Youth Shotgun choices

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BigBraz15

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Just wanted to hear from others and their choices for selecting a shotgun for youth hunters.

I know that typically a semi auto will have less recoil, and a pump is easier for smaller hands to operate, so interested in hearing why you made the choice you did.
 
One of the shorter barrel SxS sold by intersurplus?

Chop the stock to fit, as he/she gets older, just fit another extension.
- once he's much older, the extensions will remind him of the good old times...

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For younger shooter, weight will most likely be a big factor
 
I love the generally lighter weight and slim wrists of English SxS shotguns,
Or a scaled action Spanish gun.
My first one that I owned however was a Franchi Falconet 20 gauge, fantasticly lightweight and easy to shoot !
Cat
 
I am not a big guy, and to this day the shotgun that fits me the best is my old 20ga Remington 870 Express Youth model. Taught all my kids to shoot with this. It's not the quality of a Franchi or Benelli, but the size was right when I first bought it in my early 30s and except for the "rubber" buttpad that seems to have the softness of a hockey puck, it's a great shotgun for both young shooters, females, and smaller statured adult men like me as well.
 
My kids all learned to shoot a shotgun with a Remington 1100 LT20 Magnum. These guns are a bit heavier than a lot of other 20 g guns but they are lighter than most 12 g guns. Being a semi they are not muzzle heavy and the gas system spreads the recoil over a longer period of time which along with the weight has the effect of lightening the recoil.
The problem with light weight guns is that they tend to kick harder than most new shooters would like, and older guns with a lot of drop at the comb can tend to give some people a good whack in the cheek bone. There isn't a quicker way to turn a new shooter off shooting than to beat them up around the face with recoil!
 
FF has it.
A-5 in 20 gauge would be my pick.
Bit hard on the pocket book.

Maybe a 28 gauge if you don't mind spending a bit more on ammo.
 
Last year I bought the grandkids a mossberg 510 bantam 20ga pump. As it comes, it is VERY muzzle heavy and so light that the recoil made it hard on the kids shoulder. I filled the buttstock with BB’s (saw this on a YouTube video) and it added about 2 pounds to the gun and brought the balance back to just ahead of the trigger guard. After that little mod, my 9YO grandson could easily shoot 100 rounds and not bat an eye. They come with a removable spacer for stick length but seriously don’t know who they intended to use it without the spacer which, iirc gives a 10” trigger pull, 12” with the spacer installed. With the weight added to the butt it is a great little 20ga pump for kids and relatively cheap to buy.
 
Thanks for all the replies. Hoping to be hunting ducks/geese if we can get them in close enough, and some grouse here and there. I found an 1187 compact which seems to be okay and cycles perfectly for me, but it doesn’t always cycle for my boy.
 
thegazelle said:
I am not a big guy, and to this day the shotgun that fits me the best is my old 20ga Remington 870 Express Youth model. Taught all my kids to shoot with this. It's not the quality of a Franchi or Benelli, but the size was right when I first bought it in my early 30s and except for the "rubber" buttpad that seems to have the softness of a hockey puck, it's a great shotgun for both young shooters, females, and smaller statured adult men like me as well.
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^I'd second this recommendation, but there are (were?) 3 size options of 870s. Regular/youth (21" barrel) and really small? The youth/21" barrel is about as short as you ought to go if you're shooting clays, there is an 18.5" version too.

I use it myself, and like shooting it like thegazelle does. I'm too tall for the shorter LOP that I picked-up a full-sized buttstock to try on it. Looks a bit weird, and I didn't shoot it was well. lol Still a favorite.
 
Hmmm. I think a beginner (youth or otherwise) should start with a single-shot gun. Concentrating on your (only) shot produces much better marksmanship over time. A single-shot with an exposed hammer is easy to use, and has safety advantages. A single-shot is also inexpensive. If the interest, skill and commitment is there, then moving up to a repeater will be an exciting moment. Just my 2 cents.
 
It's all about the gauge really. Just go with 20ga. and single barrel for the weight.
I learned as a kid with a 20ga over/under. Was surprised at the mule kick of a 12ga, when I finally got my hands on one.
 
Pinfire said:
Hmmm. I think a beginner (youth or otherwise) should start with a single-shot gun. Concentrating on your (only) shot produces much better marksmanship over time. A single-shot with an exposed hammer is easy to use, and has safety advantages. A single-shot is also inexpensive. If the interest, skill and commitment is there, then moving up to a repeater will be an exciting moment. Just my 2 cents.
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I have a single shot 410 we have been working on, unfortunately can’t use the 410 for geese.
 
Pinfire said:
Hmmm. I think a beginner (youth or otherwise) should start with a single-shot gun. Concentrating on your (only) shot produces much better marksmanship over time. A single-shot with an exposed hammer is easy to use, and has safety advantages. A single-shot is also inexpensive. If the interest, skill and commitment is there, then moving up to a repeater will be an exciting moment. Just my 2 cents.
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The problem with single shots, is that they are light, so recoil is much greater. Even a 20 gauge can be harsh in a lightweight gun. And don't bother suggesting a 410, a 410 is a terrible choice for a new wingshooter, because if they don't hit anything, they usually lose interest.
 
Pinfire said:
Hmmm. I think a beginner (youth or otherwise) should start with a single-shot gun. Concentrating on your (only) shot produces much better marksmanship over time. A single-shot with an exposed hammer is easy to use, and has safety advantages. A single-shot is also inexpensive. If the interest, skill and commitment is there, then moving up to a repeater will be an exciting moment. Just my 2 cents.
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^i agree in principle, single better than a semi etc. but in my experience with single-shot shotguns=no thanks. I've owned a few (Cooeys) and fired a few others=not allot to like if you ask me. A Cooey 84 in 20ga. is not a light gun, and not a fun one to use in my opinion. Neither are the 410s. The 12s at least feel right and an appropriate weight.

I've been shotgunning for decades, and would almost rather not shoot than shoot if the only option was a Cooey 84. (using that as the example) An 870 youth pump is not an unruly gun, nor are follow-up shots dangerously accessible or quick for new shooters. What it IS is what a single-shot isn't=well balanced and kinda fun to shoot.

Just my opinion.
 
The concept of using only a single shot for a new shooter is understandable but in reality the new shooter should be supervised and only allowed to load one shell until proper safety rules are established and followed so a multi shot gun should not be a problem.
Frankly, outside of specialized trap guns I've never shot a single shot that I would want to use again!
 
Falconflyer said:
The concept of using only a single shot for a new shooter is understandable but in reality the new shooter should be supervised and only allowed to load one shell until proper safety rules are established and followed so a multi shot gun should not be a problem.
Frankly, outside of specialized trap guns I've never shot a single shot that I would want to use again!
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Exactly, even a semi auto isn't a safety issue with proper training/supervision. It is used as a single shot, until the shooter demonstrates that he/she, can be trusted with more than one round in the gun. Meanwhile a 20 gauge semi isn't overly heavy, yet recoil is less than with any other action , in the same weight of shotgun.
 
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