But, if she really wants one, buy a reasonably priced used 12-gauge, and shorten the stock. Be sure to put a large recoil pad on it.
Pretty hard to beat a Remington 870 Express youth model 20 gauge for 299.99 at Walmart. One with a few modifications like a magazine extension sleeps by the side of my bed.
Mossberg 500 12ga with short butt stock $315
check the specs and or call them.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/mobile/product/411551209/redirect
I think Mossberg makes a Model 500 12 bore with a “youth” size stock.
Hogue makes a rubber stock and forend for the Rem 870 that has a length of pull of 12”. Factory LOP is something like 13 5/8” so that’s pretty short.
You could have any competent gunsmith measure your wife for the proper length of pull and shorten just about any wooden buttstock so that is will fit her.
The length of one’s arms determines the proper buttstock length of pull. Mine measures 12.5”. Its frustrating how difficult it is to handle a long arm with an improper length of pull.
I’m the same size and I am happy with a 20 gauge for deer hunting. I have a Mossburg 510 youth and love it.
Mossberg 500 in 20 gauge. Get the two-barrel package (one shot barrel, one rifled barrel for saboted slugs) and Hornady SST saboted slugs. The recoil is tolerable and it will most certainly kill a whitetail. My kids have proven that repeatedly.
Dicks carries a youth model Mossberg 500 12 and 20ga cones with two barrels (field and rifled deer), scope, 3 choke tubes, interchangeable cheek pads for scoped barrel. Usually on sale tho time of year for $349.
If primary purpose is deer, id go with the 20ga and use Federal trophy copper sabots. With sabots the need for 12 ga for deer is useless overkill and weight, and muzzle blast to the ears.
You will need to have a Remington R3 or LimbSaver recoil pad put on the new stock if it comes with one of the cheap factory rubber pads. I used to be a "tough guy" when it came to the old recoil pads which didn't really cushion well, but once I started getting brittle and needed to watch my retinas, I became a believer in the better modern recoil pads.
FWIW, I'm not small and am hardly a youth, but I shoot more squared-up to the target than I used to, and the short "youth sized" stock works better for me now than the full-sized stock.
Mr. niteowl77
At 4'11', I can assure you she is unlikely to like the recoil.
Plus, with 20 gauge, there's always 20 gauge magnum.
Magpul makes a very nice shotgun stock for Remingtons and Mossbergs. You can make it longer or shorter with stuff that comes with the stock. My wife and I have it on our Remington 870’s and have very, very different stock size requirements.
She needs a 20 gauge. Plenty of knockdown for any purpose with slugs or buckshot.
Better yet, if for deer, go with a CVA hunter in .44 mag.with 22 inch barrel. Hardly any recoil, much lower muzzle blast to ears vs shotgun. The CVA has high rate of twist and Lon barrel will push bullets 600-700 fps faster than what is marked on the box for those pistol rounds. I recommend shooting Barnes VorTx solid copper hp bullets. They should not fragment and expand like wild fire. HP pistol bullets oftentimes shot out of a rifle will fragment as they are meant for controlled expansion at much lower velocities. The .44 mag rifle with long barrel is a great deer rifle and poor mans noise supressor. 150yard rifle .44 shots hit the deer as hard at 150 yards as a revolver does at point blank range. Dont over lol this. You can get the CVA for $248-279 if you look around. Is there a Dunhams near you? Dicks often carries the too.
Why a slug gun for two legged critters? Pattern a 20 with #4 at 20 feet on a piece of sheetrock.
Bit of advice. Has she shot a 12 slug? I think she should before you purchase. Also, see if you can find a 20 and buy her a box of slugs. I used to hunt with a 20 youth model (the shorter length worked well with hunting clothes). Kicked like a mule.
No felt recoil even with slugs.
If you will go to Rossiusa.com and type youth in the search box you will find the perfect setup for your wife. The Rossi matched youth sets. A friend of mine has two teenage boys that are very small framed and they love their Rossi’s Their sets come in combos like 20GA,.22,.243 or 20GA,.22,50CAL Good Luck in your search.