Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Kids at the Campfire Youth 20ga semi auto options

Looking to move up my soon to be 10 year old from the H&R 410. I have 3 kids total my oldest is 16 and shoots one of my Benelli SBEs. My youngest is 6 and she’s now shooting the 410.

I have a Browning BPS youth but it’s big and bulky and somewhat front heavy for him. I also have a 500 bantam but it’s my oldest daughters deer gun.

My son shoots a lot with me and 410 is not easy to find and pretty pricey! I’m wanting to move him up to something no more than 6 pounds, semi auto (to keep recoil down when duck hunting) and 24” or shorter barrel. I k ow this will be a transition gun for my kids to use for the next 7-8 years or so. I’d like parts to be available and for it to be reliable.

The stoger 3020 is out it’s shortest barrel is 26”

Franchi Affinety I love and it’s a gun he could use his entire life but is pricey and eventually it will need a full size stock and a longer barrel if he wants to keep it. That cost about as much as the gun. Also its not a gas gun so I’m sure it kicks a bit more. $850

Mossberg SA-2000 I have heard great things about made in the same place as the weatherby I’m told? Looks like a beretta gas system. Both the weatherby and Mossberg are around $550 any difference between the two?

Tristar viper who makes it? I’ve heart mixed reviews I’ve been around the guns and they seem cheap but it’s just going to be a transition gun until we get a full sized one. $450

Escort pS 20 actually I have people with these guns for their kids and they haven’t had them long but seem to be happy. My friends did have the full size 12ga 31/2” guns and had problems though. $325

CZ 720 I know nothing about it except a hugulu made gun.


SX4 compared to just swinging the franchi vs the sx4 he really liked the franchi more. So for the same price I’d go with the franchi.

Any experience from you all would be great!

Bought the escort youth 20ga as a turkey gun for myself. 22" barrel and 6 lbs. Fits me and my 10 yr old grandson, soft recoil gas operated. Love it so far , was around $300. Only turkey hunting so far .

I bought a Franchi Affinity youth 20 several years back, it was the most jamming auto I've ever come across, two buddies bought the full size 20s, both had issues. You had to shoot strong loads, franchi told me to put 2 cases of winchester heavy target through them and then get back to them. Have you priced two cases of that stuff? Should have just spent the extra money on a nicer gun. Anyway, I traded that thing off.

Ran cross an 1187 compact, and its been perfect so far.