My company barters Remington 1100 shotguns from a company that tricks them out, and you might find some of this information helpful.
First, about the black stock. These stocks can be painted and decorated, and a competent air brusher, like somebody that works on motorcycles, can make that stock into a piece of art. Even just painting them a solid color looks fabulous. At the US Open about 15 per cent of stocks were painted last year.
Secondly, Jack West makes a synthetic adjustable stock for trap for the 1100. It is pricey, at about $200, but it will give you the necessary adjustments for trap shooting so that the butt is not so high in your shoulder. We have tested the product at it is quite EXCELLENT. There is a plate in the top of the butt stock that goes up and down and sideways. Very slick...well made.
Thirdly, if you want to spend like $300, you can get a custom butt stock for your 1100 from Wenig, and get the New American stock for women. This stock has a parallel comb with a 3 inch drop, and a 13.5 length of pull. Fabulous stock.
Fourthly, be aware that, as SCG has pointed out, that the 1100 shoot fairly flat. In other words, if you aim at a target, about 50 per cent of the shot will be above the target and 50% below. However, the trap people like a gun that shoots high because the clay is always rising. Just think like a trap shooter likes to shoot at the clay, but his gun is actually shooting high from three to six inches (approximations). What you can do is to install a higher center bead on the rib, and if you do that, then there are butt stock considerations to take into account. I recommend Keith Anderson for rib work of this type. This idea might fit with the Jack West adjustable stock.
I personally do not recommend pumps in 12 ga for women shooters. These guns are just too brutal, as concerns recoil for repetitive shooting. Especially for new shooters where you practice a lot. However, Knoxx makes a recoil reduction unit, and sometimes you can get these as low as $60 on
www.cheaperthandirt and they reduce recoil by 60%. You have to watch for a little cheek slap, but you will adjust to that, i.e., you will figure out hot to properly put your face on the stock. Again, we have tested this product, and it is excellent. What is interesting about this product is that it comes in both a 13.5 length of pull and a 14.5 length of pull. You can purchase used Mossberg pumps and used Remington pumps very inexpensively used, or, new, for that matter, and the Knoxx unit will fit them all.
You already have your shotgun, but for your friend I think it is important not to rush into gun ownership and take the time to try guns. SCG was making the point about a 1100 feeling heavy to her compared to her Browning. All of these guns fit differently, and it is important to consider how the gun fits you....although Remington's do fit women well. There is the issue of a trap specific gun, or shell deflectors on the gun so that shells don't eject all the way to the adjacent shooter.
This is my personal opinion about stocks for women. Many women (not all) have longer necks than men. However, the big difference (almost universally) is that women's shoulders slope more than men. What do I mean by slope? Look in a mirror, and move your shoulders towards your ears so that they are more flat...a man's shoulders are more like that.
Women at our gun club have the worst fitting guns in the world and most of them have their neck sqinched over the butt stock...few shoot with a heads up position...even one of the champions in trap on our website squinches over the stock...it has to be terribly uncomfortable.
The answer is to give yourself about a 3 inch drop to heel. However, when you do that, the pitch of the stock, from the receiver, is sharp so the butt stock comes up and back and cheek slaps you, if you have a 13.5 (short) stock, which is what fits many women.
So what's the answer? Wenig has the answer with the New American stock of a drop to heel of 3 inches combined with a parallel comb so that the stock recoils straight back...no cheek slap. If you call Fred at Wenigs he might be able to give you a client in your neck-of-the-woods who has such a stock that you could try.
A Wenig stock, finished, is about $300 I think. However, you could get a lower grade of wood, which is stronger and more dense (absorbs more recoil), put the finishing sanding on it and paint the stock a fancy color, and then just paint your forend to match...$150?...ask Fred at Wenig...I am unsure.
