porting a shotgun barrel

Originally Posted By: BearHave you checked on having the barrel back bored? I've seen some expensive trap guns that were back bored to reduce recoil.It must work or they would not be having it done to $5000+ shotguns.

Biggest improvement is if one has the forcing cone removed from the barrel. NOTICEABLE difference right off the bat.

As far as the wife feeling the kick....just get her a shotgun of her own. A heavy load combined with a SYN stock equals KICK and there is no way around it...period.
 
Originally Posted By: sully2Originally Posted By: BearHave you checked on having the barrel back bored? I've seen some expensive trap guns that were back bored to reduce recoil.It must work or they would not be having it done to $5000+ shotguns.

Biggest improvement is if one has the forcing cone removed from the barrel. NOTICEABLE difference right off the bat.

As far as the wife feeling the kick....just get her a shotgun of her own. A heavy load combined with a SYN stock equals KICK and there is no way around it...period.

That's good advise, factor in the stock is probably too long for her and doesn't fit properly and she's taking a pounding. I don't know if the mercury tube is any better than a half pound of bird shot stuffed in a bag and placed in the buttstock. Of course that extra weight reduces recoil, but also makes the gun heavier to pack around and upsets the balance of a hunting gun.
 
THe gun simply does not fit. A gun that fits will be tolerable to shoot. You need to get her a gun and then have some work done to make it fit her. In particualr the pitch pokes a lady in the chest and causes the gun to recoil up and smack her face.

The very best thing you can do is get a book called The Stockfitter Bible by Rolin Oswald. Both of you read the book. Then have her take a lesson with a female instructed. Then purchase a gas operated semi. shoot it some more with the instructor and then begin to adjust the stock to her dimensions. It is a bit of a process but very worth it. A gun with shims will help too.

THe best gun out there for a lady shooter off the shelf is this one.

http://www.berettausa.com/products/3901-target-rl-12/26/


Maybe you could try and pick one up used. It is the sort of gun that would last her a lifetime and could always be adjusted to fit her. Only thing you might need to do is adjust pitch and add a premium recoil pad. All the other dimensions are adjustable. I think they used to also make this gun in 20 ga but now they only make 12's. Its a little heavy , perfect to reduce recoil. Plus there are a billion after market parts like recoil reducers and weights. I personaly shoot a 3901. All I did was add a kickeeze rocker pad and with light loads its a soft shooter. Later on you can add a set of gas valve springs from cole gunsmithing. You can use the springs to adjust how much gas is vented off. With heavy field loads you can vent more gas and have enough to cycle the gun and greatly reduce heavy load recoil. No tools takes 20 seconds. It may not cycle light loads with that spring. There is also a extra light spring for reliable 7/8 oz loads but most factory guns will cycle 7/8 thru 3" mags after its broken in.4 sprinds is like 20 bucks.

Good luck!
 
Have you thought about a 20ga? But if she needs or she wants a 12ga. a semi autos kick less than a pump. If it's her gun get a good gun smith to make it fit her and buy a Sims recoil pad. Not knowing your wifes build many women are short and a gun that does not fit will will cause her to feel the recoil more. If you have the gun ultered a grind to fit pad will need to be put on the stock after cutting it down. On deer, ducks, pheasants, most anything but maybe geese I would get a 20ga for her. Ammunition and chokes have came a long way.
 
+1 on tripleduece660. My 12 year old daughter (100lbs) shoots a beretta 391 12 guage with a shortened stock, very similar to the 3901. Trap, sporting clay, ducks, pheasants, coyotes, etc. We had the barrel ported by briley mfg out of Houston TX. $140 shipped, insured, ported. It reduced the felt recoil some, but the biggest change was in the barrel rise and cheek slap. After we changed that, scores improved, and she is very happy with the gun. I also have the 835 ultimag 12 guage with a ported barrel, reduced barrel rise, but it is the hardest kicking gun I have ever shot. Definetly not a ladies gun, probably no way to reduce the recoil enough.
 
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