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Thread: A good gun for a small female shooter?

  1. #1
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    A good gun for a small female shooter?

    My daughter has turned 14 and wants to shoot N-SSA.

    She is very small though. Even with my 2-band P58 she does the "chick lean" and leans way backwards to try and balance the gun. She likes my Richmond Carbine a little better but even that one she leans way back with.

    I'm thinking a small carbine would be good. We tried my Pedersoli Sharps 1859 but she has a hard time seeing the sights with it. I think the problem is when she gets a good cheek weld her head is so far down due to the comb drop that she can no longer see the front sight. Maybe if she moved her head forward on the stock but probably she can't due to the length of the butt.

    What do you guys recommend for long arms for small shooters?

    Also, she is left-eye dominant. Do they shoot left-handed?

    Thanks,
    Steve
    Steve Sheldon
    Commander
    4th Louisiana Delta Rifles
    NRA Certified Muzzleloading Instructor

  2. #2
    P.Altland is offline
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    A good gun for a small female shooter?

    My daughter is left handed and shoots my 2 band Colt. Started when she was 14.

    There?s also the Richmond Razeed with Long Range rear sight


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    Last edited by P.Altland; 02-17-2020 at 12:40 PM.
    Paul Altland
    21st Va. Md Guard Co. B

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    Steve,

    My 7 year old grandson is right handed and left eye dominant. He shoots his BB gun right handed. He just closes his left eye. When he first tried to shoot, he was not able to close just his left eye and I was afraid he would not be able to learn to shoot. We even considered the left hand shooting thing, but as he got a bit older, he learned to close his left eye and shoot right handed. He does pretty well like that. His biggest problem is that he is small for his age and most guns are either too heavy or too long for him to hold up. I found a youth model CO2 BB gun that is very light weight and has a short reach. He was tearing up drink cans with that one.

    I let him try my Winchester '06 .22. I think he could probably hold it up, but the reach is too long.

    Can you shoot a Musketoon in the Musket match? I don't know why not, but someone more familiar with the rules could answer that. If so, I would think a musketoon would get the center of gravity back closer to her body so the gun is not so hard to hold up and she could shoot the same gun in the carbine and musket match.
    Last edited by Hal; 02-17-2020 at 12:58 PM. Reason: corrected spelling

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    Muley Gil is offline
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    See if you can locate a Springfield artillery rifle for her to try. These are generally three band rifle muskets that were cut down to a 32"-33" barrel post war. Many were used by the various military schools that popped up after the war.
    Gil Davis Tercenio
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    See if you can locate a Springfield artillery rifle for her to try
    I think this is the 2-band Cold that Paul is talking about above.

    Steve
    Steve Sheldon
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    4th Louisiana Delta Rifles
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    Steve Weems is offline
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    S.N &W.T.C. For Massachusetts

    The Model 1863 made for Mass by S.N. & W.T.C. has many shortened to 31inches . Makes for a light and handy rifle for smaller people. I believe it may be shortest approved for musket competition rifle out there.
    I had one and regret getting rid of it.

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    P.Altland is offline
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    A good gun for a small female shooter?

    Quote Originally Posted by Maillemaker View Post
    I think this is the 2-band Cold that Paul is talking about above.

    Steve
    Steve,

    Not exactly. The Colt Special model is not like the Springfield or the Razeed in that, although grandfathered for use in N-SSA (ie. Chattahooche), they never actually existed. The Colt Special model was a 3-band rifled-musket.

    Correct me if I?m wrong.




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    Last edited by P.Altland; 02-17-2020 at 05:29 PM.
    Paul Altland
    21st Va. Md Guard Co. B

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    The Witneville is nice and short - lightweight too.

    Believe that the Jagger is the shortest allowable piece for musket matches.

    As to your daughters petite frame, my Princess is in the same exact boat... Despite the size of the aforementioned pieces, their recoil was MORE than she wished to contend with. So on my case, giving her a few more years to grow physically will hopefully pay off in getting her reacquainted/comfortable with either piece at a later date.
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    Rob Freeman
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  9. #9
    Carolina Reb is offline
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    If you can find an Enfield P-56 rifle, the barrel on those is considerably lighter than the P-58s, especially the repro P-58s. Unfortunately, they have not been reproduced, so the only way to go is a not so collector grade original. Have Bobby Hoyt sleeve it with 1 in 48 twist 5 groove progressive depth rifling. It will shoot great with 34 grains of FFF and the N-SSA bullet. Light recoil and quite accurate. It's a bit of a project though.

  10. #10
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    I'm thinking carbine may be the way to go for her.

    Steve
    Steve Sheldon
    Commander
    4th Louisiana Delta Rifles
    NRA Certified Muzzleloading Instructor

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