I am looking for a duck hunting gun for my girlfriend. I have been trying to find a compact benelli somewhere local but have had no such luck so she can shoulder it. A youth gun fits her well enough but I would prefer a synthic gun and not a wood gun since we will be in the marsh and it will get wet. Anyone recommend something else or know where I can get the benelli. Any guys on here sell guns order one?

is she okay with recoil? I would address that issue first.

This is the gun I have been looking at

CLICK ME

No problem with recoil she was shooting my 12 gauge pump last year but its way to long for her. Ask Judd she's pretty dang tough.

If you got the coin, go with the Benelli M2 Field 20 gauge. Yes even for ducks. She won't have any problem shouldering, or swinging that gun. My GF is 5ft 3 and tiny, so I was struggling finding her anything to shoot. Finally found this, and it's perfect!

i agree, and the novas are pretty bulky. or maybe check out the franchi affinity in 20ga.

When my son was in 4H, all the young gals shot 12ga over unders. Not sure why, I think they are a lot lighter than pumps and autos, and I think given same barrel length, the guns are shorter.

I shoot a benelli 20 gauge m2 for ducks and love it. So light and recoil aint much at all.
If she's really small just get her the m2 field compact version, but she needs to go somewhere y'all can shoulder it. It's 1.5" less length of pull than a standard shotgun.

I recently bought my wife a 20GA Benelli Montefeltro but w/ wooden stock as an anniversary present.

Full disclosure: She shot the exact model several times while we were out trap shooting. She shot it well and was able to properly shoulder it. Thankfully, when the Ethos caught her eye it was too long for her to properly shoulder and my gunsmith acted as a voice of reason to get passed the "artwork". "Ma'am the artwork doesn't do you a bit of good when you are trying to break that clay or hit that bird if you can't shoulder the gun properly."

Here is the link to the Montefeltro's that come in synthetic and/or camo pattern.

https://www.cabelas.com/product/sho...iautomatic-shotguns/1701309.uts?slotId=6

I just purchased a compact Remington 1187 Sportsman in 20 gauge for my wife to shoot clays occasionally with me. Walmart was clearing them out for $250. Thought that was a great deal for a semi auto. You can search Brickseek.com for inventory, just need the UPC or SKU and the zip code you want to look close to. May be tough to find now, because that clearance has been going for at least a week already.

Can’t comment to the other guns mentioned but the one in your link fits a 5’2” girl about perfect.

My wife is 5'2'. While she hasn't bird hunted yet, she got a Browning Maxus with the intention to do so at some point. She's shot clays with it several times and she likes.
Yes, the 12ga is certainly a full powered cartridge and the gun is somewhat heavy for her because it's a 12ga. But the spacers allowed her to find a good length of pull that fit her. Other than that, she just decided to "man up" about the recoil and weight saying she hates the idea of feeling "under gunned."

If she does not mind shooting a pump gun contact Ithaca Gun Company. I know a couple of years ago that they produced the Model 37 with women in mind. Ithaca makes their shotguns in Ohio.

Went through the same thing looking for a duck gun for my wife. She's 5'2" and has a hard time with the longer LOP guns. Ended up getting the Beretta A400 Lite Compact and she loves it. Wasn't able to find it at any of the big box stores, but multiple smaller stores in the area, especially Beretta dealers carry them.

Those kick pretty good!

If wood is acceptable, look at the Franchi Affinity Catalyst. “Catalyst” means women’s model in Franchi-speak. I have and love an Intensity which is basically an Affinity with a 3.5” chamber, and also bought an Affinity Catalyst for my wife. It’s a great shotgun but the lop is too short as she’s 5’9” . It’s really made for shorter women.

My daughter shoots a 20 ga Mossberg pump. No issues.

If I were to upgrade, I'd look at either a Weatherby compact or SX4 in 20ga.

When my son was growing up I bought a black one that served him well. He practiced and shot doves with 3/4 ounce target loads. High brass steel shot for ducks. Geese with 3” #5 bismuth. He loved it.

Edit to add: if you can’t find one he has out grown his and would probably sell it. If it comes to that, PM me and I will ask him. It’s still in great shape.

Before you buy her a gun, take an hour and listen to this.
Absolutely great advice from one of the best instructors in the business, Learned some neat stuff yesterday listening to this while shredding.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jHSPxp4jU1PZSwjtkNxti

The newer production guns are heavier than the earlier model guns that making the recoil seem less to the shooter.

That said the main factors that influence recoil are the mass of the shot payload and the velocity that the payload is traveling. As I have gotten older gone are the days that I reload 1 1/4 and 1 1/8 ounce loads for my 12 gauge. The 3/4 and 7/8 ounce 12 gauge loads are very easy on both the shoulder and on the pocketbook.

I think you were on track with Benelli but go with an auto, like the montefeltro. If she is shooting a 12 gauge pump then why not? Benelli makes the lightest autos within reasonable price range. Not cheap but for around $1000 you are getting a damn fine gun and you could do alot worse for the money. If she has no problem with recoil dont you think she'd appreciate a lightweight gun she can literally handle better...

If it turns out to kick too hard you get to keep the sweet benelli fore yourself and an excuse to buy a gas gun.