Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Youth shotguns

My kids are getting more interested in hunting and my daughter (and probably son) want to turkey hunt this year. I need a shotgun that will fit them and serve them for a few years. They're 7 and 11 so it's about time to get them something to shoot. I was thinks big a 20 gauge would work and I can either reload something light or start with reduced recoil loads. What's a good shotgun for kids this age that will work well?

Consider a single shot 12 gauge. OK, you think I lost my mind. You load, look at some 3/4 oz receipes. You just duplicated a 20ga. In a slightly heavier gun, that is cheap enough to hack the stock without a care. Might even find one cut, cheaper. Want to $pend some dough? My Beretta 390 will function with these loads! Light, gas semi, almost no recoil. The spring in the butt stock can limit how much the stock can be cutt.

For turkeys, you will have a hard time matching the current technology in factory turkey loads. However forgetting the whole MAGNUM thing, compare the actual numbers of a 3" 20ga to a traditional high brass 1 1/4 12 ga load. The 12 will also likely pattern better and be nicer to shoot, lower pressure loading.


Yes, I have been considering this myself.

My daughter's Beretta Outlander will cycle target ammo just fine. They come with spacers to adjust the LOP. Not particularly cheap, but buy once and done with it. Hers is a 12 gauge and she's 12 and has no issue with it.

Remington 870 express compact jr. 20 ga.

Both of mine learned on a 20ga Rem 1100
Minimal recoil,easy to shoot. At the beginning only loaded one shell at a time.

Tristar Viper G2 in 20 gauge youth version

Weatherby SA-20 youth version

Both are gassers with very high reliability ratings, affordable, and rugged. You can start with single loading reduced recoil trap loads, and move up from there to 3" magnums.

I can shoot the kids 20 ga youth Escort pretty well at skeet. It will last them longer than you think.

+1


DMc : )

A single shot 12 or 20 gauge is the the worst shotgun to start a kid out with IMO. They have a deserved reputation for harsh recoil.

I believe an 1100 with a youth stock would be great. Does anyone sell a youth/compact 1100 stock? If not you'd have to get one with a full size stock and have it cut down.

Started my first child with a Mossberg Bantam and second with a SA-08 Youth. Wish I'd started both kids with a semi. That's the only way to go in my book.

I have experience with the SA-08 Youth and SX-3 Compact. Both great guns. I think the SA-08 is better for kids because it is slimmer and easier to handle.

I've read enough about the TriStars that I wouldn't hesitate to try their youth semi.

I would stay away from the Mossberg SA-20. I had one and it took some work to get it to cycle 7/8 oz loads. From what I've read that is a common thread with the SA-20.

I just bought my boys a Remington 11-87 compact 20 gauge. It has the LOP kit.

I really wanted to buy them a Benelli or franchi compact but when I weighed everything out the Remington is hard to beat.

Dink

✔ ✔ & ✔


All of my "Youths" were old enough to pick their own shotguns...

** Pink 870 20ga & her Hubbies 870 SF 20ga.



** Pink 11-48 28ga with Lyman Cutts & her Hubbies 870 20ga.



** Pink 1100 20ga SF & her Hubbies 1100 12ga with Cutts.



Pic of 2 out of 3 gorgeous Dove huntin buddies.



They've been at it a long time...




DMc : )

One Son-in-law, traded his popgun for a lefty.



A few more custom Rems....



Everybody needs a backup...,

Additionally, quite a few years ago a company made mercury recoil reducers that would screw in, replacing the magazine cap. They work extremely well, but I can't remember who made them. Maybe some of the experts on here will know. You can still run across them on eBay now and then.




DMc : )

The Weatherby SA-08 gets great reviews. I'm not much of a Remington guy but I wish they would make the V3 in a 20 gauge. It appears they got that one right.

870! Even better if you find an older one with the nice finish. IMO, they forgot to finish making the Express models, but if that floats your boat, go for it.

For autos, I prefer the simplicity of the Benelli, but there are millions of 1100s in use. Might be something to them?

My granddaughters are learning on their aunt's 28 ga Benelli Legacy. Spoiled brats, yes but fun.

Best,

Jack