Women in shooting sports need their own guns - The Rizzini Venus
One size does not fit all
The right fit is crucial when it comes to shotguns. The Italian weapon manufacturer Rizzini carries a sporting and field gun engineered and designed for ladies: the Venus.
When buying a shotgun for hunting, clay target shooting or home defense, there is one key aspect that matters more than anything else. It is neither gauge, nor capacity, nor action type: it is the fit. Shotguns produce higher recoil energy than rifles. A 12-gauge shotgun’s recoil is similar to a .270 Win or a .30-06 depending on the load. Most adults can easily handle a 12-gauge’s recoil with a little practice. Firing a shotgun for the first time might feel uncomfortable since it takes some practice to properly mount a shotgun. However, if you figured out how to mount the gun correctly, adjusted your stance and still end up with a bruised cheek after shooting a few clays, then your shotgun might not fit you properly. Shooting constantly too high or too low is another sign that the stock and/or the stock comb is not properly fitted.
Why standardized shotguns do not work for the ladies
Standardized shotguns or sporting guns are made to fit an average male who is around 1.80 m tall and weighs about 80 kg. The average woman is shorter and lighter. Women do not only differ regarding height and weight from men, also the head-neck complex is different. The neck’s muscular anatomy is thinner in women than men. Males do not only have wider shoulders than females, women also have significantly less shoulder strength, higher shoulder flexibility and range of motion compared to males. In addition to the height differences, men also have bigger heads and longer arms than women, and this is relative to body size. Women also tend to have higher cheekbones than men. To make a long story short: We ladies are built quite differently than the gentlemen. Therefore, standardized shotguns, made for the average male, might not fit us properly.
Ladies need a shorter stock with a higher comb to shot comfortably. The Rizzini Venus has an adjustable stock comb and a rounded buttplate for a more pleasant shooting experience. The reduced grip makes reaching the trigger with small hands very easy.
Do not get discouraged!
It is very important that new shooters have a pleasurable and comfortable experience when shooting for the first time. If it is not, then chances are very slim that they pick up the sport. Unfortunately, many women have a bad experience when shooting clay pigeons for the first time. Since men are still in the majority on the shooting ground, ladies often get for their first tries a standardized gun for males that does not fit them properly. The gun often is too long and too heavy for the ladies to handle, which makes it hard to hit the targets and in the worst case bruise their shoulders and cheeks. Most women need a higher stock than a conventional shotgun stock because they cannot physically get down on the stock with their zygomatic arch (the bottom of the cheek bone) due to longer necks and higher cheekbones. Gun range and shooting ground owners are well advised to carry at least one shotgun model for ladies to lend to those interested in picking up clay pigeon shooting. It enhances the chances to get more ladies into this great and fun sport.
The Rizzini Venus is not only functional but also adorned with beautiful hand finished floral patterns.
Shotguns engineered and designed for ladies
Functionalitly meets design.
Around 2014, Beretta was one of the first weapon manufacturers who released a shotgun for ladies with their Vittoria, adjusting the stock dimensions to the female physique. In the meantime other weapon manufacturers also design shotguns and sporting guns especially for women. I personally shoot a Rizzini Venus. Stocks for ladies are usually shorter and higher (so called Monte Carlo stocks). Ladies gun’s have less pitch (angle of the stock that fits into the shoulder pocket), reduced pistol grips to accommodate smaller hands, shorter barrels and the center of gravity of the shotgun is set back so that they feel lighter.
I shot my first clay targets with my partner’s Beretta 694. I managed to hit some clays but it was rather by some lucky chance than by really knowing what I was doing. After a few clay pigeons I needed to rest my arms because the gun felt very heavy. When shooting clay pigeons, you will follow the flying clay target with your eyes and consequently the barrel, passing ahead of it before firing (so called “swing-through”), letting the clay pigeon fly directly into your shot. In order to hit the clay pigeon it must be executed in one smooth movement. Because the shotgun was too heavy for me I was not able to swing through in one smooth line. I was constantly dropping the muzzle and readjusting it by lifting it back up. A few months later, I took a training course and a hunter kindly let me use his shotgun. I had the same issues and the gun’s recoil directly kicked the stock into my cheek. I remember sitting at the lunch table pressing an ice pack on my cheek to reduce swelling. I finished the season frustrated because I was unable to apply the corrections given by my coaches, not hitting any targets and constantly bruising my cheek and shoulder.
The Rizzini Venus
Then, one fine day, I got a text message from my partner with pictures of a beautiful shotgun made for ladies: the Rizzini Venus. The Swiss importer of Rizzini had two Venuses at his warehouse that I could go and check out. I could hold this beautifully crafted shotgun and he checked the fit with his expert eyes. I was told that the stock was a bit too long and he could shorten it for me, however, I should try first and see how I was doing with it. The Rizzini Venus is specifically engineered and designed for ladies. It features the ever-popular Rizzini round action with delicate scroll engraving, this is combined with a very nicely figured adjustable stock. The Venus is also available with a non-adjustable Monte Carlo stock. The Venus comes in two models: as sport shotgun and as field shotgun.
The Rizzini Venus is slightly shorter and lighter than the Beretta 694, but it felt quite differently! The center of gravity of the Venus is set way backwards so that it feels much lighter and swinging through worked smoothly right from the first clay pigeon that I was taking down. It took some trial and error to adjust the stock to my features: While handling the gun worked quite well, I still was not hitting those targets properly. I did not really know what I was doing wrong. Coaches constantly told me that I would have to move the barrel way ahead of the clay targets. I was still missing. I had no idea where my shot was going when looking down the barrel. I got myself a ShotKam and just after the first use, I figured out that I needed to rise my comb. Well, I immediately started to improve. Since that day I never bruised neither my cheek nor my shoulder ever again. Clay pigeon shooting suddenly was so much more fun!
The rounded buttplate absorbs recoil and turns clay pigeon shooting into a pleasurable exerpience.
Since ladies tend to have longer necks, they need a higher comb. But if just the comb is higher the bottom of the stock does not sit properly in the cup of the shoulder. The Venuses stock is more of a Monte Carlo shape, with a high comb but the butt sole sitting low enough to be comfortable to shoot. Also for a lady shot the toe of the stock is not so pronounced for obvious physical reasons. The standard stock length for a man’s sporting gun is about 38 cm, while the Venus Sporting has a pull length of just under 35.5 cm, again ideal for the typical female shooter. The hand grip is similar to a Prince of Wales grip, making it easier for smaller hands to reach the trigger. The grip provides a more balanced weight distribution, with the weight of the firearm being evenly distributed across the shooter’s hand. This balance enhances stability even further, allowing for better accuracy when aiming and firing. The grip’s design also helps reduce recoil, as the curved shape helps to absorb and disperse the force generated by the shotgun’s discharge, resulting in reduced muzzle rise.
The Rizzini Venus is rather lightweight compared to other sporting guns (especially in the field gun version). Heavier guns are often preferred because they absorb recoil better. However, the recoil of the Venus is rather mild given its light weight, and feels comfortable on the shoulder thanks to the convex buttplate.
Other than that, the Rizzini Venus is just a masterpiece of craftsmanship. It comes in a very pretty case, both barrel and stock wrapped in socks neatly secured by Velcro inside the case. The Turkish walnut wood is of excellent quality and the steel round body is engraved and hand-finished with delicate floral patterns. This gun is not just functional but also very pleasant to the eye.
The Rizzini Venus is manufactured in Italy.
It is all about the right fit
As said at the beginning: it is all about the right fit. Especially in clay target shooting, you need a gun that fits your physique and your features, otherwise you will not have a good experience. This goes not only for women but also for guys who do not conform to the standardized male body. Of course a custom made stock would be the best but an adjustable stock is much cheaper and for the dedicated recreational shooter just as good. Do not get discouraged if your first clay pigeon shooting experience is a bit uncomfortable. If you enjoy being outdoors and shooting at moving targets, consider getting your own shotgun rather sooner than later. With a well fitting shotgun practicing will pay off fast. Ladies, ask if you can borrow a ladies’ gun for your first time on the shooting ground and consider to get a ladies’ model when purchasing your own gun. Make sure to not just buy something. Mount that shotgun and swing it a few times (better shooting it actually but that is not always possible) before purchasing it. Clay pigeon shooting is a lot of fun with the right shotgun. When it is as stunningly beautiful as the Rizzini Venus, even more!
More shotguns for ladies
Other brands:
Also check: