I suggested shotgun, with a variety of loads and maybe barrels. What worries me is his rather small wife. She may or may not decide to participate. If she does, a 12ga may intimidate her to the point of avoidance.
Looking forward to comments about smaller gauge shotguns, other than the .410 of course. Dunno how available 16 and 20 even are these days, or loads for them. Got to be easy on small women at least.
The Beretta Xtrema 2 doesn’t hardly have any recoil.
I shoot a 12 GA without a problem.
Small folks can shoot a 12 GA without issue, with proper training and mindset.
Ain't the size of the dog in the fight......
/johnny
Wondering that myself. I’m 6’ so not small but don’t want to shoot through 3 walls either. Guess bear shot would do that. Just looking for major stopping with in-the-dark aim of a shotgun. Maybe 20?
In that situation I would consider a rifle instead. Maybe a lever action rifle in 38/357. Very little recoil yet still deadly well over a hundred yards. And cowboy guns don’t seem so scary to newbs.
Just go AR for both wife and husband .... Maybe in 300 blackout if they want the quiet version with a can on it. Ammo is available in subsonic or hunting loads so it’s a good all round choice for lower 48 general purpose farm or ranch aka remote Arizona homes.
My opinion.
My boys love their 20 ga. Remingtons; I bought them youth models that had a slightly shorter stock and barrel set-up to accomodate juvenile or female body sizes.
Ammo should ought to be available although not necessarily cheap.