youth shotgun

J

Jeremy Melcher

New member
Hey all, Just wondering if anyone can recommend a shotgun for my 10 year old stepson? He's a lightwieght, probably around 85 pounds. He's also not very tolerant to pain and definately wouldn't be able to put up with much of a recoil. We just inherited a small boat and I'm in the process of getting it ready for duck hunting. I'd love to take him with me cause the wife doesn't like to kill things and he needs to get away from the video games. He's taking the hunter safety course right now and i'd like to give him a shotgun for when he graduates. I'm thinking 20 gauge but I just have no idea what to get. Please help! Thanks! - Jeremy Melcher
 
remington puts out a 28 ga 870 it's a pump witch i think is a good starter gun it has less recoil then the 20 but shell are pricey and hard to find but i hear with the popularity they are now producing it.if anything if you start him on the 28 it may be an easier transition to the 20.Good luck,keep the youth hunting,fresh air beats video games any day
 
Jeremy

You might look at the Remington youth 20 ga 870. I bought one for my son when he was 11. His uncle bought him a full size stock that Remington offers for the youth model. As he grew we put the larger stock on. I use this gun when I don't want to shoot my 12ga 870. It's a sweet little gun and shells are readily available. I'm not sure Chad will ever get to "borrow it back". He is now 24.

Rod
 
If you ccan afford it get a youth model Rem 1100 or 1187. These are gas operated guns and have little recoil. Satart him out with the lightest loads you can find. You can find these guns used if you look around. What ever you do DONT get a .410
 
I like Remington shotguns, but I think Mossberg makes a good youth model shotgun. Mossberg makes the 500 Bantam in 12 ga and 20 ga. Not only is the stock shorter, but the forearm is moved back and it comes with 3 chokes. The 12 ga can shoot loads from low recoil 1 ounce loads to 3" steel shot. A couple of years ago the cost was ~$249.

If you want to hunt get at least a 20 ga. You can shoot 3" 20 ga loads to hunt
 
Last edited:
Skip the single shots, especially the hammer guns.

They are super light so they kick like a mule and most of them have a lot of drop in the stock, so they don't shoot where most people look.

Exposed hammer guns are simply a bad idea in the hands of a beginner.

NR
 
I don't agree with Nick at all about hammered single shots. I started with a $15 OLD H&R Topper. I learned then & still take my time. My youngest brother learned on a pump. I'll freely admit that he is the most productive hunter in our family, but you can always tell it is him when you hear 3 quick shots. When he throws up his shotgun (or 7600) he starts laying down the lead.

H&Rs are safer now because they have a transfer bar. With a 85 dollar H&R you can tell if the safety is on with a quick glance (hammer not back). If you don't like the drop you can add bondo to the wood (THEY ARE CHEAP).

I'd get a 12 guage & shoot light reloads.

I think you said your stepson is 10 or 11. Pretty young. At that age my son was happy to tag along with a BB gun & murder the occasional tin can of leaf floating in a stream.
 
Youth model 1187 or 1100 like stated before in a 20 gauge...It will be a perfect gauge for a youngster starting out...By the time he gets into his teens he'll probably be outshooting most others in the blind, very little recoil even in high brass loads...Great duck gun...I am 5'7" in stature and use a 20 gauge 1100 youth, 4s and 2 shot in the fastest steel I can find...

Regards,

Kristan
 
I went the H&R route to try to save a few bucks. Bought a 20 and then went to work on the stock to get a good comb hight and length of pull. I installed a 3\4 inch thick recoil pad at 11 3\4 inches LOP and then a parallel comb with a cheekeze pad to give a flat spot for cheek weld and a softer contact point.
I then loaded up the lightest 3\4 oz lead load I could get from Hodgeden which they now list in the online site. 1100fps. (28 ga standard payload).
Still too much for my son last summer. He does not like the loud noise or kick.
He was shooting 1 1\2 inch balloons at 50 feet all night a week ago with a 22 rifle standing free hand but I am working the shotgun side out still.
I have located a loner 1100 auto 20 for this spring if the H&R can not be made to fit the bill.
I think the 12 Ga H&R would be a better place to start due to the higher wieght. A 3\4 oz 12 ga load at 1100fps just might be a better way, but I dont know.
I agree a good low dollar starting gun is needed, but I think a lot of times a bad first experience can set a program back a few years at least.
Another idea is the chamber inserts in 410 to get the payload down to help with recoil for those who dont reload. Start with water in milk jugs for fun. Balloons next then moving ground targets like a slow rabbit. Then Fliers.
Some Kids just take off and others go slower. My sons close friend is shooting more trap on a saturday than I would myself and he loves it.
Others here have kids shooting steel at ducks with a 20. Those loads have some kick.
 
I see a lot of folks recommending Remington youth shotguns. My experience with my 9 year old son Thomas is the forend is too long causing him to stretch too much. That would only add to recoil felt and make it akward as hell to shoot. We got Thomas a Stoeger 20 youth model. Best gun puchase I've ever made. He swings it like a little pro and has never complained about recoil. Shedding 3" of action really makes a double fit pre-teen kids quite well. My only complaint is the safety was quite difficult to operate. I took the gun apart and eased the safety spring so that is it quite manageable now for small cold hands yet plenty safe. I would buy this gun again in a heartbeat. I've yet to be convinced there is a better choice out there. One other note. The gun has a nice feature in that everytime it is broken open the safety resets. That ensures that after reloading the gun is safe. A good habit but little ones might not always remeber that in the heat of excitement.

ThomasCloserBGD.jpg

 
I agree with Eric 100%. My 12 year old is shooting the Stoeger O/U, and it's the best investment I've ever made. An O/U is balanced SOOOO much better for a small shooter, it's much simpler to shoot, much safer with no exposed hammer, etc. In fact I just won a youth 870 at a D.U. banquet and am trying to talk my 12 year old into using it so I can give his Stoeger to his 9 year old brother, but it just doesn't fit him right.

Even the semi automatics have so much weight out front, and the kids have to put their hands way out there, that the o/u is even better.

Plus, for around $320, you can't beat the price.

Good luck,
 
For about that same $320.00 you can get a Charles Daly youth model 20 ga. autoloader. It's a gas recoil system, and so the felt recoil is almost non-existent. It's also got a very short overall length - in fact it's similar in length to the Stoeger youth model O/U (We compared the two when we were shopping). It's about the same weight, too. My daughter has shot this weapon for 3 years now, and has become quite proficient with it. She started when she was 12, and about 80 pounds soaking wet. I've never heard her complain about either weight or recoil. We got the model with the black synthetic stock, so it can take those rainy duck days with just a quick wipedown. If you like a gas autoloading shotgun like the Beretta Extrema, you'll be pleased with the Charles Daly for sure - especially for the price!
 
I would put a second on the mossberg youth 535. It comes with an adjustable stock so that it is not a one size fits all. My son has shot one since the age of 8. He has the combo camoflague model. The rifled slug barrel which came with it is every accurate as well.
 
I have had experience with a H&R 20 ga. youth model, Remington 11-87 and 870 youth shotguns in 20 ga., and Mossberg 500 Bantam shotguns in 20 ga. and 12 ga.

The youth model 20 ga H&R would make grown men flinch. The reason I recommend the Mossbergs is because the forearms are moved back as well as having the short stock. The Mossbergs weigh less than the all steel Remingtons and pumps do kick more than a gas operated semi-auto. It did not matter if it was a pump or semi auto, they were all single shots in the beginning. The kids only got one shell at a time when they started shooting.
 
Both of my sons started with youth model 20 guage pumps. Heavy enough to not kick them to death, causing problems with hitting the target. 28 gauge would also be good but a little light on firepower and you have to reload to afford it. My first gun was a single shot kicker, hated it,thats why I would choose the pump.The autoloader is fine but it is to easy just to unload on something.Take him squirrel hunting.
 
Amen Steve,
The 410 (often called "the idiot stick" in skeet circles) is an experts gun. With it's miniscule shot charge there is little leeway for a poorly placed shot. Stay away from the 41 caliber shotgun unless you are shooting all 4 gauges in skeet etc.
JMO,
Harry
 
Here's another thought.... I had an old 870 express in 28 gauge (probably around $350 new) laying around. I bought an extra stock and extra barrel on e-bay for $100 total. I sawed the stock off to about 11" LOP so it would fit my 9 year old. I planned on sawing the barrel off too (I know it would make it a cylinder bore but for skeet it wouldn't hurt... we've done it before), but the extra barrel I got was a really light one with no rib, so the gun wasn't too front heavy.

We went out Saturday and the little twerp shot a 30 out of 100 at sporting clays. More importantly, he got better as the day went on in stead of in the past when he'd want to quit or get worse from swinging and getting pounded by that 20 gauge.

And when he grows out of it I'll put the original stock and barrel back on and it's good as new.
 
My youngest son shot his, first 25 in skeet with my 28 870. I think the gun manufactoers got it wrong on 20 guage youth guns. I have had kids shoot my SBE better than their own 20 guage 1187's. 28 guage is the best youth guage, if you can afford it. John
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top