I an "extra light" or "light" 20 Ga target load available?

[dirtbos]

I’m going to buy a 20 gauge pump for my grand daughter. I would like to start her off on a very light load and then work up. As long as the wad makes it out of the barrel, that’s all I need to start.

I know that Winchester makes a “extra light†in their 12 gauge AA Target loads. I checked their web site and could not find anything in 20 gauge. Would appreciate any info you might have re: availability.

My wife and I took her out this last Sunday and she had a ball just pulling the cord on the clay launcher. I let her pull the trigger a few times on the 12 gauge while I held it. She loves it. I was sited in on a static clay and when it broke she jumped up and down. A future champion in the making for sure.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Dave McCracken]

Kent/Gamebore has a superlight 2 1/2" load, but it's scarce. Ask over on Shooting Sportsman's BB, those guys can find anything oddball, like 24 gauge ammo.

Here's where reloading your own would pay off, a little research will give you a 3/4 oz, 1100 FPS creampuff.

HTH....

 

[RussB]

Try surfing through www.cheaperthandirt.com and www.natchezss.com They list a whole lotta shells! Report back with your findings

 

[dirtbos]

Reloading may be the answer.

Appreciate the suggestion. It certainly would give me total control of the loads. Does it really pay (save money) to reload? At $ 4.95 a box at Wal-Mart the reloads would have to be real cheap. But there definitely would be a real advantage while getting my Grand Daughter started. Could be that I can get one of the local reloaders to build me a few rounds for a decent price. I will not need too many. I think that she will move up rather quickly. It’s too bad that the majority of people don’t realize that shooting is a great family sport. Thanks again for making my old brain do some thinking.

Mike

 

[Dave McCracken]

Mike, component cost for a box of trap quality reloads here costs me about $2.80. Buying in bulk would cut that a bit more. My used MEC press and so on paid for itself in a few weeks...

More importantly, I can tailor a load for a mission and shooter. Son's little single 12 has some 3/4 oz, 1150 FPS creampuffs for him to learn with. No equivalent factory stuff exists.WEG, it has HALF the kick of a standard field load.

FYI, Hodgdon lists some 3/4 oz, 1150 FPS 20 gauge loads in their info that ought to be good trainers.

HTH...

 

[akanotken]

Have you considered a 28 ga?

I have a few that will be up and coming shotgunners one day. I'm convinced that the 28 gauge is the ideal guage to train with.

Currently my plan will be a 28 guage auto. Here's why. While you can get 12 and 20 to shoot the 3/4 oz "creampuff's" they most likely won't cycle an auto. The auto is gas operated and will further soften the shooting. The semi's are pretty short, light barreled and easier to handle. The 28 ga has good effect, I consider the .410 more of an expert's gun, not a trainer (too frustrating if your not hitting early on). Plus the 28ga carries a certain mystic and elegance .... errrrr ... at least with me

The downsides are they are expensive (not many sold) and you definitely should reload as shells are quite expensive.

 

[labgrade]

"Does it really pay (save money) to reload?
But there definitely would be a real advantage while getting my Grand Daughter started."

You just answered your own question.

Too heavy a load & you might turn her off for a very long time versus The Right Load & have a convert forever.

= priceless. For my own grandkids, if I had to, I'd bite the bullet & invest in her future. What's a $100 or so? & worst case, you get to teach her to reload her own "barn-burners" down the road.

Cheaper than buying the reloading stuff may be to dial into The Club (if applicable) & have an old-timer fix her up.

[/random musings]

& yes 28s are sweet, but pricey it seems. Not enough demand.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

I think i found it.

http://www.remington.com/ammo/shotshell/sts_lowrecoil_20ga.htm

 

[dirtbos]

Thanks for the help

Thanks a lot for the effort. I had almost given up.

I’m looking at the Mossberg Bantam youth model to get my Grand Daughter started. You here a lot of pros and cons about Mossberg, but I think she will grow out of it before she breaks it (if it ever does break). The major benefit is that the forearm distance is a lot shorter than on the 870 and other youth models.

Reloading will almost become mandatory, as my wife and I plan to do a lot of Sporting Clay shooting in the future. My daughter is also going to try it out. I think I may need shot shells by the case load. I think it will be a while before I start that though.

This Lite Load Remington might just fill the bill.

Thank you very much. I really appreciate it.

Mike

Ps. Just took my Grand Daughter out for a little pellet gun practice today. Out 90th Street, towards Tehachepi, to Backus Road, just south of the windmills. She did very well. Has great concentration for her age. She had a hell of a good time.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Glad to help, Mike. No apologies needed for getting that Mossy. Those are good guns, if not my first pick. My WEG is 30K of light target loads can go through a 500 before it needs tightening.

A suggestion, make sure the trigger on that runs less than 4 lbs. We all need good triggers but a tyro needs one the most. Most smiths can do one for less than $50.

 

[dirtbos]

That’s a great point!

Dave

I had not considered trigger work. But given a little thought, it would really make a difference. It will definitely make the gun more user friendly for her.

When she pops her first clay, I’ll post a message. Keep an eye out. Who knows? Maybe an Olympic team member in the making. We are just looking to have some fun. But you never know.

Thanks again,
Mike

 

[Dave McCracken]

You're welcome, Mike. Please tell us how it goes.

Way too many kids that get exposed to shooting( A shrinking minority) have guns that don't fit, kick too much and have a trigger weight more suited to a Harpoon gun.

Pain's a fast turnoff for kids. Make it fun and keep them from suffering, and they'll keep on with it.

 

[dirtbos]

I agree

Dave,

I totally agree. It’s got to be done right.

Her Mother and Father are both positive about it. My Daughter was brought up around guns (under the proper supervision, of course) and it didn’t hurt her a bit. She is very successful. The self-esteem and confidence that is built through proper firearms training and participating in shooting sports can only be positive as far as I am concerned.

It is sad that the current political climate has turned off so many people. They do not know what they are missing.

I am even thinking about a small web site that shows my Grand Daughters progress. I would enjoy it and it may help other Parents/Grandparents to get involve with their kids the same way.

Either way, I'll definitely let you know.

Mike

 

[labgrade]

Pat on the back for The Kid .... & you, dirtbos.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Mike, Kudoes to you.

If you do a Web site on this, please post the link. I'm sure lots of folks will benefit thereby...