HD shotgun for 4'11" 100 lb wife

Mossberg does make one with a muzzle break in pump w/pistol grip or semi-auto with full stock and pistol grip and muzzle break

 

This + This = Perfect shotgun for her. :happy0001:

 

If she plans on shooting from the hip in a defensive situation, make sure she practices hip shooting...a lot. At close range, even bird shot doesn't have much of a spread. For the un-trained, hip shooting is akin to "spray and pray"...or even worse.

 

I'm sure she could handle a 12 guage with a Knoxx stock and low recoil loads.

 

I don't know about the knoxx stocks, but low recoil loads of 00 buck should be fine for Her.
and the low recoil buck shot tends to pattern better to :happy0001:

 

If she was to really need it the adrenaline would make shooting it a moot point. The most important thing is if the gun fits her, and she aint afraid of it.

 

See if you can find her a 20 ga pump, my wife is 5 ft 2 and a 12
is way to much for her.
A 20 is just as deadly.
Winchester 1300 Defender

 

I'd agree on from the shoulder rather than from the hip as well. I've read great feedback on the Knox stocks for recoil reduction. I'm more of an 870 guy with no Mossberg experience but another add-on alternative for recoil absorbtion might be a Hogue Youth stock with 13" LOP + a Limbsaver recoil pad. The Hogue stock already has a built-in pad that works well but you can then test with either 13" or 14" LOP.

NOTE: Some people have knocked themselves in the eye socket with their thumb knuckle using just the 13" stock. Test for fit first to see if the face it too close to the thumb. :-)

 

I agree that the 20 is deadly, but there isn't as much a variety ammo for the 20 as there is the 12.