduce the felt recoil from most of these "Stock" shotguns, from heavy loads.

The "Trick" is to use only the fastes and heaviest payload needed to do the job, for a more enjoyable outing.

Small 9;s have lots of pellets in a load but a #8 has more energy and you may pick up breaks, instead of a dusting.
I use a lot of 7 1/2's, even though less pellets, they reach out a lot farther to get breaks in long shots.

Any low base 7, 7.5, 8 shot target loads in any given gauge is a good place to start. Availability won't be great but should be much better than handgun or rifle ammo.