Youth shotguns ?????

Paul "Pablo" Britton

Paul "Pablo" Britton

Active member
Elizabeth has been asking for two years-in-a-row "when can I get my first shotgun?"
I told her we'll wait until she's 9. She's 7 1/2. In the meantime, we bought a pellet gun to begin gun safety
instruction and target practice.

I have been looking at the major manufacturers web sites an not finding much info at all.
A friend has offered, in passing, to sell me a remington youth 20 ga. auto. ( don't know the model yet)

I'm leaning toward an auto (one shell at-a-time) for the lower recoil.
I need a gun that can be passed down through all three kids.
I'm planning a trip to the nearest gun store with a gunsmith for more info.

So:
In your opinion, where do I look?
Any experience; good or bad?
 
Grab that 20 ga auto. It's probably an 1100. I kick myself for selling mine a couple years ago..now that my grandson could use it. The 20 can grow with her by getting an adult stock if she ever needs it.
 
Paul -

Don't pass on the auto! I've talked with a lot of people as we made our decision. We've been spending a bit of time on the range as well and there is a strong consensous that the autos are great starter guns. I bought my 12 y/o a 20 gage youth pump. It was a good price and he's adjusting but its taken a while. The auto has so much less kick. You can keep things safe by handing them one shell at a time. Hey, if you decide not to buy the auto let me know and I'll take it!

Kevin
 
Almost has to be an 1100 but I am not sure of an appropriate price. Nice starter gun.

I bought Drew's youth 870 in 20ga and he had a ball with it because it fit. When he grew up, I refit that gun with an SP adult stock and fore end, new rib glow sights and turned it into a snappy little deer gun. With 20 ga slugs its accurate out to at least 75 yards
 
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Pablo,

I'm a big fan of the auto because of the reduced recoil. Because of that, I started my son Alex on an 11-87 20 gauge (one shell at a time, like you suggested). Because of a deployment, we missed the year I would have started him shooting, so he was a little bit big for a youth gun. I put a youth stock on a 26" barrel gun, which seemed to fit him and balance well. The 21" barrel that comes on the youth guns would be better for a smaller kid.

As others have said, the gun is probably an 1100 (which, most likely, limits you to 2 3/4" shells), as Remington made youth model 1100s for years. I believe they made a 3" youth 20 gauge for turkey, too. They now make the youth model in 11-87, which will take both 2-3/4" and 3". We used to shoot skeet/trap with 2-3/4 shells, which ejected ok (had to switch reloading recipes to get consistant ejection).

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/youth/model_11-87_sportsman.asp

Alex hit a growth spurt and is now about as tall as me, so he's now shooting an 870 12 gauge.

Good luck on your choice.

-Bill
 
A few years back I bought my daughter the 3" Mag 20 ga 1100 Auto Youth Camo ( I think it was called a youth turkey). Couldn't find one used so I bit and bought new. She uses a Light weight Rem 11-87 12ga now but takes the 20ga for Squirrel. Nice gun. I don't regret buying it.

Brian
 
I started out using my Dads 20 Gauge. There wasn't much for waterfowling in the area of my hometown so we mainly hunted Partridge. I can remember that I liked the 20 gauge as it didn't kick near as bad as a 12 gauge. I think that I was probably 12 or 13 when I got my very own 20 gauge single shot cooey for Christmas from my older brother and Father. I hunted with it for quite a few years until I was big enough to handle a 12 gauge. I still have that gun in my locker and wouldn't part with it, although I haven't used it in years. But thats Ok because my girls are getting old enough to start going. Or at least one of them, as daughter #1 (12 years old) isn't interested at all, daughter #2 (10 years old) is darn near clawing at the door to go, and daughter #3 (7 years old) isn't really old enough to make up her mind.

Bill Gass
Oromocto, NB
 
Pablo,

One other thought is you can look on auctionarms.com or gunbroker.com to get ideas on price and other options.

-Bill
 
Waterfowler.com or Delta Magazine had a great article about a year ago about youth guns. The guy in that article went with a Charles Dailey Youth model 3" 20 gauge and trained with Fiocchi low recoil shells. It was a great story, very informative, I will try to find it.
 
Hi Pablo,

!8 years ago I started my 9 yr. old on a single bareled 20 ga. I almost ruined him as the darn gun kicked like a mule. He'd shoot it till he couldn't stand the recoil anymore. I traded it at a local gunshop and bought a Rem 1100 youth model 20. He loved that gun and shot it well until I bought him a shortened 1100 12 ga. whichn he shot extremely well.

That little 1100 20 ga. would be a good bet and if kept clean will last through three children.

Best,
Harry
 
We bought my boy a Mossberg model 500 youth bantam. It is a great little gun. It comes with a removeable piece for the end of the stock. This allows it to be shortened up to suit smaller kids. It has a 3" chamber, and a synthetic stock. We bought it last year at dick's sporting goods. It was around $225. He is only 8 and handles light loads quite well with it. Good luck.....
check this link------> http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=22&display=desc
 
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