First deer shotgun for 12 year-old boy.

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Loosedhorse

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I've got a friend who wants to outfit his kid with a deer gun (shotgun only in our state)--he's thinking of an H&R rifled single-shot 12 gauge, and wants to know if he should scope it.

I have my own opinions, but I'm wondering if I could ask you all to weigh-in on what you think a good choice of shotgun is for a beginning hunter, whether it should be scoped, and what else it might be important to do (fit the stock, recoil pad, anything else) to make practice and hunting safe and fun.

As you all know, there's little more important we can do than introduce kids to firearms and hunting THE RIGHT WAY, so I want to make sure I'm not leading them astray.

(The answer is YES: the dad has taken a gun safety course, and he and his son are set up for a hunter safety class already.)

Thanks.
 
considering it's a rifled barrel and set up for Sabots, I don't think puttin' a scope on it is a bad thing. Sometimes folk tend to skimp when it comes to outfittin young hunters and their fun and success lacks....thus they tend to get frustrated. Shotgun scopes are fairly inexpensive so if it don't work out your friend ain't out much. I say go for it.
 
Don't be afraid to cut the stock to length and install a good recoil pad. I'd say scope it just because it extends hunting time in low light (and they tend to be less expensive, look at nikons on samplelist.com).
 
low recoil slugs better than sabot slugs, you think? (dense woods here, so shooting distances are typically short--except for that REALLY BIG BUCK OVER THERE, of course. Hunting!)
 
A 12 ga single-shot will Bust his Chops big-time with slugs!

I would have to recommend one of the Mossy Super bantom models.
http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=25

20 guage, stock can be fit to him now, and grow longer later as he gets bigger.

The extra field barrel will make clay bird practice possible, and that is a very good thing!

rcmodel
 
Get him a 20 gauge. Modern slug put the 20 ahead of the 12 in some instances.

HB
 
I Agree

A nice 20-gauge with a scope and recoil pad PLUS some training on how to stand properly to minimize recoil will be a good thing. HAVE Fun with it and include some camping and fishing if you can. I learned how to shoot in the Boy Scouts of America and earned both the Shotgun and Rifle merit badges. The 12-gauge is going to be horrific and painful for a 12-year. Go with the 20-gauge and let him enjoy his shooting experience.
 
I second the notion. A 20-gauge should be better for him, a 12-ga, shooting the hottest sabots' won't do him a lick of good, if the recoil knocks him off target.
 
Oh that brings back memories! Both of my sons started around 9, and neither of them would accept anything smaller than Dad's gun. They both got 12 gauges at age 10 for their birthdays. There was some stock cutting of course, which was later replaced when they got bigger. Like was said above, just cut them down to a good fit and they will enjoy it a lot more. Replacement stocks for Rems and Burgs are cheap, I would not get anything expensive for that first gun. I did get some light loads for them, but they both quickly moved to max power right out of Dad's stockpile. Treasure this, no matter what choice you finally make. And takes lots of pictures to share with us!
 
If my daughter had to hunt with a shotgun for deer, here is what I would do.

Buy a 20 gauge Mossberg 500 youth with a smooth barrel at walmart for 209.00. Now she has a shotgun for any shotgun need. Then I would buy her a 20 gauge fully rifled barrel with cantilever scope mount for about 120.00. I would put a bushnell 4x shotgun scope on it for 50.00. Then you could go from deer to birds or turkey with just a barrel change.

I guess the same goes for the HR Handi, I just have not had good luck with the 3 I have owned and I won't have another. The Mossberg can have an adult stock added for 30.00 or less off ebay when he gets older and will last him a life time. The Mossberg also weighs a good bit and will help tame the recoil of 3 inch sabots. The Limbsaver slip on recoil pads work wonders.
 
I don't think the 12 ga is going to be too much recoil - that's what I started on and I didn't even feel it when I got my first 6 pointer when I was 12 years old.

Depending on what kind of shooting distance - definitely a scope if he plans on shooting out to 100 yards.

I started on a Reminton 1100 by the way
 
Very true, but it will make sighting in and practicing with that gun miserable, which hurts his chances of getting that first deer.
 
I was also shooting a bolt 7mm mag at that time. I just couldn't hunt with it. Maybe I was a tough 12 year old? I guess I really don't see how a 12 ga will be too much for the kid.
 
Maybe I was a tough 12 year old?
Click to expand...
7mm Mag & 12 ga slug gun?
Tough!

Girl, you was Harder then Woodpecker Lips! :D

Or maybe so light the recoil just took you along with it!

rcmodel
 
The size of the youth, would dictate the ga., question. If he is large enough to handle the 12, but most 12 yr. olds are not. Some of the slugs for 20ga can be pretty damn hot in a single barrel. The reduced recoil slugs might be an option, but I don't remember seeing them in 20 ga.
I thought I saw some of the Handi Slug hunters with exta heavy bbl, that and add a mount and scope might be the ticket. Maybe one of the 870 Rem youth models, then you can add the longer stock for when he grows.
 
Handi rifle in a 12 guage is a little stout. I have 1, and I gave one to boy I didnt like(x future son in law) It beat the fire out of him.

On the other hand I do also own a Handi ultra slug in a 20. I simply love that gun. It maybe a little heavy for a 12 year old. The kick is minor.

I bought a 20 bantam Mossy for my boy. It has a Cantilever rifle barrel and a smooth bore. Like Whiskey stated. It is universal and dont kick that bad.

What ever he chooses, Make sure the boy has a little input. He will feel better about the gun.

Good luck, and pat dad on the back for bringing one more youth into the fold.

Lonny
 
All suggestions appreciated!

FWIW--I also thought a scoped 20 gauge semiauto would be the gentlest introduction for a new hunter at the range, with that scope decreasing the anxiety factor in the field.

The idea of reduced recoil slugs is an obvious one (that never occured to me!), and the point about having the young hunter involved in the choice of gun is important--but he's such a techno gear-head (said affectionately) that he'd absolutely go for the semi-auto.

I'll check back later to see if there's more ideas. Until then, thanks.
:)
 
I was going to comment that a 12 ga single shot with slugs might be a little too painful for a kid, but that has already been handled.
 
Yes, I would scope it. It's an accurate rifle, worthy of a good scope and rings.

The scope helps to gather light in low light, helps to see twigs in the way between you and the target, and most importantly, helps the youngters line up and aim easier, aligning 2 things instead of 3 things.

I would advise a scope with magnif and objective such as these:

1-4x20 (such as Leupold VX1 and VX2)
1-4x24
1.5-4x32
1.75-5x28 (such as Burris Fullfield II)
1.75-6x32
1.5-6x40
2-7x32

Something like that. You want good eye relief. Leupolds tend to have the BEST eye relief. Sightron has pretty good eye relief, too, as does Zeiss. On a budget, this would be my choice of scope for that rifle:

http://www.swfa.com/pc-3638-89-leupold-1-4x20-vx-i-shotgun-muzzleloader-scope.aspx

and in fact IS my choice of scope for a similar 12 ga rifle which I have. Great scope for $200. Heavy reticle, very long eye relief, very good clarity, dependable.
 
whiskey said it. I'd go with a Mossberg 500 Bantam (youth) in 20 gauge, and buy a rifled barrel with cantilevered scope mount for it. But I'd opt for a Burris or Leupold 4X scope. Cut the stock down further if need be, and install a good recoil pad. You can always buy a new buttstock at a later date if need be. Now you're set for small game as well as deer.
 
If you cut down the stock, drill it for doweling. That way it can be put back together easily as the boy grows. I was not hunting at 12 but I can remember firing my dad's 16 ga single shot and it was not fun at the time but I think I weighed less than 90 lbs. at the time.
 
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