Best youth shotgun for skeet?

rem74283

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I have a nine year old son that is finally starting to show enough responsibility that I'm going to start teaching him firearms safety and start him with my 22.
I do shoot a lot of skeet and am thinking that with a youth shotgun he could join me on occasion.

What would be a good youth shotgun to start him out with? I'm assuming they are all 20g but 28g would be good too.
 
You could buy a youth model 870 in 20 gauge. Pretty inexpensive and reliable. It may come with spacers, but you can always put a stock with a longer LOP as he grows.


Whatever it is, make sure it fits him. Also, be sure to determine if he is left or right eye dominant. No sense in starting off incorrectly.
 
I got my daughter a 20ga Beretta 391RL (reduced length). She is 17 and still uses it. Soft shooter, reliable, and retains its value. She is left handed but cross eye dominant, so I have had her handle guns right handed from the start. She now shoots right handed as if she was right handed and has no eye dominance issues (unlike myself).
 
+1 for the Beretta 391RL if you can find one. They've been out of production for several years. Another option might be a Remington 1100 20 gauge with a shorter stock either cut down or one of the aftermarket stocks with a reduce LOP.

Definitely go with 20 gauge unless you reload 28 gauge.
 
An 1100 Skeet would be ideal. Not expensive, very effective & easy enough to maintain.
A second stock to cut down isn't too hard to find either.

The 28 I think would even be better, but kids like to shoot (a lot) and 28 ammo can be a concern.
 
Definitely a 20 gauge semi auto, to reduce recoil, and to make shooting doubles easier for a beginner. The 1100 is a good choice, and Browning makes a Silver Micro for youths.
 
I reload 28 for myself already so that's not an issue.

What would you suggest in 28? He's only nine so the adjustable youth stocks would be a plus

Since you reload (assuming you have the ability to reload other guages) I would highly recommend either reloading 3/4 oz 12g or 3/4 20g loads for the boy.
Then your options for a semi become greater, hulls are easier to obtain as well.

Food for thought. Either way, a 3/4 oz (12, 20 or 28) load for a youth is the way to start out. 410 would be too frustrating.
 
All good advice. Used gas semi youth/ladies guns are out there, lightly used. 20 ga. is more common, and evidently the 28 ga. is just as effective only costlier.

The only thing to NOT do is cut down the stock of a regular 26"-28" barrel gun and think it will suffice. Imagine someone handing you a shotgun with a 40" barrel on the skeet field. Very muzzle heavy and awkward.
 
Exactly, that's why I suggested a youth model specifically. They have a shorter barrel to go with the shorter stock.

Yep, just clarifying why the gun needs to be bobbed at both ends. Lots of people - not you, obviously - don't understand that or forget about it.
 
I have a 28Gauge Browning Cynergy that is wonderful to shoot, especially for new shooters as the recoil of course is significantly reduced. My daughter shoots the gun on occasion but LOP is not an issue for her as the gun fits her well, she is tall for her age.

I reload so ammo isn't as large a concern with this gun. The 28 gauge is just so sweet to shoot, love this gun and calibre, wish I had learned about years ago.
 
Browning Silver Micro in 20 gauge with light loads... it is a soft shooting gun and will fit much better.
 
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