Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Youth Shotgun Recommendations

About time to buy the kids a shotgun of their own. Thinking youth 20 gauge but open to other opinions. The Benelli Nova youth has my eye at the moment.

What is the quarry, squirrels, rabbits, birds, clays? All of the above?

Either Rem 870 or Mossberg 500 youth guns.

I would go with an 870 if you are looking at a pump. Lots of aftermarket part to trick it out for whatever you want to do.

I bought my kids a youth Model 870 20ga when they were about 10 or 12. My son killed his first deer with it. 20 years later, I still have that gun and it's perfect for women. My daughter and daughter-in-law both love that gun. If they're planning on shooting sporting clays, you might want to think about an automatic.

Clays and upland birds are on the radar

Beretta semi-auto. It will last a lifetime and much reduced recoil. If you can locate an older 390 or 3901 they are jewels for the price

I’d take wildfowl’s advice, or something similar. My son shoots a Remington 1187 20 gauge very well. For clays and birds, think gas autolader, IMHO.

IF you can find one Beretta made a 390RL (RL stood for reduced length) For some reason they stopped making them but they are a solid gun for sure.

Planning to use the gun to train new shooters. Pump action is my preference for that method. Good call on the 870, just need to find one in stock.

If recoil is a concern, you may want to look at a Winchester Model 50, 20ga. They are extremely light recoiling, much less than an 1100 20ga.

Tony

I bought my son/wife a Benelli Montefeltro 20 gauge for about $900... 8 or so years ago. It came with a youth stock as well as "regular" stock.

They took up Sporting Clays with me...

After a few years in the sport, I bought a Browning Maxis 12 used and sold the Benelli Montefeltro 20 gauge for $1k.

The recoil on the Maxus in 12 gauge is the same or less than the Montefeltro 20. It is totally manageable for woman and youth (mid teens)

The weight is more.

I have personally shot their Maxus 1,000s or rounds now at clays and game. It is highly effected.

The rubber grips "melt" however... Browning has a fix, but their CS is not good.

Really like the Weatherby sa-08 youth 20 GA.

I have an old escort youth 20 GA semi auto that's a great gun. Heavy and has no recoil.

A break action new England arms 410 with no choke is a good start.

Best call shortactionsmoker. They only have 2 in stock as of this afternoon.

I bought my grandson an autoloader last year, but selection was very limited. If I had a do-over, I might go with a pump. The autoloaders seem a bit fussier about loading and unloading; even some adults I shoot with have issues at times. Pumps are more foolproof. A fixed breech will kick a bit more, but a soft recoil pad would help with that.

What autoloader is fussy about loading/unloading?