Best shotgun for a very small person

Grouse Man said:
That's silly thinking. Then just give them one cartridge. Better yet - teach them proper gun handling safety. Your dad's experience is very anomalous.
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I thought the same and didn't say it. My dad tried to calm down my passion for firearms when I was a kid. It didn't go as planned as my mian passion is... Teach your kids with firearms young, explain it well to them and they'll learn. A semi isn't rocket science by any means.

There is a lot of video on youtube of kids as young as 10 shooting 9mm pistols. Don't be overprotective, ask them what they have to do to be safe with a firearm EVERY single time untill you can decide they are GTG. You always need to act like a firearm safety instructor until they can legally have their own. My friend has kids and I shoot guns with his kids while he's doing other stuff on his property because he knows that I know my guns and how to be safe with them.

Shooting semi 9mm carbine
308 bolt 22 bolt and 410 break
 
If u can afford the cost the newest M-37 Ithaca in 20 gauge can be ordered with a stock having shorter length of pull. I would suggest the older Ithaca however it's probably a really bad idea giving a novice shooter a shotgun having the slamfire feature to the trigger mechanism. Over the years it gave trouble to some:
FBI agent armed and guarding Dillinger for lockup 1930s, a CIA agent in their Saigon US embassy nearest the end of Vietnam War and at least one LAPD patrol officer demised because he shot himself with his issued shotgun.
Gotta watch that booger pick!!
 
My first shotgun was a new 20 gauge Cooey full choke. Worst frigging gun ever. I shot several boxes of shells and didn't hit schitt... Did that for a full duck season.

I traded it off on a 870 16 gauge modified choke and the next year was making doubles...

But for a youngster and recoil... highly recommend a semi auto in 20 gauge. If you got him an 1100 lightweight it would be useful for a lifetime.
 
I got a Beretta 391RL (reduced length) in 20 for my daughter. It’s been a fantastic gun and she still uses it as a young adult with a slip on pad. Well worth my initial investment.
 
dilly said:
I got a Beretta 391RL (reduced length) in 20 for my daughter. It’s been a fantastic gun and she still uses it as a young adult with a slip on pad. Well worth my initial investment.
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Perfect choice. A gun you never grow out of. Easy to buy a new stock as well.
 
When going semi you may want to consider bolt slam and/or release to get it into/out off battery. Unless you're loading for the child.

Lot's of bolt releases on new semi guns are hard to operate, imo. A youngster may have to use both hands to let the bolt "fly" in order to fire. When doing this make sure the bolt handle will not catch on their clothing or either hand used to release the bolt.

And last but not least, Fit, fit, fit... the gun... to the shooter or the shooter to the gun. It will mediate most of the bad conceived recoil in either gauge of shotgun.
 
Super +1 to all the comments above relating to the mossberg 500, 505, and 510 guns...IMHO mossberg has the greatest variety of offerings that are sized appropriately for small kids, and my two girls have enjoyed the cr@p out of theirs:


My youngest (turning 14 next month) is now shooting the 20ga bantam, and my oldest (turning 16 this summer) is experimenting with a 12ga bantam. IMHO mossberg has done a fantastic job in carefully building shotguns tailored to the dimensions of kids, and hands-down has the best fitting shotguns for small people. Both my girls are small, but handle, enjoy and hit with their guns just fine.

Recommendation: if you get anything 20ga, soak up the extra expense of Winchester AA low recoil low noise shells for everything except waterfowl or deer hunting. Practice with the low recoil stuff so they love their gun. When hunting they won’t know the difference for the excitement will take over, but practicing with the boomy kicky stuff is fraught with Pavlovian danger.

Shotgunning with my girls has been one of the best experiences of my life...rich days ahead for you!!

Best,

Brobee
 
^Bravo! :)

Agreed, nothing like getting your young kids out for some shooting...especially clays! My kids are all over 16 now, all very busy with school/other interests....but STILL, if I'm planning on shooting clays, they're on board every time.

Gets a little pricey! lol
 
Of all the shotgun I've had. One of the mildest 12G to shoot and carry around is the older Winchester M59

winMdl59.jpg
 
Brobee said:
Super +1 to all the comments above relating to the mossberg 500, 505, and 510 guns...IMHO mossberg has the greatest variety of offerings that are sized appropriately for small kids, and my two girls have enjoyed the cr@p out of theirs:


My youngest (turning 14 next month) is now shooting the 20ga bantam, and my oldest (turning 16 this summer) is experimenting with a 12ga bantam. IMHO mossberg has done a fantastic job in carefully building shotguns tailored to the dimensions of kids, and hands-down has the best fitting shotguns for small people. Both my girls are small, but handle, enjoy and hit with their guns just fine.

Recommendation: if you get anything 20ga, soak up the extra expense of Winchester AA low recoil low noise shells for everything except waterfowl or deer hunting. Practice with the low recoil stuff so they love their gun. When hunting they won’t know the difference for the excitement will take over, but practicing with the boomy kicky stuff is fraught with Pavlovian danger.

Shotgunning with my girls has been one of the best experiences of my life...rich days ahead for you!!

Best,

Brobee
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Thanks for chiming in, I will check out the Mossberg offerings.
 
Two years ago when my son turned 12 I got a Mossberg super mini bantam 20ga, it has the stock with an extension you can add/remove, 18.5in barrel and removeable chokes.

I hated the thing, while it was a perfect fit for him (he's tiny) there's no way I could shoot it! I replaced the stock with a collapsible ATI stock this way we can both use it with the correct length of pull. The stock was advertised for 12ga but it fits great on a 20ga. I loved it so much that I got myself a Mossberg 590, 20in w/ chokes 12ga with the same stock. Ok it would be lighter with a shorter tube but I really like it.

I don't have any pictures but I do have a video of it in action:
*warning: grouses were harmed in the making of this video, and they were delicious!
 
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