12g - either a remington 870 or a mossberg 500 and you can change the chokes on either and barrels too if you wanted....you can hunt game from a chimpmunk to a moose with the same gun, just switch up your chokes and loads. There are 100s of different shell types, sizes, and even lighter recoil ones for your son you jsut gotta work the slide a lil harder then normal sometimes.
Hunting
- Thread starter sportsman450
- Start date
There really isn't one shotgun great at small game and ducks. Sure you can get buy with one that does, but orient your purchase to one or the other, not both. Ducks usually mean semi-auto's in 12 gauge and small game is best with shorter and easier to handle break barrels (singles, SXS or O/U's)... in my opinion anyways. There's nothing wrong with an inexpensive break barrel single shot for a young hunter and probably the safest to learn with as well. (I still prefer using an old single shot for small game over my pump and O/U due to it's compact size, extreme light weight and quick pointability for quick shots up close.)
As for the gauge, a lighter easier to handle 20 is far more pleasant to shoot, especially for a young hunter. You don't want the kid to cringe everytime he pulls the trigger. Also, the 20 guage slug kills pretty much anything.
As for the gauge, a lighter easier to handle 20 is far more pleasant to shoot, especially for a young hunter. You don't want the kid to cringe everytime he pulls the trigger. Also, the 20 guage slug kills pretty much anything.
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
Partridge and rabbits are a 20 guage realm IMO, especially for a youngster.
A 20 will be almost as cheap as a 12, will handle easier for him, amd will hit just as well.
If I had only one choke to use it would be a IC f0r the 20.
Steel works great in it, and pheasants go dow hard as well.
Partridge cannot withstand it either, and it goes through the brush well....
Cat
A 20 will be almost as cheap as a 12, will handle easier for him, amd will hit just as well.
If I had only one choke to use it would be a IC f0r the 20.
Steel works great in it, and pheasants go dow hard as well.
Partridge cannot withstand it either, and it goes through the brush well....
Cat
- Location
- Newfoundland
Well I think I may pick up this gun - Mossberg 535 All-Terrain Pump Action Shotgun Deer Combo .
Question if I have to can I use birdshot in the rifled barrel without damaging the barrell ? I know that I can use slugs in the unrifled barrell .
Question if I have to can I use birdshot in the rifled barrel without damaging the barrell ? I know that I can use slugs in the unrifled barrell .
