Youth shotguning

[LODI QUACKER]

Has anyone reserched youth semi autos to know which has the?

shortest LOP
lightest weight
and shortest barrell

needing to get my little dude set up and doing a litte research.

Pros ans cons for the youth models yall have used as well.


Thanks.

[Smoke68]

I've given this a good bit of thought recently. I had a kid come hunting with me with a .410 single shot. He was about 8 or nine years old. I'll be honest, I'd have a tough job hitting anything but a squirrel sitting on a limb with that gun, and an 8 or 9 yr old is trying it on quail? Not a good way to build confidence in a young shooter.

As soon as my children are old enough to shoot, I'd like them to be using a youth model 20 gauge pump or semi-auto shooting low-brass. That will give them an honest chance at hitting a bird. .410s are good for youngsters hunting squirrels but that's about it. If they're not big enough to handle the 20 gauge youth, they're not big enough to shoot at birds.

My father in law has a youth pump 20 gauge. My little cousin used it for a while and liked it.

Sorry if this was a little off-topic; I just think if you're going to give a gun to a kid just to make him feel good, give him a Red Ryder. Otherwise, give him a gun that gives him an honest chance.

[LODI QUACKER]

I agree completely!!!

I have taken my boy with me several times this year, Had the traditional 410 single. Shoots a few woodies on the water and has attempted the flying woodrow but you can imagine the frustration with that. ( he is 6). He killed a couple of doves this season and shot fine during dove season but there are so many more opportunities on a dove hunt. The back breaking straw was after working all morning to get the Mallards in, I get him lined out on some backpeddling mallards. Boom he shoots, duck is hit and just keeps on going. This is with hevi #6's at 3 bucks a freaking piece. So things must change, just looking for the right direction. I have a 390 youth 20 but the barrell is as long as an adults gun and its going to be too much for a while I am afraid. Seeing if anyone can offer some insight.

[ragon]

http://www.tristarsportingarms.com/product_viper.html

got my boy one, comes with two stocks and barrel extension, he loves it and can shoot the crap out of it! no problems so far, knock on wood!!!!!!!! a little over 3 bills for it

[hillhunter03]

i am going thru the same thing with my six year old. i have been looking at getting a 1187 youth and trimming the stock a lil more. i read on remingtons web site that the stock could be cut down up to two more inches. thats does mean however that i will have to buy another stock when he gets bigger but they are easy to come by for a remington. that is what has made me lean more towards the 1187. dont know if this helps or not. maybe somebody can post up that has already been through this and help us both out.

[atsducks]

My son is into his third year of hunting with a youth model 1187 20 ga. turkey gun. It has been great. When he was smaller, the 21 inch barrel was perfect. He just turned 12 and it is still good but I am wanting a longer barrel. He is on the small side but has been shooting since he was 6 so recoil has never been a big conern. I do like the gas operated 20 for him.

The only cons I have seen is that it likes 1 oz. loads. After about a case of 3 inch 1 oz. duck loads it did shoot the 7/8 oz. but would still occasionally hang up. Keeping it clean helps.

Hope this helps and good luck. I have never enjoyed hunting more than with my son.

[brake man]

My older son turns 10 tomorrow, and we will be headed to Tunica for a birthday hunt on Saturday. This is his sixth season to duck hunt with me and his third to actually shoot. Santa brought him a Remington 870 Express Jr. (NOT the youth model) 20 gauge for Christmas, and what a great gun that has been so far. It is the right size, weight, and length for him and gives him those extra pellets that count. Also, I can let him shoot a box of steel shot all morning for less than he could shoot a box of 10 bismuth or Classic Doubles! I would recommend the same gun for you if he is big enough to handle a 20 gauge.

[Matt S]

My son is 7 and about 60lbs. I bought him the 1187 youth last summer and he loves it. He was too small for a pump when i bought it i thought. I didnt want him scared of the kick. He has no problems with the length of pull like it is. I am very happy with it. Only shot dove loads so far no problems with the gun.

[Dux Be Us]

I started with a SXS in 20...still have it, an old Rossi...my son and I still shoot it at dove. Mossberg Super Bantam is used for dux and deer

[fireplug]

I got a Mossberg SA20 to do my rabbit hunting with. I bough the youth model because it was only 5 lbs. It has a shorter LOP
but I put a add on pad to get the length back. It has a 24" barrel. It is a nice little gun and you can order them from Wally
world for $300. With your boy being only 6 even the youth model LOP may be too big for him though.

It is a gas operated gun and with any gas operated auto you will need to run a box or 2 of heavy loads through it or you might
have trouble with the 7/8 oz shells.

If you are ever in Grenada or Water Valley I can let you and your son hold mine and see how it fits him if that helps you any.

[duckter]

Been there, done all of that.

Here's what I did (and I recommend to all) -

Bought a Beretta 20 gauge Urika with a 26"' barrel. This autoloader is swwweeeeettt and weighs about 6-1/2 pounds. Feels great and shoots great. Since it is chambered up to 3", this is a gun my son will keep forever. It is small in size and any kid over 8 could handle it perfectly. Recoil is significantly less than all others. Next time I head back to South Dakota for phesants, this is what I am taking with me.

It's an investment and the $750 I spent on it more than covers the guns I would have bought (and re-sold for less) along the way. And, here I am 6 years later, and the gun is still probably worth close to what I paid for it.

I hear annually the questions on here from guys trying to find .410 shells for duck hunting...hard to find and quite expensive. Single shots and pumps kick like mules, and this is what the kids fear the most.

Other than the Beretta Urika, would also consider the Benelli Montefeltro or the M2.

As for rifles, same thing - made a few bad purchases, but ended up buying him a 7mm08 Browning Microlite. A tad on the expensive side, but again, a gun he'll keep forever. Personally, I hunt with it a lot due to it's light size and great caliber.

[duckter]

One other thing to consider -

Most of these "starter" guns are just that. These kids grow quickly, and before you know it, they've outgrown it and you've got to sell it, and buy another. The bottom line is this, buy a good one early, and when he's 70 years old, he still has the gun he started with, and will most likely still be using it at that time for bird hunting, skeet, etc. You'll upgrade him when he turns 17 or older to a 12gauge Mag of some sort. Again, a gun he'll keep for a long time.

[LODI QUACKER]

Like I said ducter I have a berreta 390 youth but with the 26 inch barrell its going to be bad end heavy for him at this age. Looking sor something shorter, smaller. The kick of the 410 single with heavy 3" is kinda bad but he doesnt seem to mind it, I really dont think a 20 gas autoloader with 2.75 shells will be any worse.

What say you?

Anyone know the LOP on the tristar??

[LODI QUACKER]

Anybody got an old barrel and or stock for a 1100 rem 20 ga? . I could cut a stock down to fit my old quail gun.

[Redhead]

I did almost the same thing duckter did, but bought the Beretta Teknys 20 ga. bought an extra stock and had it cut off. Now 6 years later the 20 ga tecknys is one of our favorite guns to shoot. I take it to SD every year to shoot Pheasants with and love it.


The best advice is to let someone else teach your kids (or Wife) to shoot. They will think you are fussing or getting on to them when you are just giving advice or tips on shooting. be patient and good luck!

My son didn't want to shoot at first but now at 15 I can't hardly afford Ammo!