Youth shotgun

Looking for a youth 20 guage that my son could use on waterfowl or small game.

How young have you guys “started” your kids with shotguns? I’d worry somewhat about the kick, as my son is 7 currently. I’d rather wait longer than to start him too soon and have a bad experience…

Recommendations? – youth 870? Mossberg? Other? The “fit” on the 870 and Mossbergs were close, but he’s just not quite big enough currently for Santa to put one under the tree this Christmas. Maybe by next fall, though. I heard there are some guns with adjustabe stocks and/or inserts to put in/remove from the stock.. Any insight on those?

Or should I start with a .410 or 28 gauge and work my way up from there?

Dad and I are currently in the same situation. We are looking for a youth 20 gauge model. Dad has 6 grandkids(5 girls) ranging from 10 to 3. We figure the gun will provide years and years of fun. Heck, even Mom will shoot it over her 12 gauge I’m sure.

So far in my research, we are still leaning towards the Mossberg Bantam 500. Although the Super Bantam is also on the list. I like the synthetic for the kids to beat up. I also like the adjustments in the stock. However, the guy in Cabelas couldn’t really explain exactly what adjustments came with the gun. Still researching that.

My daughter started with an Ithaca 20 gage single shot. For her, it didn’t last long. The growth most kids experience between 8 and 10 will usually bump them up in size. By age 12, Olivia was swinging my 3″ 870 with the long barrel and her grandpa’s semi-winchester that weighs in like a sherman tank. But then, Olivia (now 13) is a fanatic for anything that goes BOOM. She shoots a 7mm RUM like its a BB gun, and wants a .338 Lupa for Christmas Sometimes I wonder what I created

BTW if history repeats itself, Cabelas will have that Mossberg 500 on a sale again during their Aug hunting sale. It was a lead item this year

Biggest concern right now is stock fit, weight (to some degree… less weight is good, but it also offsets recoil) and overall length. I have plenty of full sized options for them when they grow into something else (including 870 wingmasters for each of them), but for right now I just need a more compact shotgun until they get a little bigger. When my oldest outgrows this, my youngest should be just about ready for it.

I’ll check out that Cabela’s (and other) sales… I’m in no great hurry.

I’ll check out that Mossberg, too. Anyone else know anything about those? That adjustable stock is very interesting.

Thanks.

I did a very quick look at Mossberg’s site. It looks like you simply remove the butt pad and add a section to the stock, lengthening it.

I bought my son an H and R Pardner pump youth 20ga. It comes with a synthetic camo stock and is under $200. The action is apparently the same as the 870. It is a little heavy but seems to be a great shooting and cycling gun.
DT

Here is a pic.
DT

Anyone know of any youth sized (shorter stock is my main concern) 20 gauge (or even 28 gauge) SEMI-AUTO shotguns out there?

The semi-auto (vs pump, bolt, hammer guns, etc) would be really nice to take away some of that recoil. Add a nice modern recoil pad, and it wouldn’t pound the smaller youths so much.

Who makes a youth sized semi-auto??

http://remington.com/products/firearms/compact/shotguns/model-11-87/model-11-87-sportsman-compact-synthetic.aspx

http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-720-semi-auto-youth-reduced-length/

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=417609&pdesc=TriStar_Youth_Semi_Auto_20_Ga_/24_Barrel/Synthetic_Stock&aID=510D1&merchID=4006

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=84587

http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=37&section=products

A few options….. Anyone have any +/- about these models?

I have never owned one but have heard great things about the CZ shotguns and rifles.

I own a CZ Redhead Deluxe O/U…fit and finish are flawless. Luckily, I can shoot it good too

I’ll give you a few pointers, we went through the same situation a few years ago with Little Bossman.

Stay away from 410’s and 28’s these are true “shooters” guns. They might offer less recoil, but with the reduced payload offered they will in fact “handicap” a new shooter making for a frustrating time.

My little guy started with a 870 with modified stock when he was 5. He was shooting a bow before that so he had developed many of the required skills before picking up a shotgun. Even now at 8 I’m not sure I’d give him a semiauto. With a pump or single he only has one shot before operating the action. An auto opens up a few safety concerns with inexperienced shooter.

Keep it fun, use proper safety equipment, and don’t push them.

CW

Thanks for the thoughts… Could always just have him load one shell at a time to start. I just know that the difference (sore shoulder-wise) between my CZ O/U and Benelli semi-auto is huge when it comes to recoil… That reduced recoil of a semi-auto might be a very nice feature for an 8 year old…

Any hunt we would do would be VERY closely supervised, more than likely with at least one adult not hunting and paying sole attention to him (probably for a few years, anyway)…

I agree, I think going with a 20 gauge would be a much better option vs a 28 or .410….

Thanks for the ideas.

That Mossberg looks great, but I handled one last spring and was surprised how light it was. I know the goal is to get a nice handling, right-sized gun for our kids, but it brought back memories of a youth model 870 a buddy used to own. Fit great, shot great, light as a feather…..but kicked harder than most 12 gauges.

That said, has anyone put on aftermarket recoil pads or tried to control recoil in other ways? I think that Bantam would be great for my 6 year old, but I’m concerned about the recoil affecting the mental part of the equation.

Joel

Knoxx has an adjustable pistol grip stock with what they say is up to 85% recoil reduction. It’s available in the 870 20ga but I’m not sure about the others. Little Bossmans gun has an adjustable ATI stock on it and he shoots 1 1/2 once Heavy Weights, and has never had a problem. I also think the change of angle of your arm using a pistol grip helps too, but thats just a opinion and I don’t have any data to prove it. His 20 has had some slight mods to the barrel (forcing cone, polished)but no porting so I’m not sure how much effect that might have on felt recoil.

CW

That is pretty cool CW.