Youth Shotgun

Beerman · Post by **Beerman** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:46 pm

My oldest son will be able to start hunting with me next October. I am looking at getting him a shotgun this winter, and start teaching him to shoot. However, being that I have never bought a youth shotgun before, I am lost. My son is almost 9 and can hunt birds at 10. What recommendations do you have for a gun to carry?

Thank You
Troy

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 8:14 pm

I just went through the same thing last week.

What I ended up doing is going to Sportsmans Warehouse with my son. I asked to see every model of youth shotgun they had in a pump. Then I had my son throw up the various models to see which one fit him best. That narrowed it down to 3 shotguns. For us it was a youth remington, youth mosberg and the youth benelli. (Oh and all of these were in a 20 ga. .410's may not kick hard but its harder to hit with one, at least for me.) The next step is I wanted a fairly light shotgun because we do lots of walking and I wanted to give him a little advantage there. The drawback is the lighter shotgun will kick slightly more than the heavier shotguns.

We ended up going with the youth benelli nova in a 20 ga. He is able to shoot it very well and has carried it over a mile already after dove. He got his first dove with it and he was sure proud!

Over all I believe it was a great choice. I let him put one shell at a time in it so it is used like a single shot but in a year or so once he gets more comfortable he will be able to put the additional 2 shells in it. Also the gun is chambered for 3" shells so this year during duck season we plan on getting some 3" steel shells for him.

I think the downside was the price. It wasnt much higher than the remington 870 I think $20 but it was about $70 higher than the Mossberg. If I remember correct the Mossberg was the heaviest of the 3.

I hope that helps. He is sure proud of that shotgun.

Post by **Ayres** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 8:17 pm

Depends on the person shooting the gun. If the boy is recoil sensitive, I'd be looking for a gas operated semi with a little heft to it to cut down on the recoil. If he's not, then a lighter-weight gun would be more favorable.

You also might look into a less-expensive pump gun. Cycling for a second shot with a pump gun will make a person think about the second shot before just rattling all the ammo out of the magazine, and that's useful for a new shotgunner too.

Mntngoat · Post by **Mntngoat** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:34 am

I just picked up a Franchi 720, 20 ga. gas operated semi auto short stocked (12-1/4"LOP) with 24" barrel for my petite wife. Shooting 3/4 or 7/8 oz loads there should be very little recoil for her.

Michael

Springer · Post by **Springer** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 3:07 pm

I am really a Remington guy but I bought the Winchester Ranger 1300 which is a pump and if you look at them the forarm is set back about three inches further which is where the kids hold the gun because their arms are shorter.

This makes a big difference when holding and swinging the gun. I am really happy that I bought this gun because when you put a coat on him he can still easily shoulder it. When he uses my 12ga. 870 with a 24" barrel and youth stock he has trouble when he has his coat on and gets frustrated so I make him switch back to the 20ga. which he can still drop the roosters but has it in his mind that the 12ga. is better.

I did look at the 1100 youth and the Franchi al48 which is really light but both of these were $2-300 more and with them growing they are only going to use it for maybe (hopefully) 4-5 years I didn't spend the extra money, although you could easily get good money back on these youth models are easy to sell.

gr_elliott · Post by **gr_elliott** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 3:12 pm

dont get this gun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd3I4j-0qS8

bean1031 · Post by **bean1031** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 6:57 pm

good news for you my son just upgraged from a 410 to a 20 so we are looking to sell it. Its the remington sparton spr100 single shot 410. My dad gave the 20 to him so we dont need the 410 any more. We only took it on 2 half day hunts and has less than 100 shots fired through it.
http://www.remington.com/products/firea ... e_shot.asp

Post by **Greg Jennings** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 4:40 am

I started my kids around that age on a 28 ga. Remington 1100 Special Sporting. Recoil of a 410, can get shells up to 1 oz of shot.

With care, it would be a lifetime gun for your boy...provided that you don't fall in love with it and steal it.

The downside is the cost of the 28 ga shells.

Best, Greg J.

Post by **ezzy333** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:07 am

My kids all started with an old bolt action 20 guage Stevens. Never a problem.

Ezzy

Gordon Guy · Post by **Gordon Guy** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 7:22 am

Gas operated LT-20 ga Rem 1100, youth version. I bought one for my son when he was 9 and by 14 he could out shoot most shooters I know, even myself.

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:29 am

Ezzy, can you even get a bolt action shot gun anymore? I mean a new one. I havent seen one. That would be a great starter shotgun.

Post by **ezzy333** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:32 am

I think you can but I admit I haven't seen one for a while either. I sure liked it for a starter gun. They had to carry it empty for a while and then after it seemed they could handle it safely they got to use it with just one shell and then the next year got the clip. It's a great way to go as far as I am concerned.

Ezzy

Ironhorse375 · Post by **Ironhorse375** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 8:55 pm

Scott, My son is a bit older than yours, 16 and I also went with the Benelli Nova, Nice gun cleans easy,came with 3 chokes. The 870 in the safe is a good shooter for me but the nova is working out great for my son.