shotgun cartridges for beginner?

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Falconxx

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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.
 
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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
 
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.
 
LoboGunLeather said:
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.
Click to expand...

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