Which gauge for boys first shotgun.

warrenb

warrenb

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I'm looking at getting my 9 year old his first shotgun. I am not sure whether to go 410 or 20 gauge. He has been shooting 22s since he was six and shoots .223 with light loads of trail boss. I would not say he has shot a lot in that time.
I'm looking at getting the Mossberg mini Bantam or the Remington Compact Junior, if the Rem will fit him.

Thing is I am concerned about the 20 gauge recoil in a light gun putting him off and so am trying to weigh up the options and would appreciate others oppinions. I'm not a particular fan of the 410 as I think they are harder to hit clays with and I want him to get confidence in his shooting ability.

Also I reload rifle and would be prepared to load light 20 gauge if you guys think that is an avenue worth going down. My personal preference is for the 20.

So if you were buying a young guy of medium to medium light build, with some previous firearms experience, his first shotgun which gauge would you chose, given that reloading 20 gauge is an option?

If any of you have any oppinions with regard to youth shotguns that are available please chime in with that also.

Thanks!
 
Most will probably disagree with me as they say the 410 is an expert’s gun. I went with 410 for my son at that age and later a youth model 20 gauge. I was worried as well the 20 gauge would be too much recoil for him at that age. In Ontario he was not allowed to hunt so it was going to be used for target practice only. What we usually did was set up some clays stationary on the ground for my son and nephew. This got them used to shot guns without all the recoil. Then when he was 12 and bigger he was able to handle a youth 20 gauge without having to worry about the recoil.
 
I would go with the 20 and light target loads. Make sure the gun is a reasonable fit, add a pad if necessary. Don't try to lever him into a full size shotgun thinking that he'll grow into it later... the buttstock can always be replaced.

As you already suspect, I think the .410 holds too small a shot charge, and the results will be discouraging to a new shooter.
 
I would choose a 20 gauge semi auto and use light loads and he can work up to more potent loads. The ammunition is cheaper than 410 so he can shoot more and the 20 can be used for almost any game a 12 gauge is used for.
 
I bought a 510 mini bantam for my 7 year old nephew. I was debating on the gauge and I went with the 410. The gun is light and I think a 20 would kick the crap out of him. I read lots of reviews and that's was the biggest complaint.
 
If your going to load, why not just get a 12 and load up some light loads for it? Even full loads with low recoil wadds make it very easy to handle
 
Qhergt said:
If your going to load, why not just get a 12 and load up some light loads for it? Even full loads with low recoil wadds make it very easy to handle
Click to expand...

I do agree, friday i was shooting very light load, one ounce or so with 2.5 dram of powder with my M4 and there was barely a recoil... JP.:)
 
No easy answers, in my opinion fit is more important than gauge.

The .410 has the advantage of lighter recoil, the 20ga has the advantage of typically better patterns and more options.

As most of us know in shotgunning you simply don't have the time to adjust and re-adjust to get lined up like you can with a rifle, be it rimfire or centerfire.

It can be difficult to determine if the fit is right for new shooters, especially youngsters.

They don't have the experience to know what fits, and it can be tricky for the teacher to figure it out for them.

Due to the nature of the snap shot, it has to come up to the same spot consistently, allowing the shooter to focus on the target, not the gun.

Add to it, of coarse, that fit can change quickly as youngsters grow.

What's a parent to do?

Buy lots and lots of shotguns. :)
 
Moose Masher said:
What's a parent to do?

Buy lots and lots of shotguns. :)
Click to expand...

I like your attitude :D

My 10 year old shot a shotgun for the first time last week. It was set up for me for skeet so it was no where near fitting him. I have a youth stock I can put on 3 small frame Remington autoloaders so that when he's ready we can figure out what he likes. In the meantime I've got a used O/U with tubes coming so we won't have to decide who shoots what

:D
 
A 20 gauge will give you the most versatility going forward as an eventual hunting gun. You can reload 3/4 oz 20ga to be identical to a 28ga for recoil. If it's an option a used semi like an 1100 would reduce recoil even further compared to a pump and the stock can be readily shortened and then replaced as he grows. That being said at 9, anything over a. 410 likely going to be more recoil than he wants. The main thing is to keep it enjoyable. Maybe the. 410 now and the 20 in a couple years. A .410 youth size gun should be an easy resale when he grows out of it.
 
Thanks for all the replies so far guys. It is much appreciated. Keep em coming.

3macs1 said:
If you reload I would get a 28ga if not the 20. I started both of mine way back on the 20 and both switched to 28 before the 12.
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I thought about the 28 but I do not know of a youth sized gun in 28 gauge that would fit him. Otherwise that may well be the best compromise. If you know of a youth gun in 28 or if youth stocks are available in another model then I'm very interested. Is there a gun I can cut down even? He does not have a large stature, hence the mini bantam with its adjustable 10 1/2 inch LOP.


Qhergt said:
If your going to load, why not just get a 12 and load up some light loads for it? Even full loads with low recoil wadds make it very easy to handle
Click to expand...

I only have rifle reloading experience. I have been meaning to start shotgun reloading for a long time. Can I fairly easily reload 12 or 20 gauge to reasonably close to 410 recoil levels???

Cheers!

EDIT:
be2man said:
A 20 gauge will give you the most versatility going forward as an eventual hunting gun. You can reload 3/4 oz 20ga to be identical to a 28ga for recoil. If it's an option a used semi like an 1100 would reduce recoil even further compared to a pump and the stock can be readily shortened and then replaced as he grows.
Click to expand...

More good info.
 
something else to consider is resale- it's a junior gun and he's going to out-grow it eventually, you'll probably want to sell it. Which is more readily available? the more popular in the area would be better to resell.

Mostly tagged for interest- I'm looking for junior guns for my kids.
 
I wouldn't get him a .410 specifically. Eventually, he's going to want to actually use it for something.

If you already have a .410 to let him try, then go for it. If you have or can borrow a 20 gauge to let him shoot to get used to it, then you should do that. I wouldn't buy him a small bore shotgun just because he's a kid :) Light 12g loads can be loaded with more payload than a .410 (and more satisfaction too).

I see this poor kid every week out at the clays club, shooting trap, skeet and 5 stand with his old man, and he's using a 20 gauge. He really tries, and gets really disappointed when he shoots 20%. I probably wouldn't do much better than that with a 20, so I feel for the kid :)
 
I would go with a .410. Lightweight and low recoil are the best way to ensure good shooting habits. Plus if the spread isn't as great as a 20 gauge, that should just make him more accurate with practice.

I agree with mwjones as well though. When I was learning to use shotguns, I used the .410 for maybe one season, one and a half tops before I made the step up to the 12 gauge. It wont take long before your boy wants to upgrade to the 12 as well. Then you'll have another safe queen collecting dust.

Just my $0.02
 
An ounce of shot patterns the same out of a 20ga as a 12ga, and the pattern will be the same size for the same relative choke. There should be no handicap between a 12 and a 20 with the same shot weight.
At 9 years old the weight of the gun to hold up is a factor. I think a 12ga and a lot of 20's may be too heavy for him to hold up and swing for any number of shots. At 9 the focus should be a good introduction and enjoying the experience. A light weight low recoil .410 with 1/2oz of 9's will have no problems breaking clays out to 25yds. You want success and no fear of recoil at that young age if you want him to stay with it and grow into the sport.
 
With more and more options all the time for size and length of pull, more guys are giving the "up and comers" a better chance. I remember starting with a Wingmaster in 12 and not doing well at all. I'd start with a 20g. I think there enough Reduced Recoil loads available to start with. If it turns out to be too much, they're easy enough to get rid of and get a 410. Which in turn would be just easy to more on to the next guy. How many 410 and 20g's to you see on the EE?
I got lucky when looking for a waterfowl gun for my GF who's only starting to shoot now at 35. I found a Wingmaster 12g mag, that came with extra youth stocks and an extra skeet barrel. The skeet barrel made it easier to hit clays which helped with her confidence. I found it locally Online.
Best of Luck
Clint
 
I disagree with the .410ga as a starter gun, too little payload and the success ratio will be low. If Jr. can handle a 20ga, I'd go that route. The guns are still relatively light, recoil can be reduced and payload is decent.

If the 20ga is too much, look at the 28ga, reduced recoil and an OK payload. Guns can be harder to come by in the 28ga though. My son started with a single barrel 28ga and used it for a couple years till a growth spurt took over and he moved to something else. He liked the 28ga and never complained.
 
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