Being a coach for the National Scholastic clay target program at our local gun club for 8 years the club hosts 90
kids in the spring program from 5th grade through high school seniors. We have kids shooting H& R single barrels to Krieghoffs and everything in between. Mostly the kids are shooting their grandfathers old shotgun which are primarily Rem 1100 and 870's.
Most young shooters start out with 20 gauges yet can't wait to move up to a 12 gauge gun..even when they the are not ready too.
Not knowing the height, strength or size of your son your primary considerations are how much recoil can he handle? Also how much gun weight ( a 12 vs a 20) is he comfortable with? The last priority is proper gun fit in length of pull comb ( top of the stock) height.
i agree with most here a Beretta 390 ( if you can find one) or 400 is an excellent choice. Yet nothing wrong with a Remington 1100 trap as a starter gun. I find most high school shooters can't handle the recoil off say a BT-99 or over/under for a 200 round shoot until they are big kids or juniors in high school.
Last edited by doctor_Encore; 03/31/21.
