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

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.

I see a hinged/break open action being touted as "safer" than other types but fail to see a difference between them. A gun with the chamber empty and the action open is "safe" regardless of the action. Once the chamber is loaded and the action closed, safety is in the actions of the person holding the gun. It is easier to see a break open action has been made safe which is a convenience to others rather than a safety feature.

As for firing, there is little difference between a double barrel, semiauto, and pump for repeated shots. Both the semiauto and the double gun are ready for a second shot once the first is fired. A pump has little in its favor over these two if used correctly as the recoil of the shot helps the shooter work the action for a follow up shot. It doesn't take much use to get shellshucking down pat.

For those worried about a new shooter having more than one round available to them in the early stages of their learning there are at least two ways they can limit shots in pump and semiautos.

First, they can do as my father did when I first used a repeater and say if he hears me fire a second round quicker than he thinks I should, then he will take the gun away from me. Knowing he meant it, I was careful how quickly I loaded follow up shells.

Then there is a second way which I implemented with my wife and stepsons. I cut a dowel to use as a plug long enough to prevent the loading of a shell in the magazine. This effectively made it a single shot or anything up to maximum magazine capacity depending on the length of the plug.

There are probably other means of limiting magazine capacity/rate of fire but these are the two I am most familiar with. Limiting magazine capacity isn't really a safety factor but it can lead the shooter to place greater concentration on making the first shot count rather than maybe a follow up one. Indirectly, it can also a cost saving feature too.

Sitka Deer,
My oldest shows no signs of being recoil shy so far, he's shot my full size model 11 several dozen times at Clay's ( broken a dozen or so too!!) I noticed the single shot's comb being pretty low upon initial inspection. When I give it to him at Christmas we'll adjust length of pull for him and consider some type of cheek piece if necessary. I'm also looking into lighter loads for Clay's and small game.

Since we're discussing "first guns", my younger two at 4 and 3 will receive miniature wooden dummy shotguns at Christmas when big brother gets his 20 gauge. I plan on letting them carry their "guns" afield with us when they go to begin learning the way to handle and carry a firearm.

I know it wasn't one of the choices, but what's wrong with a single shot 20 for a kid's first scatter gun?


Make the first shot count, probably not gonna be a second.

I agree with you except for one thing... those single shots are light and they are not going to fit very many kids well due to excess drop at comb. That makes them kick hard for young shooters. I started my son on a 28ga single shot and it was brutal to shoot. I was afraid I had broken him of shooting after the first time he shot it.

The NEF single shots definitely are not low in the comb. If anything they don't have enough drop.

Don't know much about 20 gauge, but you can find 7/8 and even 3/4oz low velocity loads for 12, probably similar for 20.
If one shops carefully, Ithaca 37, Beretta, some single shots, and loads right, you can get a nice light 12.
What results is a gun that weighs just a bit more than a garden variety 20.
Add 20ga level loads, and you get a gun that absorbs the recoil, isn't too heavy, and probably patterns better.
Put turkeys on the list, and look at the numbers, then forget all the bullshit.
A normal 1 1/4 oz 12 load, matches a 3" MAGNUM 20. With less recoil, and noise.
They are not available in the premium Turkey style. But very good loads are available.

I don't know where you're getting that a "normal 1 1/4 oz 12 gauge load" kicks less than a 3" 20 unless you're shooting the 12's out of a significantly heavier gun ? The standard 1 1/4 oz 12 gauge loads here are the high brass 3 3/4 dram equivalent 1 1/4 oz. at 1330 fps. The 3" 20's are 1 1/4 oz at 1185 fps. No way the 12's kick less unless you're comparing the 12 gauge to a significantly lighter 20 gauge gun. Heck, even the 3 1/4 dram equivalent 1 1/4 oz. low brass 12 gauge loads would kick slighly more than the 3" 20's in equal weight guns.

I know it wasn't one of the choices, but what's wrong with a single shot 20 for a kid's first scatter gun?


Make the first shot count, probably not gonna be a second.

Compare the weight of 12 vs 20 gauge guns.

Model to model.

12's are heavier.

And if they are only used for shooting a turkey,
They won't really notice.

Plus,
I reload.

You are the first person to mention that the 12 load is bigger.

Most argue, "the twenty is a MAGNUM."

Every kid is different and I am guilty of getting them to shoot very early. It is easy to screw them up. Limiting number of times they get to shoot per session and making sure you do not shoot stuff that hurts for a long time is important. It only takes a mistake or two to turn a kid off.

I just happen to have 12 and 20 gauge pumps that are almost exactly the same weight. A Browning BPS 20 gauge and Ithaca 37 deluxe 12 gauge. The BPS 20 with 3" mags. is noticeably milder than the 12 gauge 37 with high brass loads.

No [bleep] Sherlock.

I can also cherrypick a light Beretta O/U 20
Against a heavy 1187 12.

With your load example, the 20 will kick a hell of a lot harder.


That's why I said "WITH SIMILAR GUNS"

870, Ithaca, whatever.
The same model.

Not sure why I even acknowledged your reply.
I deal with people like you all the time.
Relatively low intelligence.
Can't step outside your wisdom to understand a new/different concept.

To the OP, sorry for the crapshow on your post.


Dillon out.