all around shot gun for my 10 year old son?

[Holaey]

My son has really taken a liking to shooting at the range.

He told me that next summer he would like to do some sporting clay shooting....... What would be a good shot gun for him?

He has been shooting a 410 for a year ..... Is a 12 too big for him? I would hate to buy something that he will out grow.

I am not much into guns so I need some help? I need to follow his hobbies.

Thanks for any info

Holaey

[New Yankee]

You might get by using a 12 gauge with low brass, but I don't know of any youth models availible in 12 gauge (likely some out there, I just am not aware of any). The Remington youth model 870 in 20 gauge is a good choice, and mossberg makes a similar one I think. The sizing of the stock will be the biggest thing to consider - most ten year olds don't have the size to handle a 'full size' 12, recoil not even being considered - but also an important factor - don't want to scare them with the recoil.

He can use a 20 gauge until he gains confidence and size - likely up around the time he hits 15 or 16.

[CrappieAttitude]

Have you looked at the Remington 870 Youth 20 Guage? I have heared many people saying they are great guns. I started with a 20 guage single shot. My dad still has that thing.

[Meat-Run]

Holaey,

there is a 12 ga youth shot gun just for this. BUT I strongly discourage starting a 10 year old out on 12 ga. Build up good habits with the 20ga and confidence long before he should move up in size. To be honest I have thought about going back to my 20ga for the challenge and excitement and they can do just as good a job as a 12 but you just need to know your limitations. Go with a 20 gauge and if your budget allows start him in a auto so he doesn't "fight" with the half pumping issues.

Good luck,

mr

[GatorBait]

I would go with either a 20 or 28 guage. I recently bought my son a Franchi 48 AL Field Short Stock 20g 2 3/4in. They are very light, min kick and sharp looking shotgun but run on the expensive side at $600. But I'm not saying that is the gun you should buy, just an example of what's out there. 20g are adequate enough for trap shooting, and also allow for great squirrel, rabbit, and pheasant hunting. Take a road trip and have him feel around for some that best fit him, maybe non youth guns will fit him which will make it easier for you seeing it wouldn't have to be replaced for some time. GL in your adventure. Always good to hear about the little ones gaining interest in shooting sports.

[8-Ball]

A 20 guage is the ticket...

[c&amagn]

20ga, I'd go with the Remington Youth model pump. In my opinion, the "autos" are way too dangerous for a kid that age until they have completed the Firearms saftey training courses offerd. The pump will train his brain after each shot that he has fired a round, then manually ejected the dispensed shell and chambered a new shell, much safer in my mind but to each his own. He can always sell the 20ga. as he gets older and then use those funds to upgrade to the 12ga.

[Borch]

If your worried about recoil tyhere is also a Reminton 1100 20 youth that is a gas operated semi automatic. It would be great for sporting clays. The only down side is that it on shoot 2 3/4" shells. So 3" 20 gauge mags are not an option for hunting situations.

[harvey lee]

I would start him off with a 20ga single shot.I learned many years ago that if you start out with a single that you only have 1 shot to make it count.If you start him out as some do with a auto,he will learn to just keep shooting until he hits.Let him learn how to make a good clean shot the first time and after a year or two when he is bigger,you can move up to a pump or auto.

The single 20ga would be rather cheap to start out with and then you could keep it or sell it without to much loss.Then,when he is ready you can look for a gun for the rest of his life.

Good luck in your search and enjoy the time with your son.I always tell people to remember that the best part of the day is the friendships that are made and not what you harvested.That is the bonus.

[not_nuf_time]

I just recently got my 12 year old son the 20 ga Mossberg Bantum, $240.00. Didn't want to scare him off with a 12 ga. He loves the Mossberg, I started him off using just one shell at a time, when he felt comfortable he started loading 2 shells in. He got his first pheasant in So.Dak. I'm really glad went with the twenty. This gun will fit him till at least 16 or more years old.

[lawdog]

My Jr. hunter is using an 870 Youth Model and it was the perfect gun to buy I think. I even have a slug barrel for it that I can move to my full size 870 20 when he outgrows the youth model. I agree with using only one shell though like Harv says. Its easy with any gun though, just give them one shell until they are used to it and learn to make their shots count! Mine is 14 now and he gets three shells (I never take the plug out) as he can handle them. He seldom shoots more than once or maybe if he's lucky twice because at that age they are still not fast pumping and shooting again... With buying a single shot, you need to buy another gun when he's ready for that second shell... Plus, I've never been thrilled with the safety of those cheap single shots.

[HuskerBen]

I'll second the Remington 870 20 guage youth. But, you can get a New England Firearms single shot 20 for around 70 bucks. I would have loved either one when I was 10.

Ben

[ccarlson]

I bought my daughter a Benelli Nova pump youth 20 guage. It was about $40 more than the Remington but both are fine for a starter gun I'm sure.

Here are my thoughts as I look back at her first steps with shotguns.

I disagree that the 20 guage kicks less. The youth guns are small and light and kick just as much as my benelli semi auto 12 guage. The kick has never been a factor when shooting at moving objects which we only do with shotguns. I never talk about it and she has never said anything. I think kick becomes an issue when kids are shooting at a still target and have that time to think about how much it is going to kick. My nephew did one year of a youth 20 and then moved up to a 12 semi auto full size. He said it kicks less than the 20 and he is a small frame.

The downside to the 20 guage is the shell availability and costs. Not nearly as diverse and low cost as the 12 guage selections, particularly for waterfowling which is what she enjoys the most. Grouse hunting isn't so bad but pheasant hunting can be tough for the little legs in the long grass which is why she really prefers to waterfowl hunt.

The benefit of the 20 guage youth over the 12 guage semi auto is the safety factor. I do like the idea of starting the first year or two without having the semi auto.

In other words, think of the youth 20 guage as a very temporary purchase and plan to work them up to a 12 guage as soon as their size and skill level allows in my opinion. That is, if they are going to do the waterfowling very much. Upland and target shooting, the 20 will be fine for many years.

ccarlson

[Tripleplay]

My son bought himself the Mossberg 20ga Bantum last year and he also started out with an empty gun opening pheasant last year. Then he graduated to a single shell and finally when he proved to me he was on top of the safety part of hunting he got 3 shells to load.

When searching for the right 20ga for him we looked at them all. We were pretty sure on the pump since this will be a starter gun only. The remington youth 870 has a longer pump slide and he just couldn't fit it correctly. To pump it he was on the very end of the pump handle as it was so far out. The Mossberg also has additional stock plates that allow you to adjust that for fit which was another plus. The Mossberg and the Benilli Nova fit him very well and the slide on the pump is much shorter which works pretty well for him since he was average height at most for a 12 yr old.

I'd definitely try the fit including the ease of pumping the shotgun if you go with a pump.

[Jackpine Rob]

My son chose the Remington 870 Youth in 20 gauge, after we looked at pretty much everything offered. He hefted the Model 1100 Youth Turkey Special (this one was camo and allowed 3" shells), but didn't like the price, and the extra weight. The Mossberg Bantam was checked out, but he didn't like the "feel" of it. He didn't like the looks of the Nova. There was a cute little Beretta semi that really caught his attention - until he looked at the price tag.

He got the combo package with the bird and fully rifled deer barrels. He has had a great deal of success with that gun, including partridge, pheasants, ducks, geese, one turkey and 5 deer. No complaints from either of us. The slug barrel with Remington Coppersolids really grooves, and the 3" magnum capability in the shot barrel allows him to knock down just about any bird he chooses to.

He's 15 now, and starting to look at an upgrade to a 12 gauge. The 20 will not be sold or traded - but kept in reserve as a great gun for many applications. Personally, I would have absolutely no qualms about using it myself.

[troutmaster]

How about a single shot 16 gauge or 28 gauge.

[Gordie]

I have a ten yr old son that started shooting shotgun this year and I last yr bought him a rossi combo youth model in 22rim/20ga and you can purchase other barrels like blackpowder,243rifle and so on. I was worried that the recoil would be a bit much so I bought a rubber recoil pad for a adult shotgun and cut it down and cut the stock to fit him and he said after shooting at ducks this fall that the recoil isnt bad at all. you can also as purchase a bigger stock as your son/daughter gets older. and its not a ton of money I think I spent less than 150.00 for it and was told that extra barrels are around 100.00 each

[wingnutken]

I agree with jackpine. My son is now 19 and at 6'1" he will never out grow his 870- 20g. It is his favorite grouse gun. He and I have always felt that any single shot would never get used and he would out grow it. It would just sit there in the case collecting dust because he would not want to part with the memories. When he was 12 I would only let him load 1 shell at a time. Ken

[SledNeck]

My 8 year old uses a 870 Youth (JUNIOR) model. Its just slightly big for him, but next year it will be near perfect size. Should last him until he can have my full size 870.

[Rotwieler]

i remember for me it was more of a matter of confidence to shot a 12 ga. i thought it would kick like a mule. if you talk to him and give him confidence that a 12 ga isn't going to hurt him, a semiauto(lest kick) with a recoil pad. should work. another thing is the shells you shoot. use light loads 1 oz or 7/8 oz shells make a big difference in kick. i know the gun club i shoot at has a 3 dram limit on powder. if you start him off on 7/8 oz. with 2 3/4 dram he'll take to it. in other words those cheap shells at wal-mart in an semiauto are close to a .410, in by benelli they don't even eject if i hold the gun loose.

[CAJ]

I bought a Charles Daly at Wal Mart for $289. It is a 12 g. It is light and very easy to carry. If I get another for the young ones in the family, I'm going to get one in the 20 gauge. They are a very good starter gun for everyone. I have started carring it more than my good gun latly. CAJ

[LundExplorer]

I just started out my 10yr old on an old mossberg bolt action 410 this year, it was my first gun I got as a 10yr old. He's a little on the small side, and this gun is a bit big for him this year, but next year he should be good to go. He carried it unloaded this year, maybe carry a single shot next year. When he completes gun safety in a couple years I will look hard at the Benelli or Mossberg youth 20 ga pumps.

[KOTTKE]

I purchased a 20 ga Mossberg youth for my 10 yr old daugter this year and it is a perfect fit for her. It has a shorter slide on the pump than a remington, but the action is not as smooth. It is a light gun and carrys a little kick, but her 8 yr old sister shot it also this thanksgiving when we were shooting trap and it didn't bother her, and she is a little peanut. Can't wait to take them both turkey hunting this spring.