Shotgun for Fiance

[Ruddyduck]

I'm looking to buy my Fiance and new shotgun. We've looked at alot of different shotguns both O/U's and autos.
She's like different ones and I've a question to those that might know being the maker hasen't answered my email yet. On the Franchi offering with the new style recoil pads, can the stock be cut down following the lines of the existing pad or is the stock a hollowed out nightmare like some of the Benelli's I've seen in the past.
I only ask because the Franchi seems to be alot of gun/quality and a good value.

[skeet]

The Franchi guns are pretty well made now days. The firm of Beretta actualy owns the entity. If the stock has the gel type pad then it will probably be a bt of a nightmare. The gel pads aren't really meant to be cut down. I HOPE you are contemplating a 20 ga or smaller for her. Also the auto's are a bit easier on their shoulders..mine too...But they can still recoil significantly if you shoot the heavier loads in a light gun...as many of the Franchi's are. As some character once said..choose wisely!

[fabsroman]

Look for a youth size gun for her. That is what I used for an ex-girlfriend of mine. I bought her a Beretta 391 20 ga. youth model and it worked out rather well. Both of my sisters shoot that gun at clays now. There are several youth model offerings. Beretta also offers a reduced length (RL) shotgun in their 391's, but I don't know if they come in 20 gauge and Berettas cost a little more than a Franchi.

[Ruddyduck]

I'm just looking for imput on the Franhi'sI mentioned. She handles a 12 ga just fine and has been shooting more than 15 years.
Guess I'll have to wait for customer service to get back to me.

[fabsroman]

If you get wood on the gun, you will not have to worry about it being hollow.

[Lilred]

Well...if she's small framed..i wouldnt think she'd want the stock cut down..kinda throws ya out of balance. Aint tryin to ruffle yer feathers honey...but if she's been shootin that long...looks to me like she'd have a perty good idea of which guns fit her best. It took me quite a while to figure out what was what...but when I did..I got it down to a science. But I aint never had to cut a stock down.
I had a Franchi auto and didnt need to cut the stock down...it was a perty comfortable gun for the most part. Franchi wood stock aint hollow...really come to think of it..aint never seen a hollow wood stock fore. If she wants synthetic...imho...it makes the problem worse...cut down er not...because the stock is lighter. Way lighter.

I need all the stock weight I can git...mostly because I shoot pumps and autos. They are barrel heavy not to mention long. Ya ever try holdin out alot of weight with yer arm stretched all the way out? aint easy..but I hated to cut a stock down..it ruins the value of the gun...esp if ya like old guns like i do. So I try to counterbalance the weight. I've even been known to make lead molds and slide em in the bolt hole of the stock. Works like a charm and you'd be surprised and how easy you an swing a gun up with a lil topside weight.