Originally Posted by
Sprite
I'd be recommending the same as well. People can talk up their twenty gauges all they want, but they are not and never will be an everyday waterfowling gun. I've shot 20s enough in the blind, and yes they work, but if you're looking for something that will work well in any situation, a 12 gauge is what you want. I have yet to meet a woman who can not handle the recoil of a properly fit 12 gauge.
Personally, I'd take a look at the Browning lineup. They offer the "micro midas" in a few of their semis which have a 3" chamber and a shortened length of pull. If you go with a wood stock, you can have it customized further by a stock fitter to fit the shooter's dimensions. I shoot a 3.5" Browning Silver myself, and have no complaints whatsoever. Gun functions flawlessly both in the blind and with 7/8oz trap loads at the range, and it just so happens that the factory gun fits me like a glove. With anything less than 1 1/8oz, the Benelli SBE2 will not cycle. If it's also going to be a range gun, take that into consideration and stick with a 3" chamber.
Just my .02.
-Nick