find her a 20 ga mossberg 500 with pistol grip 18 inch barrel .
I have one for home defense perfect gun for that managable recoil loaded with 00buck will do the job just fine , also with it being pistol grip short barrel easier to manage in a close quater situation , such as an apartment ...
Those loads also fail to function adequately as defensive loads. They are utterly inadequate for that purpose.
The Box O' Truth #3 - The Shotgun Meets the Box O' Truth - Page 1
The Box O' Truth #14 - Rifles, Shotguns, and Walls - Page 1
12 Gauge
Ballistic gelatin test results : 7 1/2 birdshot - THR
Then draw your own conclusions. This is the kind of argument that will never end. My choice is buck.
I'd say go ahead and get the 12 ga but get some of the reduced recoil 00 buckshot, or some of the mini 2" 00 buckshot shells for home defense. If you throw in the knoxx stock then you are set all around
I'm about 90% sure I'm gonna go this route . Now to find one about 18 " on the cheap is another story .