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My wife is wanting to get into 5 stand and sporting clays and we've begun our search into shotguns. I have a youth size Beretta 391 that my son shot league with but has outgrown and is way to short for my wife. I'm considering shopping around for a longer replacement stock possibly for her but not sure if that's the right avenue. Mainly I'm forced to shoot light steel loads at the course and this same Beretta doesn't seem to like the 7/8 oz loads. Am I best off to have her get measured and try to find a few different platforms (pump, o/u, etc.) I'd like to get the Beretta modified so someone can at least use it as it's way too short for the entire household but the load issue remains. Any advice? She is completely new to shooting so I want her to have a good experience and have some proper instruction by an instructor. Even the instructor may have some examples of guns to try too. Thanks

Why do you have to shoot steel loads?

The range is on a wetlands so therefore the steel shot requirement.

How about a fatter recoil pad and call Beretta regarding what to do with light loads.

Thanks supercrewd. Yep, I'm calling Beretta in the am. Stock spacer or pad might just do the trick. This option just about has to be the most cost effective route as long as Beretta has an answer to the light load question.

If you go the Beretta route make sure you have the gun fit to her by someone who is knowledeable. Berettas are easily adjusted for drop and cast and a properly fitted gun is important in the shotgun sports. You can buy a new stock from Beretta if needed to make the LOP longer, they also offer spacers for some models.

As far as cycling 7/8oz loads, it should. That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to use 1oz loads. The felt recoil in a gas auto would be negligable.

All good advice. Thanks much.

Watch e-bay and trapshooters.com. Stocks for 391's come up fairly often and sometimes pretty reasonable.

Rob

For cycling issues try; www.colegun.com

Beretta pros. My experience with them has been very good. Tell them what you have and are looking for, they will have many suggestions and the parts. They also have used stocks from time to time. Might find a deal.

Hope this helps.

Rob

Thanks Rob! That does help! Thanks a lot.

I put a Wenig Ladies Stock on my wife's 11-87 after trying several other butt stocks. She loves it and she says it was the best fitting of all. When she switches to a O/U she's already told me that she wants one on that too.

I did look and Wenig offers the ladies stock for the 391!

Hey Thanks Wild Bill. I'm going to check that out!

Checked out those stocks. Wow! They are beautiful. Not cheap, but are very fine examples.

Pick out a piece like some of those and have someone carve and checker it up and you will quickly realize those stocks are a bargan.

Archer,
You need to call and talk to the Wenig folks. The one I got for my wife was pretty reasonable, but was probably back in the late 90's. So as with everything they've gone up in price I'm sure. And I think they just came out with the ladies stock so maybe that's why I got mine at a reasonable price.

As battue, points out, you can pay much more for a stock maker to produce a custom fit stock made from a 2x4 looking piece of wood and it will cost you much more.

She deserves a great fit for a woman so it really isn't expensive in my mind. I know my wife is exceptionally happy with the fit and function of her stock. I'm sure yours will too. And if it doesn't please her send it back.