Help me pick a shotgun for my boy!

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mvarley84

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My son turns 12 in a month, and will be taking his hunters ed/CFSC in early may. I want to pick him up a shotgun for his birthday...something he can take duck hunting come the fall. At 5'3", and 130 lbs, he is pleanty big enough for a 12g, but I think a 20 would be better suited for long mornings of duck blasting. I have looked at a few for him, but I am worried that he will out grow the 20, and I will have to buy him a 12 in 2 or 3 years anyways. Any suggestions??

I am not looking to spend a #### load of money, something in the $350 range (new or used).

Thanks!!
 
At 11 I bought my son a youth 870 in 20 ga, then a couple yrs later I ended up buying him a used 12ga 870, but he at 11 was not big enough for a 12.

Last yr I bought my wife who was new to hunting a new maverick 12 ga field model, with the option for the same price being a well used 870.

While if you compare it to a remington or browning pump, well, let's say it's stamped, and looks the price....I've gotta admit, it functions absolutely flawlessly, is light, handles well, and the recoil is truely minimal.

I still don't like the plastic stock and look of it, but dollar for dollar it's pretty tough to beat. (and mossberg screw in chokes fit it)
 
At 130 pounds he should have no problem with a 12 gauge with some lighter loads, he will being growing plenty yet and in a short time have no issues with full size loads. There are more 12G on the market than anything else and more likely to find a good price. Having that said, a 20gauge is every bit of a 12 gauge until you get into mag loads. An ounce of number 4 shot in a 12g, is exactly the same as an ounce of number 4 in a 20g. Either will work. If you go for the 20g, make sure it takes 3 inch magnums for future use.
 
Suka said:
At 11 I bought my son a youth 870 in 20 ga, then a couple yrs later I ended up buying him a used 12ga 870, but he at 11 was not big enough for a 12.

Last yr I bought my wife who was new to hunting a new maverick 12 ga field model, with the option for the same price being a well used 870.

While if you compare it to a remington or browning pump, well, let's say it's stamped, and looks the price....I've gotta admit, it functions absolutely flawlessly, is light, handles well, and the recoil is truely minimal.

I still don't like the plastic stock and look of it, but dollar for dollar it's pretty tough to beat. (and mossberg screw in chokes fit it)
Click to expand...

I have heard good things about them as well, and that would be the direction I would go if I end up with a 12g I think.
 
I think it is possible to overthink the question.
If you are looking for economy and longer term use I suggest an 870 Express in 12g. Your boy can start out on ducks if that is your game using lighter 2 3/4 inch and he can move to 3 inch when comfortable with the gun and if 3 inch is an appropriate load.(eg: if geese are around).

I was about your boy's size when I was 11 and I shot 12g 2 3/4 inch all the time. So did my buddies. That was, of course, all we had access to in those days. We scarcely knew there were other gauges.
 
mvarley84 said:
My son turns 12 in a month, and will be taking his hunters ed/CFSC in early may. I want to pick him up a shotgun for his birthday...something he can take duck hunting come the fall. At 5'3", and 130 lbs, he is pleanty big enough for a 12g, but I think a 20 would be better suited for long mornings of duck blasting. I have looked at a few for him, but I am worried that he will out grow the 20, and I will have to buy him a 12 in 2 or 3 years anyways. Any suggestions??

I am not looking to spend a s**t load of money, something in the $350 range (new or used).

Thanks!!
Click to expand...

Get him a 12 gauge Remington 870 pump.

1. The gun will last him well into his adulthood.
2. 12 ga ammo is more readily available than 20 ga (cheaper too).
3. I wouldn't want to use a 20 ga on geese, I'd be using a 12 ga with at least 3" shells.
4. 12 ga is good for upland game birds too provided you use a upland game bird load (2 3/4" shell with shot size #7)
 
I started my boy with a 870 Express youth in 20 gauge when he was 10. At the time the plan was to let him learn with that, then get another full sized 870 in 12 gauge. If need be the butt-stocks could be swapped to shorten the 12, then swapped back as he grew into it.

It didn't quite work out that way, a BPS came up from another member and the girls now shoot the little 20. With 3" Kent steel it clobbers ducks well up to about 30 yards or so.
 
my dad bought me an 870 as my first shotgun, and its still my go to gun for upland and ducks. best bang for your buck brand new 349 and it will last a life time.
 
get him a bantom mosburg thy come with stock add ons for when he grows . and are way better guns the any 870 express . DUTCH
 
12ga 870 Express

I have to jump on board with the 870 crew. For versatility & availability it can't be beat.

It sounds like your lad is already at the stage of being too grown up for a "youth" model. To know for sure though, have him handle a couple different models at your gun store.

I recomend a 12 guage as well. I find that a 20ga with 2.75" magnum loads kicks just as much as a 12 guage with 2.75" duck loads. Training loads for the 12ga are pretty easy on the shoulder as well. Though you might be leaning towards 20ga now, in a year or two he will want to upgrade. It's logistically easier if you're both shooting 12's as well.

Hope this helps.

Tim
 
You never outgrow a 20. You can only outgrow a 'Youth' gun.

But that being said, if a Youth gun is what fits him NOW, buy that and then sell it when he outgrows it. They are in demand on the used market so you won't lose much on the deal. Trying to shoot a gun that doesn't fit will be an exercise in frustration. Imagine yourself trying to shoot skeet with a 10 ga. BPS, 34" barrel, and a two-inch spacer added onto the stock - that's what an adult 12 ga will feel like. Now picture your son with a Youth gun; shortened stock and a 21" barrel, either 12 or 20 depending on how much recoil you think they can handle. If they can hit the target, they won't mind the recoil.
 
I recently bought my son a 870 compact 20 gauge, after a day or two of shooting we decided it was a hair too big, so I got him a 870 Jr. 20 gauge.
Me, I didn't like the Mossberg, it felt very cheap. When we were shopping around he shouldered one, and said "is this a real gun?", certainly got a laugh out of everyone around.
870's come in different sizes, smallest being the "youth Jr", then the "youth" then the "compact", each one gaining 1" LOP. Of course the full size comes after that. Each one also comes with a variety of extensions so you can grow the gun with the kid.
Not sure I would pursue waterfowl with a 20, but for a fun gun it has a lot to offer, the recoil does not bother him at all so I can only imagine an 11 year old would love a 12 gauge.
Once they outgrow "youth" you simply have to buy a new stock, the receivers are all the same.
Good luck with whatever you choose! And great parenting decision.
 
I would go with an O/U. It balances better. !2 or 20 with a 3'' shell.
He can always pass it on to his kids. Get a good one.
 
I bought my son an 870 Express here on Gunnutz when he was 12. He loves it and shoots very well with it. He had used an old Ithaca pump in 16 gauge for his first year of duck hunting, but 16 gauge steel is expensive and hard to find. It seems to fit him well. Now at 13, he is about 5" 10" and doesn't worry if he is using 3" shells or not and when we shoot at clays, he easily outshoots me.(Not that I am very good at clay targets)
Make sure the gun you purchase has interchangeable chokes.
 
I've had my 1100 12g since I was 9 or 10 and never had a problem with recoil and i was smaller then your son when i started shooting it, Dad found a cheap beat up but stock and cut it down till I grew into a full length one and then swaped it back when I was big enough.
It was a little heavy to carry in the field for a long walk to the blind but when i was shooting the weight never seamed to bother me, and all that being said i still have the gun I shot my first deer and turkey with and will never have a reason to get rid of it aswell.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions guys! I use an 870 supermag, and he has fired it no problem...but the barrel is a little long, so it is hard for him to hold it up and swing with it...I would have to find something with a 24" barrel or shorter in order for him to be able to hold it up.
 
Buy him the BPS upland - 22 inch barrel and it handles all teh three inch shells he will ever want to throw into it later. I started at 12 with it and still pull it out on occasion for fun - plus the're on here for a reasonable price.
 
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