I’m looking for a good small framed 12 gauge shotgun for my wife. She is 5’3” and can shoot my 870 express but it is too long for her shorter arms. Any ideas?

Magpul butt stock kit

I use 3 spacer but it is nearly youth size with the spacers all removed

I'd just abandon the 12 gauge idea and get her some sort of 20 or 28 gauge.

X2. Get her a 20

I just bought a franchi affinity 3 compact 20g for my boys. It is semi auto and has spacers for length of pull and cast on and off. My 13 year old shot his turkey with it this year. It's also drilled and taped We also have a youth model 870 in 20 and youth h&r single shot. My 10 year old shot his turkey with the 870.

Winchester sx4 compact is nice Aldo. There are many compacts out there. I prefer 20g they are thinner lighter and kill just as clean as a 12. Especially with the ammo advancements.

if she shoots it ok and recoil isn't the issue , then keeping ammo similarity and parts the same makes sense

you could just cut down the stock , that is what we did for the 4-H guns to make adult Win 1200 with 24 inch barrels youth size

here is what the Magpul looks like , well sans camo paint is how they come in the box



if you just wants something that fits her and ammo similarity and parts are of no concern then a 20g youth gun can be a great option for smaller people it does make them lighter overall
but then you have 2 types of ammo and you have to keep those 20s away from your 12 as they can slide in and become a barrel obstruction.

are you getting her, her own gun/making your 870 express her gun or trying to figure out how she can use yours then you go back to using yours later ?

We could do a magpul stock on it. Either way smaller stock or new gun. It needs to be a 12 gauge for bear protection being the main reason she is carrying it.

Try a youth model, if a 870 fits her and she can hit with it I’d get it cut down then, finding a gun the comes up right is golden that the biggest hurdle Id say.

Benelli Nova youth 20 gauge. I always have a hard time handing my nephews back to him. Nice well made gun

I would try the magpul stock , you can get cheek risers for it also , there is a low medium and high , that helps get your eye where it needs to be , the default one is the same as most normal 870 stocks for height I run a high because of the optic

a short 18-20 inch barrel 870 with a magpul stock is a very handy quick pointing gun you could also cut down the stocky you have you have I have a spare 870 express stock if you wanted it for the shipping , actually I have 2 spares I have a plastic speed feed stock from the 1980s as well I don't intend to put either back on , plastic is harder to cut down than wood. but the plastic started rather short maybe not 5'3" short

cutting it down you could have it ready to use today a saw and some sand paper

Don't listen to GCPete, use this as an opportunity to buy a new gun.

Something similar to this one would be similar to your 870 but in a compact with the safety in the same location as the 870. 26" barrel is manageable, though I'd like to see a 20-22" barrel or so. Properly choked to shoot the ammo of your choice.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/102036555?pid=107855

CZ makes a nice over and under 20 that is mounted on the smaller frame. I have one for grouse and like it very much.

B ryce

You all missed that part, I guess.

If you want a quality gun look at the Beretta A400LT Compact. Very sweet little gun. I have a older 303 as well that kids shot trap with when they were young, don’t think it’s made anymore but if you can find a used one they are really nice guns as well.

I got it
and bear concern is probably right now also , that is why if it was a we need this yestrday , then saw and sand paper

if bear is the primary use and hunting isn't then any old 18 inch 870 or 500 cut the stock down to fit her
everyone should have one gun that fits them well that they use

I like dual purpose 20 inch barrel with chokes because the more you use it the better you are with it when time counts

you could see what you can find locally also , buy , build ,do what you need to do

this is one of my favorites , this was a plane 28 inch barrel 500 , I need the stock longer so I added the morgan pad , I fell on the ice and cracked the vent rib on the old barrel so I bought this 20 inch barrel from mossberg threaded for chokes

if you can find 500s and spare barrels easy you could cut stock and barrel and find a spare barrel for hunting if she ever hunts

lots of options , all of matter of how fast you need it , the sad part is not much for 18-20 inch factory guns with choke tubes made , so it gets a little custom or like the 500 security-field you get 2 barrels an 18 and a 26



the 500 is a pound lighter than the 870 which makes it easier to carry all day

Sorry I read the OP and did not read further down.

Bryce

I think this statement assumes she is color blind.

It sounds like any old 12 ga will do. Grab one, cut a sliver or two off of the stock until it fits.

My daughter is 5'2". She shoots a Franchi Affinity Catalyst 12 gauge. It fits her well and is designed for a female's build.

T-Rex idea is sound. Find an older Remington 1100 and have the stock shortened to fit her correctly. Semi-auto will have less felt recoil. Somewhat easier to stay on target.

Lol, he asked about 12 gauges…take a look around on GunsInternational, GunBroker etc. Better yet ask a gun nut buddy to see what he can find. Off the top of my head, British double guns are light and graceful and exactly where I would look. If just want to stay utilitarian 26” barrels and cut the stock down where you want it. While there, throw some lead in the butt if you need to add weight and balance. Keep yer powder dry