Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Best shotgun option for kid? Pump or semiauto

I want to get by 10 year old boy his first shotgun. I am leaning towards a 20g but can’t decide between a pump and semi automatic. I know they say the pump is a safer option, and I understand that to a point. My boy will only have the gun when he is out with me, NO ONE else.
I am a complete freak about muzzle direction and have been working with him on his BB gun for forever. His muzzle awareness is better than lots of adults I have watched. Is there any reason that I should go with a pump of the semiauto for safety?
I can definitely see an advantage to the semiauto not kicking as hard as the pump, so I was thinking that would be a very nice benefit come turkey season since my boy is smaller than a popcorn fart. Weight of the two guns is very similar as they are both youth models. Pump is a Remington and the semi auto is a Tristar which I think is a Remington clone. Pump is new and the semi is like new and only like 40 bucks more and is camo.

I'd go pump over the Tristar semi. My nephew is very small for his age. My brother bought him a full camo 20 gauge mossberg 500 bantam youth pump for his birthday this past summer. I took him hunting several times this fall. The kid is deadly with that gun and he loves it. It seems to fit him well and he doesn't have a bit of trouble with the weight. He's been using low base 7/8 oz field loads exclusively and the recoil doesn't bother him at all.

That’s good info right there. Thanks Blackheart

A pump is for sure more forgiving of some gun handling mistakes.

If you do go auto, a 1100 LT 20ga is hard to beat. A nice older Wingmaster would be high on my list.

I would go with a good Pump for a new shooter. A pump action will help him learn to aim a little better to make the first shot count, and not empty the magazine trying to hit something on the second or third. My personal choice for kids is a Remington 870 with the adjustable length stock. You can add the spacers as the kid grows, and replace it with an adult stock when they are grown. I've got a lot of shotguns and love my double barrels, but I will still use the 870 that was my first shotgun often (It's 50 years old this year).

The only reasons to go with a pump over an auto would be cost and ease of collecting empties when fired singlely. Some might say to use a pump as it is a courtesy to not throw empties onto your neighbor on the trap line when shooting singles but there are shell catchers and rubber bands to handle that. Neither is safer as far as handling goes, one either handles the gun safely or not. We all know someone who is dangerous with a Nerf noodle and no limit on gun capacity will make them safe with a firearm.

The same goes for shooting, either you concentrate on the target and make the first shot count or you don't. Either can have a second shot readily chambered with it happening nearly instinctively with a pumps. If one wants to make either a single shot, a piece of dowel can be cut to create a plug to block off the whole chamber rendering the gun a single shot. Or, two shot or whatever depending on the length of dowel.

Even though both guns weigh similarly, a gas operated semiauto will have less felt recoil all things being equal. For someone of smaller statue and/or experience that can be a significant factor in their enjoyment.

In any event, buy for quality rather than price. A used shotgun of known reliability is far better than a new one of unproven or checkered reliability. It is also more likely to find parts, accessories, and someone familiar with fixing the former if the need arises.

When it comes to shotguns and hunting, the side by side or over and under are far safer than the pump or semi-auto, You can just glance at a break open shotgun and see if it's safe from a good distance, you can't do that with a pump or semi-auto., they have a quick follow up shot, and you or they are not chasing hulls.

A youth or small sized sxs or o&u doesn't cost anymore than a pump or semi-auto. Think about it. Rio7

If you are a reloader or have a friend that reloads you can make some low recoil loads. Don't get an ultra light gun action type would be your call. My sons and daughters started with a 37 Ithaca 12 gauge with reduced loads. I cut 1" off the stock and put a good recoil pad on it. I knew it was throwing around 60% and POA was same as POI.

Whatever gun is chosen is secondary to letting him shoot a lot, and gun down, on a skeet field, before going after game. 5 or 6 flats, with some good coaching wouldn’t be too much.

The horse pulls the cart.

battue, knows what he's talking about, good coaching and trigger time will mean a lot when you go to the field. Rio7

Agree with the notions above about fit, low-recoil, practice, even maybe coaching.

Now it wasn't said what was to be shot/hunted. But, as to the OP's question would say "either" if it's sporting games like skeet, but pump if it's any hunting. We're talking 10yo boy, just starting out, remember that time? He has enough on his mind between safe firearm handling, basics of shooting, the excitement of seeing game and being "out there", and guidance from dad in the other ear. Not to mention Susie that sits across from him in reading class. It's a lot at that age, or any age. I think there's a lot positive to be said for a bit of manual mechanical simplicity and having immediate control of when the gun is chambered or not, in the field particularly.

And I like a semi-auto, too, but while can see some possible liability, I don't see at all the auto's (small) upside ever being a real positive in this circumstance.

Anyway, it's a cool, foggy late-fall morning, sun peaking through, the steam rising from the creak below. Just took the dogs through there. Shortly will head up to the range to exercise a 1927 M12 and a 1956 A5 light. Both 16ga. Good times.

I’m in the semi auto camp, I know it’s been mentioned pump for being safer but I hafta ask?
How so?
I mean unless your hunting cold (which I doubt) what’s gonna happen? The kid accidentally fires the weapon and then what? Is he gonna fire it again? I kinda doubt it because he’s going to be so shocked and surprised by the gun going off he’s more likely to stand there with his mouth agape.
I got my kids a 20 gauge semi auto and never looked back.
They do well.

I have been watching for a cheap Beretta 390 12 gauge to cut for my daughter's.
Nice light 12 gauge, reliable, it will function with 3/4 and 7/8 oz powder puff loads.

Everyone says get a 20.
A light semi 12 that shoots 20 equivalent loads is even nicer.


PS. You won't find one cheap.

Started both of mine with over and unders for the reasons stated.

I am against any auto-loaders until a kid has quite a bit of trigger time behind them. They shoot something and want to run to it... with a pump they likely forgot to work the action, but if they did the safety is almost automatic. With a semi-auto they pull the trigger and it returns to hot before they think about anything...

And that goes for all semi-autos of any time. Once they have the trigger time many gravitate to the semi-autos and all is good.

That is actually my recommendation when somebody starts with a blank page. A one ounce Winchester Xtra-light or the equivalent of any brand through a gas gun has very manageable recoil. The only negative is the extra pound or so of gun weight more quickly tires someone with little upper body strength but that can be overcome with some excersize, especially practice mounting the gun a couple times a day. Not only will it build muscle but it will also ingrain mounting the gun. Just teach the kid to do so correctly as it is a lot of time and typically more money to correct a bad habit than to start with a proper one.

You all are all talking shotgun weight and recoil that's important, but start with Safety, the break open guns are much safer than the pump or semi-auto, and the break open guns have 2 shots not 3 shots, very few hunters can get off 3 effective shots on a covey of Quail, or a flight of ducks, I started my 5 kids on single shot Savage shotguns with good fit and recoil pads, they are all adults now and we have family quail hunt every year, my girls can out shoot their better halves all day long on birds. I guide bird hunters about 4-5 day's a week from Sept. till March every year, you wouldn't believe the YHAOO'S we see. with their semi-auto's.

Rio7

Again range time solves problems other than going live after pulling the trigger once. It serves more of a purpose than teaching technique. Familiarization of what is going on being of more than a little importance.

Then the actual physical act of working a pump becomes a pointing routine while pushing forward. Something one doesn't get with either a semi or break-open. However, today SA's are cool while pumps and break guns are old fashioned. Another outdoor show indoctrination. All the cool guys on TV use SA's and the Ducks rain down. Problem is the young and those starting out have yet to arrive at the cool guy stage.

I recently purchased a starter shotgun for my boys. A cheap Rock Island single shot 20 gauge that my oldest will receive at Christmas. My oldest boy is a monster at 8 years old, 4'9 and near 100lbs. If he pays attention and does what I want to see him do with this break open gun I'll take him shopping for a bigger pump or semi auto in the next year or so and my younger boys will learn on the cheap break open gun. I really like the idea of starting kids with a single shot, even my mag fed guns as a kid were used one shot at a time with the ammo doled out by my dad when it was time. That being said, the wife just picked up an 870 compact 20 gauge and we're all very pleased with it so far.

Who makes one the size of that Bantam though? I agree when they are big enough but mine needs a very light gun or he can't lift it to shoot.