Hey Garvey, how did Little Hank make out?

Little Hank had the greatest time on his first hunt. Hank's first hunt was a turkey hunt in NH. He is 8 years old and has been shooting sporting clays for the last 6 months. Well he practiced a lot, shooting at turkey targets and making sure the gun had the right pattern. He was ready for the big day. We had 6 long beards over the course of 6 hours that were in shooting range and Hank shot at 2 of them. Missed them both clean. I was very happy with Hank's aditude about the whole thing. We had a great day and Hank learned some very valuable lessons about hunting on Sat. I have to admit before the hunt I really wanted him to get a bird but in retrospect it was great that he did not and he still had a good time. I know there will be a time in the future that he will get a bird but this turned out to be a great first hunt anyway. It was so cool watching him and how he started breathing heavy when the first two toms came in. It was a lot of fun and I would encourage all of you to take a kid out hunting. Thanks Geoff.
 
Sorry for hijacking this thread, but I have a 9 yr old boy and I'm trying to decide on a pump or autoloader in 20 ga.

He's 4'9" and about 80lbs but so far has never experienced recoil from anything beside the BB gun or 22lr. Any advice on selecting a 20 ga. for my kid?

Thanks- Tim
 
Little Hank has a Berretta 391 20ga youth model and is fine shooting it. He is 81 lbs, 4' 8' and 8 years old. The recoil is not an issue. He has also shot Mary's Benelli Montrifello 20ga and notices the diffrence in recoil between the two guns. The other thing is the youth 391 fits much better than Mary's gun and that contributes to the difference in recoil. I would highly recommend the 391 youth gun. Have him shoot light loads and he should be fine. Let me know how you make out. HHG
 
Sounds like Little Hank and my grandson are almost twins. Blake goes about 75lbs and is 4'8 or 9 depending on how he pumps his self up when I measure him. I think I may have to look at that Berreta. Probably the best thing for Little Hank was missing those birds..makes getting one that much sweeter and is more "real life" than trudging out and dropping something immediately..really drives home the word "aim". Congrats to him for taking it like a man.
 
Not bagging a bird, and still enjoying the experience is sure a valuable lesson...sound of you to encourage that perspective. A fine example for the wee man...
Tom
 
Hank thats a great thing, but I cant wait to the the photo of him with that 1st bird someday soon i bet it will be EAR to EAR!

Congrats on a good hunt anytime I was afield with dad back in the day was a great day!
 
Thanks for the nice compliments. It was a great hunt and he is ready to get out again. :) Harker I would run out and get that grandson of your a 391 tomorrow.:) Thanks guys. HHG
 
Whoa! Just priced a 391 youth model...I don't think Grampa gonna spring for that! Gramma would dust Grampa's heiney with it! Guess I need to start making Blake do pushups and weight lifting so he can beef up and tote one of my guns.
 
hey think about it for a second Lee. How bad do you want Blake to be huntign and shooting with you. You can't put a price on that. :) HHG
 
Hmmm..let's see....I buy Blake a thousand dollar gun...Gramma kicks me out of the house and ends up with my guns and boats..which I might have the chance to buy back at tyhe divorce sale...Gramma moves in with Blake and family and gets a restraining order on me....orrrrr.....I poke a hole in the brake line.......yeah, yeah, yeah..don't tell me you all haven't thought about it.
 
Lee, boy I know what you mean about the sticker shock. I am still trying to come up with a second plan. I do believe the gas auto is a big help in slowing the recoil down. I am going to look into either a single shot 20 with a decelerator pad on a cut down stock and maybe 28 ga little skeeter chamber tube, or an 1100 cut down and a whittle job on the forend. I do know Hank is right about the recoil. I have watched well meaning dads line a kid up behind a light 20 ga mossberg pump and stuff in a 3" roman candle. Poor kids eyes cross with each shot and they us. don't return to the skeet field. Too bad. Would love to hear any ideas from the crowd on first guns and how it went back in the day.
 
The Beretta looks like a sweet shotgun, but I was hoping to get into a youth shotgun for a bit less.

I was also considering the Charles Daly youth 20ga. Anyone ever had one of these autoloaders? I haven't seen one in hand yet, but have heard through internet forums that they aren't the greatest quality.

Thanks
 
I bought my son a New England Arms 20ga single shot for his first gun...BAD move..I can't stand to shoot it and my 375 H&H doesn't bother me. I have it at the lumberyard for woodchucks and anybody that thinks they are tough enough to hold us up. I went out and got a Remington 1100LT 20 ga with youth stock for him and he and the wife both shot it with no problems...she is 5' 100lbs and doesn't have a high pain threshold. I sold it last year without thinking and kick myself now. I see Rem. has the 11-87 youth but that Berretta is about a pound lighter and has the different gas system. Mark Rongers has a 20ga Bennelli and that thing is a feather..but then you are back to moohla.The thing about youth model pumps and autos is..you can get a longer barrel and a full size stock when they get bigger so they never outgrow them..unless they want a 12ga. I used my 22/410 for everything till I was 12, then I used my dads 12 ga auto for deer and a borrowed Win 97 till I got my own 870 when I was 16.
 
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Tim,a 20ga autoloader youth model, would be my choice,such as Remington,etc.
If you already own a SxS or O/U in any guage,say 12,you could have removable pads
installed to accomadate you and your son/grandson.Pick the shortest gun you shoot with heavy clothes,
and set it up to fit both of you by changing the recoil pad,then get a pair of Guage Mate gold inserts or Chamber Mate,etc
to reduce down to 28 or .410.If the base gun is a 20ga,you can load or buy low recoil loads,without the
insert reducers.This will save buying another gun,and going through the holes, in the brake line, routine<:>)
 
I bought my son a New England Arms 20ga single shot for his first gun...BAD move..I can't stand to shoot it and my 375 H&H doesn't bother me. I have it at the lumberyard for woodchucks and anybody that thinks they are tough enough to hold us up. I went out and got a Remington 1100LT 20 ga with youth stock for him and he and the wife both shot it with no problems...she is 5' 100lbs and doesn't have a high pain threshold. I sold it last year without thinking and kick myself now. I see Rem. has the 11-87 youth but that Berretta is about a pound lighter and has the different gas system. Mark Rongers has a 20ga Bennelli and that thing is a feather..but then you are back to moohla.The thing about youth model pumps and autos is..you can get a longer barrel and a full size stock when they get bigger so they never outgrow them..unless they want a 12ga. I used my 22/410 for everything till I was 12, then I used my dads 12 ga auto for deer and a borrowed Win 97 till I got my own 870 when I was 16.
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Lee's got this one pegged! I too think the single-shot 20's are horrible as first guns (or any guns for that matter). I also agree the Remmy 1100/11-87 is the lightest-recoiling gun available, even if I am a Beretta/Benelli fan. You should be able to find a used 2 3/4 20ga 1100 with a little looking. If not buy a new 1100, they are relatively cheap at around $500.
 
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