One shotgun for Coyotes, Clays, and Kids?

[kicker_92]

I'm pretty new to this so bear with me trying to learn, waiting for my RPAL to come though but making the list for when it does.

Looking to buy my first shotgun, and trying to keep it to one gun that can compromise between three things:

1.) Coyote control on the farm, range out to about 50yards
2.) Clay shooting for fun with friends
3.) Teaching a 7 year old firearm safety and how to control a firearm

Was looking at something like the Mossberg 500 in 20ga thinking it's a middle ground.
Lighter loads for learning with the wife and little ones, but hopefully enough punch to cleanly take down a coyote at that range or closer?

Having quite little experience though with shotguns, if there a middle ground, or should I be really looking to pickup an inexpensive 12ga, and a small 410?

 

[#1bcshooter]

Remington 870 combo (short barrel with rifle sights for predator control long vent rib for clays )
Available in 20 or 12 ga

 

[unstableryan]

I shot a 870 for years, preferred 8t to my older Winchester shotgun. Put about 5000 rounds through each one. Bird control in vineyards, etc. Won a Benelli nova in a raffle and it quickly became the first one I want to take out. I’d recommend it, although it’s kinda big for kids. Might need two...

 

[enefgee]

3.) Teaching a 7 year old firearm safety and how to control a firearm

Glad you clarified that - the title looked a little....... cranky.

 

[thepolinator]

A 12 or 20ga would do the first 2 things fine. I suspect even a 20 Guage would be too much for the kids though. For the kids you might want to go with a 22lr or a 410 if it must be a shotgun.

 

[Butcherbill]

Remington 870 combo (short barrel with rifle sights for predator control long vent rib for clays )
Available in 20 or 12 ga

Or the 870 3 barrel combo with the rifled slug barrel plus the two you mentioned, both combos would work well. Get the 12g, you can get a lot of reduced loads for starting the kid and wife out. Bird shot doesn’t have much kick either.

 

[kicker_92]

3.) Teaching a 7 year old firearm safety and how to control a firearm
Glad you clarified that - the title looked a little....... cranky.

I just re-read it that way, and glad I didn't ask about rock salt rounds!


What is the difference in kick between a light load for 12ga and a standard 20ga?
Perhaps the heavier gun with the three barrels and a selection of ammo might be a great solution.

 

[grelmar]

I just re-read it that way, and glad I didn't ask about rock salt rounds!


What is the difference in kick between a light load for 12ga and a standard 20ga?
Perhaps the heavier gun with the three barrels and a selection of ammo might be a great solution.

Substantial. You get about 80% of the effective power from a 20gauge vs. 12gauge, IIRC (ran the numbers a while ago), but a 20 gauge slaps you about half as hard. That 2nd measurement is a totally subjective one.

My wife looks at me funny if I try and hand her a 12gauge, but she has no problem with my 20 gauge pump.

I would be tempted to get a 20 in your position. It has enough recoil that it will teach the young lad how to deal with it - stance, how to shoulder properly, etc. - but not so much that he'll get punished severely for slight mistakes. He'll feel it, and learn from it, for sure, but it won't bruise the heck out of him to the point it will scare him off.

 

[sgt.rock]

Just be prepared to get a .410 as he will do 1 of 2 things......either smile and pump again or hand it back to you. Possibly look into a semiauto as they reduce recoil more than a pump. Felt recoil of a semi 20ga feels like a 28ga from my experience.

 

[kicker_92]

So far she's been really enjoying target practice with the .22 airgun and I'll get her shooting rimfire soon. Probably next year will be learning shotgun, just don't want to buy something that's too big.

Does anyone make light loads for 20ga?
I only find a few light ones for 12ga at Cabelas here.

 

[Butcherbill]

So far she's been really enjoying target practice with the .22 airgun and I'll get her shooting rimfire soon. Probably next year will be learning shotgun, just don't want to buy something that's too big.

Does anyone make light loads for 20ga?
I only find a few light ones for 12ga at Cabelas here.

Not sure about 20g light loads, I’ve just stuck to 12g shotguns. Sounds like you’re on the right track with your wife and now kid, start them with the air gun and go up from there as confidence and comfort levels grow. I’d still go with a 12g but maybe wait till she’s good with rimfire and something like 7.62x39 or 223, cheap centerfire calibres and low recoil. Having fun is the key, if they aren’t enjoying it they won’t want to do it anymore.

My wife is cool with guns, has her pal/rpal but isn’t into shooting as much as I was. She enjoys shooting .22 and the sks and then really took to the Mosin, when I got her a DA grizzly for her birthday one year she was a bit hesitant at the thought of shooting normal power loads at first, slugs especially. She started off with 7.5 target load and we shot some impromptu clays, she had fun with that. Then some 00buck, no issues. She did fine with 2 3/4 slugs, I told her if she was fine with the Mosin the slugs would be no worse. By the end of the day she shot off some 3” slugs, she did really well.

 

[Dietz]

That title tho...