Shotguns are cool. Don’t know why I feel this way, just do. I’ve always wanted one, had to be a pump action, and now I do.
But here’s the thing— I’m 5’4 and weigh under 100 pounds. That makes shotguns difficult. The youth models are a hair awkward, but the grown up models are too, and buying one? It’s hard to say how one feels in a store based on that whole super subjective thing that I’m not a fan of especially having not fired one— ever.
I talked with one of my “fun sized” friends online (super bummed she lives on the other side of the country from me) and she strongly recommended that I get a 20g. I wandered into my local shop and chatted with a friendly dude who enjoys shotguns too. People who sell guns tend to be cool to us newbies, at least for me so far. Told him I was looking for a 20g that would fit me, fondled several, and he saw how I fit with each one. It was then that he fished a Winchester SPX Defender out with the pistol grip. That was a solid fit. Having places to put my hands where I felt like I would have a great grasp of the firearm made things much more comfortable.
When I got it home, I removed all the spacers and felt relatively comfortable with my reach and the way everything sat.
Today I fired it for the first time. Started with 7.5 bird shot, then went to #3 buck, then finished with a couple of slugs. I am so grateful that I didn’t get the 12g that I thought I wanted, cause goddamn that kicked. Didn’t lose my balance (thank you yoga!), but the buck really rattled me, and the slug did the same. And it is loud. Like did I just fire a cannon off a pirate ship loud.
A couple little bruises now decorate my shoulder— a lesson learned in the no really, plant that stock firmly you dork; and yeah, that was fun.
Here’s my paper from today. Well, what’s left of it lol
By the way? Her name is Ash. Sure her namesake is after Ash and the Evil Dead, a male character, but it works as a girl name too.