I have a 13 year old son and I am considering buying him a shotgun to use for clays and dove/small game hunting. He is a wrestler and a small one at that. Currently he is 86 lbs so I am leaning towards a 20 ga. I have a Mossberg 500 set up with a red dot for his turkey gun and would like to get a semi for him. I don't want to break the bank on this gun and am thinking no more than $400 at most on it. I would love to have an 11-87 but they are typically a little more than that. I have seen some nice franchi 48ALs for reasonable money from time to time. What other guns and models am I missing or should I consider?

The Mossberg SA-20 is gas operated (lower recoil) and comes in both bantam and regular models.

The 48AL, to me, is the pinnacle of 20ga upland guns. It is very light, and recoil operated, so the recoil is a bit stiffer than a gas gun. I have never felt that it was a hard kicker, but some feel otherwise.

I see 1100 LT-20 Special Purpose guns quite often for $400 and under, and they are very good shooting guns.

I dont care for the Mossberg semi autos at all.

A Beretta 20 gauge and you will break the bank.

Doc

There are many good, used semi-autos out there. Just this week I saw a very nice Remington Mohawk 48 in 20 GA for $400.00. Cheaper version of the 11-48, could have negotiated it down some and been within your budget. Take your time and look around, hope you can find a good one cheap!

Stoeger


Or the weatherby

Another vote for the Weatherby, if buying a new gun. I'd also hit the Pawn Shops and look for a used 1100 20 ga. I much prefer them over the 1187. I've seen too many of those that jammed.

For somebody that weighs 86 lbs. I don't see how you can beat it. He won't outgrow it either.

Franchi 720, and it is has a tad shorter LOP than a standard shotgun. great gun for the money and uses the mobile screw in chokes. i would take it over the 48AL. there are some affordable O/U out there too although the ones in 20 ga flavor tend to bring a bit of a premium on price.

My 12 year old daughter has a Franchi 620 and she is smoking the clays with it. Either the 620 of the 720 should work very well for your son. Now I have to find one for my son.

yep those older 620's can be found real affordable if you stumble across one. the difference between them to my understanding is that the receivers on the 7** series models are just a tad slimmer than those of the 6** series. however they are pretty much the exact same gun and most parts are interchangeable. these are a gas recoil system not an inertia.
there is a an adjustment ring for light loads and heavy loads.

I believe the 720 loses the semi-humpback receiver as well. If I am right, the 720 has a more rounded back of its receiver. Either way, they are great shotguns!

yea the hump is rounded off.