Youth shotgun

[Robert2102]

Can anyone recommend a youth shotgun? I'm taking my son out for Turkey hunting and I want to get him his own. Also, even as a youth shotgun what would be a minimum age that could handle the recoil without scaring him away from shooting? Any advice would be appreciated

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[msteiger]

How old is your youth and how much do you want to spend?

I think a common choice for kids is a single shot 20 gauge; many of my friends grew up shooting those. They are light guns (so easy to carry), cheap, and sized for kids. But because they're light, they kick relatively hard. My same friends won't shoot them anymore because they kick too hard. I can't actually find any single shot versions online right now, but Turners has this youth model pump. I'm sure Fine Firearms could set you up something as well.
http://www.turners.com/mossberg/mossberg-500-bantam-all-purpos-6978

Now if you can spend a little more, a semi-auto 20 gauge might be a good choice. It will reduce recoil and if you get about the right size (or one that's adjustable), your kid can grow into and still use it for a long time.

 

[TRICER]

More then age is what is his head like. Is he focused patient and do you trust him with your life. I have 4 kids my two oldest boys 9 and 7 have been in the field with me for years. My nine year old has the head to hunt but he is just not that big. I bought him a youth escort semi auto 20ga (thanks Fine Firearms) and it is still to big for him. It will fit him great next year. For now he carries a Rossi .410 single shot it made him cry when he was younger but now he shoots it fine and has learned to hold it tight to his shoulder. He also shoots a ton of .22 out of his savage. Another bonus is it is about as safe of a gun as you can get safety and only fires when caulked like a singe action revolver.

Now my seven year old is a different story he is a spitting image of me he can't sit still and only thinks 10% of the time everything else is just reaction. He has his hunting license but won't be carrying a gun for a few years. For now I only take him out for dove and rabbit quail beats him up with all the miles it involves. But he really enjoys dove and according to him since he rings there neck he is the one killing them I only shot them.

Get him out in the field with you and see how he does my nine year old will sit on a coyote stand like a rock for 20 minutes the seven year old starts howling and making his own rabbit distress calls after 2 minutes. Bottom line every kid is different. If you boy is big enough and has a good head for hunting get him a 20ga semi auto to reduce recoil buy a ton of shells and get him down to P2k to shoot some clays. If you don't want to spend $600 on a shotgun the youth 870 is nice but will have more recoil. There is nothing I enjoy more than hunting with my boys I know there limits and also base my hints around those limits recognize the time in the field with your boy is way more important then the game you get.

 

[Nicholas909]

Take a look at the weatherby sa-08 compact in 20 gauge. My daughter started shooting my 12 gauge at 10 but it was to heavy for her to shoulder more then a few times. Another thought is a stoeger over/under. Or any over/under.

 

[ilovesprig]

I suggest getting him a youth 870 20 gauge (the autos are very nice if you can afford them).....Very solid gun that will last for years......It can also be restocked to standard sized 20......I'm totally against any hammered shotgun......And like I've stated before, they are not allowed at our youth hunts........2 cents.


ps......I have a Mossberg Bantam that a lot of kids have shot their 1st stuff with.....Close to 20 yrs old and still going strong.....You're more than welcome to try it out.

 

[msteiger]

Steve what's wrong with hammered (not that I'm disagreeing)?

 

[ilovesprig]

Steve what's wrong with hammered (not that I'm disagreeing)?

Matt,

Too dangerous.......Having to pull the hammer back in the excitement of a flushing bird for new hunter is not easy.....If you walk up on a bird with it cocked, then in essence, it's off safety.

On a normal shotgun, the safety should be taken off all in one motion as the gun is being shouldered.....The finger should be on the safety, not on the trigger, and eyes on the moving target.....This is virtually impossible to do for a hammered gun and youngster (they will look down to cock).

Beretta's (& some Benelli's) are fine shotguns, but the reason I personally don't shoot them is because the safety is in front of the trigger guard. When my hand is around the pistol grip, my finger is in a natural position to be on the safety......Again, all in one motion as I prepare to shoot.

A hammered gun for turkey hunting?.....Maybe because it's for the most part a stationary target. But again, it would have to be cocked in advance of the bird getting close.

Really the bottom line is there's a lot of good, reasonably priced, youth guns these days. There weren't when I was a kid. So hammered guns were quite popular.....No good reason to use one nowadays.

ps......And they do kick like a mule......

 

[msteiger]

All sound reasons. Thanks Steve.

 

[Gspman]

I second the youth 20G escort semi auto. my wife has been shooting one for years. she has litteratlly 1000's of rounds with Zero issues just keep it clean since its a gas gun. it light and easy to handle but very little kick since its auto and gas. my kids learned wiht just one in the chamber so the auto function was not a safety issue

 

[TRICER]

I second the youth 20G escort semi auto. my wife has been shooting one for years. she has litteratlly 1000's of rounds with Zero issues just keep it clean since its a gas gun. it light and easy to handle but very little kick since its auto and gas. my kids learned wiht just one in the chamber so the auto function was not a safety issue

X2 the gun doubles as my wives gun as well.

 

[Robert2102]

Thank you all for your input, I'm compiling a shopping list!

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[Boudroux]

I'm going through this right now myself. My 7 yr old is ready for his own shotgun. He is big and strong for just turning 7, 4'6" and 85 pounds, so I'm able to look at slightly bigger guns. I was originally going to get him a Rossi single shot 410 but after reading and talking to other fathers I've changed my mind.

He is going to get a Franchi Affinity Compact in 20g. It is a 5.5 pound gun with the 24" barrel or 5.7 pounds with the 26" barrel, you can adjust the LOP from 12.5 to 13.5 and from what I've been told the gas operated system really makes this gun a light "kicker". The upside is this gun should fit him until well into his teen years so it should save money in the long run.

I've told him that once he passes the hunters safety course I buy him the gun. He reads from the book each night with my help and I'm hoping he passes it early/mid next year.

http://www.franchiusa.com/affinity-compact-shotgun

 

[SurfNHuntSD]

I'm going through this right now myself. My 7 yr old is ready for his own shotgun. He is big and strong for just turning 7, 4'6" and 85 pounds, so I'm able to look at slightly bigger guns. I was originally going to get him a Rossi single shot 410 but after reading and talking to other fathers I've changed my mind.

He is going to get a Franchi Affinity Compact in 20g. It is a 5.5 pound gun with the 24" barrel or 5.7 pounds with the 26" barrel, you can adjust the LOP from 12.5 to 13.5 and from what I've been told the gas operated system really makes this gun a light "kicker". The upside is this gun should fit him until well into his teen years so it should save money in the long run.

I've told him that once he passes the hunters safety course I buy him the gun. He reads from the book each night with my help and I'm hoping he passes it early/mid next year.

http://www.franchiusa.com/affinity-compact-shotgun

I have an Affinity in 12G and love it. Super light, no issues thus far, and well balanced pointer. The 20G should be a good starter for him.

 

[ilovesprig]

Awesome choice.............. 8)

 

[pchen911]

Went through this same decision process myself just a few weeks ago for my 8 year old son. He is not particular big for his age, making the choices a bit more difficult.

Decided on the Mossberg 500 Super Bantam in 20 gauge. 12" LOP, 22" barrel, perfectly sized, adjustable LOP to 13" for when he is older. Safety not too stiff for him to work himself. (Most hammer guns require quite a bit of cocking effort, making it difficult for kids his size).

Few concerns I had other than sizing:
1. Front end cannot be too heavy so that he "leans back" to compensate
2. Recoil needs to be manageable so that he does not develop a flinch

He shoots .22 and hunted with me this summer with perfect form, a very nice and steady trigger pull with no jerks and no flinch. I don't want to ruin that perfect form with a hard kicking shotgun.

I'm happy with the choice of Super Bantam (other than the fact that I just missed the sale Dicks Sporting goods is going to have on this gun after Thanksgiving.... could have saved $50, but oh well).

Here is a short video of him taking is very first shot using this shotgun... His very first time using a shotgun in fact. Good fit, manageable recoil. Yea, I think this is going to work fine for many years to come.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coUHjMT2fjM

 

[topher1111]

I started on a Remington 870 Youth model. I loved it. But for me, I've been around guns all my life so the recoil which wasn't bad for me didn't scare me away from shooting/hunting. But that gun is a great gun and it came in 20 gauge. Also for me, I was a little taller than your average 8-10 year old.

 

[Stump7100]

I suggest getting him a youth 870 20 gauge (the autos are very nice if you can afford them).....Very solid gun that will last for years......It can also be restocked to standard sized 20......I'm totally against any hammered shotgun......And like I've stated before, they are not allowed at our youth hunts........2 cents.


ps......I have a Mossberg Bantam that a lot of kids have shot their 1st stuff with.....Close to 20 yrs old and still going strong.....You're more than welcome to try it out.

Youth 870 20 gauge..... my boy when he was little shooting one.