20ga for youth

GussySpills

GussySpills

New member
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
Newmarket, ON
My older boy is almost 13 and loves tagging along with dad while hunting and fishing. Will be taking him out to the club to try trap shooting shortly - once I'm back from the moose hunt. Looking at picking up a 20ga to add to the collection of firearms he'll inherit one day. LOL. Any suggestions for a youth who is 5'3 and growing like a weed? The 12's I have are still a bit too big so was looking for something that might fit him better. I realize it's a broad question but would appreciate any input as to models that others have used. Thanks
 
I've got a Mossberg Bantam 20 gauge with 2 barrels, I really like it. It's nothing fancy, just a hunting tool that's easy to carry and goes bang every time.
 
Last edited:
SIDE note. 410 shotgun shell are almost impossible to get. Just heading of the 410 suggestions.

Yes I saw you are after a 20 gauge, good supply of those around.
 
my son stared with an old heavy break action 20ga that older than I am

its super simple to use and because its heavy the felt recoil is limited
 
I know a lot of people rant about the turkish guns but I picked up one of the Charles Daly 20ga semis last year at a decent price and it's worked well. The gas system takes some of the kick away and they make and it's something you won't mind getting drug through the mud.
 
Both my daughters learned to shoot using a Remington 11-87 Youth 20 gauge. Super nice to shoot, low recoil. Nicely balanced for a shorter person, and fitted them perfectly. They also used it for ducks quite nicely.
 
Buy a youth or compact 12 ga use 7/8 oz or 1 oz light loads cheaper and much more available.
Nothing wrong with the 20 I enjoy the couple I have that being said i shoot the light load 12 ga much more
 
Had my 12 y-o grandson try a 20 gauge BPS on clays and he felt the recoil of 7/8 oz loads a bit much. Solution: I reduced the payload to 1/2 oz and that made shooting much more enjoyable for him.
 
wannabe said:
My son's youth 20 bantam mossberg 500 kicks like a mule....
Click to expand...

Have you tried anything?

<https://www.brownells.com/shooting-accessories/recoil-parts/recoil-reducers/standard-stock-recoil-suppressor-prod85602.aspx>
 
Bought my son a Maverick 88 youth 20 ga. He's 5 feet and not 90 lbs yet. It weighed 5.5 lbs and was super easy to handle. I added a pound of lead to the but stock and it reduced the recoil significantly while still remaining easy to hold and point as there is not much weight up front. Every other gun he handled was too heavy. I also used this shotgun for our hunter safety wind up where we shoot clays. All the smaller stature kids loved it. I have 0 regrets buying this gun.

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/47113/maverick-88-field-youth-pump-action-shotgun-20-gauge
 
Beware of the temptation to get a full-sized gun and have the stock cut down, or buy one which has had the stock cut down. Youth models are lighter but more importantly they are balanced properly, as g-man noted. Notice all the Youth/Ladies guns have much shorter barrels - 21" or so. The worst thing you can do for a youth shooter is give them a muzzle-heavy gun; they just don't have the strength in their left (usually non-dominant) arm. But as you noted, a pound in the stock is easily manageable because it is close to the body.

Yes, a light pump in 20 ga. will kick more than a heavier 12 ga. Find lighter loads. Add a softer recoil pad. Of if you really have to, try a gas gun.
 
Grouse Man said:
Beware of the temptation to get a full-sized gun and have the stock cut down, or buy one which has had the stock cut down. Youth models are lighter but more importantly they are balanced properly, as g-man noted. Notice all the Youth/Ladies guns have much shorter barrels - 21" or so. The worst thing you can do for a youth shooter is give them a muzzle-heavy gun; they just don't have the strength in their left (usually non-dominant) arm. But as you noted, a pound in the stock is easily manageable because it is close to the body.

Yes, a light pump in 20 ga. will kick more than a heavier 12 ga. Find lighter loads. Add a softer recoil pad. Of if you really have to, try a gas gun.
Click to expand...
Haha! Yes. I went through the full gamete of trying every option. 870 with 12.5” stock, cut down 12 ga gas gun and full length 20 ga before realizing I had to buy a youth gun with short 12.5” stock and 22” barrel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom