Hlep choosing son a 20 gauge

[cbr900son]

My step son just turned 13 and he is small for his size and doesnt handle my 12 gauge as well as id like to let him hunt with it. Just seems a little too long for him to be steady. Thinking about getting him a 20 gauge for some squirrel and rabbit fun. Any suggestions on a paticular model to look at?

 

[Emperor]

He's still too young to appreciate a major brand name like Beretta, but whatever you do; please don't get him a crack barrel, shingle shot mule kicker!

Single shot crack barrels really have overstayed their usefulness in life.

 

[Phill]

avoid the single shot shoulder killers and Mossbergs....

 

[cbr900son]

Thanks for the advice. guess ill have to go look around tommorow when Im off. Didnt want anything too expensive but not worth buying complete crap either.

 

[Redd508]

I like the Mossberg 500. The youth model turned out to be a good gun. It does what you need a shotgun to do. And the price is right for a starter gun. Not to be contrary but I also still hunt with my 12 ga crack barrel. Go to WMart and handle the gun to see for yourself. It was money well spent for me.

 

[MyTFAL]

Mossberg SA-20 Bantam

I bought one of these for my 11 yr old daughter, she and I love it, light soft shooting reliable with birdshot. Functionally it appears to be a Turkish copy of the Beretta gas system. I paid 375$ at Academy.



Gauge 20
Chamber Size 3"
Capacity 5
Barrel 24" Vent Rib
Sights Front Bead
Chokes Sport Set (5 Total)
Overall Length 43.5"
Length Of Pull 13"
Barrel Finish Matte Blue
Stock Synthetic (Black)
Weight 5.5 lb

Features

3" Chambered Models in 20 Gauge, 5+1 Capacity
New Mossy Oak® Turkey THUGS™ Series Model
Free Gun Lock/1-Year Limited Warranty Included

http://www.gunreports.com/gow/long_guns/20-Gauge-Semiautos-SA-20-mossberg-75771_1557-1.html

They redesigned the loading after this report was written it is much better now.

 

[Walrus]

Both my boys, then my daughter used the Mossberg 500 and/or a Remington Wingmaster 20ga youth. Either one will work well. My oldest boy always gravitated to the Mossberg, my younger son the Remington. Daughter liked the Remington as it was a bit shorter.

 

[Phill]

Invest a little money in his first shotgun. He'll probably have it for the rest of his life and pass it down to his kids.
I still have my first youth model 20 gauge and it's a great lightweight bird gun. I bought the adult stock later on.
I can't wait for that first hunting trip w my little man.

Browning 20 Gauge Micro BPS @ Bass Pro for $579. 13" length of pull, and 22" barrel and it's lighter than the Mossberg.

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?fid=011B&cid=012&tid=225

 

[MyTFAL]

The Gas systems on the semi auto's, does a LOT more to tame recoil than a pump....just a FYI

 

[oleheat]

Then there's always the Remington 870 Express pump in 20 ga. Nifty little squirrel/rabbit gun. And the dependability of the 870 should speak for itself.


(link for reference, only)

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/remington-870-express-20-gauge-pump-action-shotgun/pid-751007


IIRC, Remington also makes a "youth model" with a 20in barrel. Might be a little more difficult to run down vs the 26in, though....

 

[oleheat]

He's still too young to appreciate a major brand name like Beretta, but whatever you do; please don't get him a crack barrel, shingle shot mule kicker!

Single shot crack barrels really have overstayed their usefulness in life.

Well, true- they do have a nice kick to them.

However, folks can now use the NE Pardner-style crack barrel shotguns to deer hunt with in LA during the primitive weapons season, Emp.... So I wouldn't be surprised to see them selling a little better because of it....perhaps, anyway.

 

[N4sir]

The day my son was born in 1988 I was able to escape the hospital for a shower and a stop at Puglia's. I bought him a Browning BPS youth model 20 ga. When I went back to the hospital and was sitting there in the hospital room holding him I pulled out a picture of the gun and showed it to him. Great little shotgun! And it's a beautiful one too.

\If you can find one at a gun show a youth model Ithaca 37 is another great gun.

 

[Goatwhiskers]

Yep, 20ga is the way to go. I still have the Wingmaster that Dad gave me when I was 14--long way past that--and I have brought home whatever game I was after, from birds to deer. If you would really like to start him with the single shot to teach him to make it count, start him with trap loads, higher power is not necessarily the answer. And let me say that "high brass" and "low brass" means NOTHING with modern ammo. There are shells with heavy loads and a short metal part, there are even all plastic shells. You have to read on the box what's in the shells, amount of powder and the shot payload. If he starts with trap level loads he will quickly forget about the recoil. GW

 

[rcm192]

Check out the CZ 720 reduced length youth model

http://cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-720-semi-auto-youth-reduced-length/

 

[Barney88PDC]

Look at a TriStar 20ga semi auto. Lifetime warranty for about $500.

 

[BLACKHAWK240]

Charles daily semi-auto youth. very nice reasonable gun

 

[Goatwhiskers]

Blackhawk, I will speak from a gunsmith's point of view. I wouldn't recommend a C. Daly auto to my worst enemy. They are made in Turkey and they seem to have a metallurgy problem, the guns don't malfunction, they break parts, and the parts seem to be made of unobtainium. Granted, when you have a good one they are as good as any. The importer went out of business and essential parts are not available anywhere unless you want to try to figure out which factory made it and deal direct with the Turks. I won't allow one in the door of my shop. GW

 

[hunter5567]

Depending on your budget you can get a Mossberg Maverick 20ga shotgun at walmart for around $177 or the Mossberg 500 Bantam youth for around $209. The Maverick is basically a 500. The Remington 870 Express 20ga youth model is a better gun in the $275 price range. I've seen them for around $200 at pawnshops in exc. cond. All are great guns with choke tubes.

 

[Jmann]

Sons 13 and loves his 870 youth .

 

[Phill]

The Maverick is basically a 500 that fails twice as often....
Maverick - parts made in Mexico, assembled in a Texas border town....
If you get one, polish the chamber so it doesn't hang up as often.
Nothing will aggravate you more than a locked up gun in the middle of a duck hunt.