Mossberg 500 20g for 13 yr old?

[repo]

I want to get a starter gun my 13 year old cousin can use for some informal trap shooting (supervised) and possibly hunting later. I really do not know a whole lot about shotguns outside of home defense use. He's a smallish kid and I have back problems so I am thinking 20 gauge.

I see a used Mossberg 500 20 gauge with 26" barrel for $175.

Any reasons not to go with that?

 

[TomADC]

I did that with my grandson, we cut the stock off to fit him then as he grew we put it back on, turned out good and he loved that 20 ga.

 

[oneounceload]

20 gauge guns tend to have MORE recoil than 12 gauge guns because they are smaller and lighter. You might want to go to a trap club and rent/borrow a few different types to see what fits the best. I imagine a youth stock will probably work, but I would get the full-size 12, a youth stock to use for know and keep the regular stock for later.

I would also look at a semi, something along the lines of an 1100 - the heavier gun, coupled with light target loads will reduce actual and felt recoil a lot more than a 20 gauge pump.

 

[Mr. T]

That's exactly what I bought my 12 year old for his first shotgun. It is what I would consider the perfect tool for the situation. They are practically indestructible and they are very functional weapons. You couldn't go wrong with it.

 

[Mr. T]

I would go with the youth model if given the choice. Mossberg's tend to run a little long in my case for L.O.P. and the youth model actually fit me as well as my son; o.k. it was a little short for me, but it fit me better than the full size. I would make the comparison to the 20" barrel M16 to the 16" barrel M4. Anyway I hope that you get something that you all can use.

 

[viking499]

I bought my son a 20 guage Mossberg with the adjustable stock. It came with a 22 inch barrel. I looked online and bought him a 26" or 28"(forgot how long) barrel online for $75 so he can swap and use for all types of hunting and to shoot trap also. Cheapest way I found to go........

 

[hub]

He's a smallish kid and I have back problems so I am thinking 20 gauge.

If recoil be a major issue for either of you I would go with a semi 12ga before switching to a 20ga for reasons oneonceload already mentioned. You would be reducing recoil and you would still be shooting clays with a 12ga and you are not at a disadvantage pellet count wise.

I would also get the full size stock and just buy a hogue aftermarket if needed.

I see a used Mossberg 500 20 gauge with 26" barrel for $175.

Well if money is an option, which of coarse is usually is and that rules a semi out, then get it, it will work just fine as would a 12 ga with light or reduced recoil loads.

In my opinion for informal clays and hunting the 20ga will be just fine but don't expect too much recoil reduction.

 

[TomADC]

Our's had a 26" barrel with choke tubes, with skeet loads he shot it just fine, he started out just shooting singles at skeet, as he progressed he shot doubles with it and did just fine, recoil was never an issue. I recall that later he used my 20 ga O/U skeet gun, one day when he was ready to shoot sta 7 I switched guns with him and he shot my 12 ga O/U skeet gun after that its the only gun he liked to shoot. His mother shot the heck out of that little Mossberg I later sold it to a friend whose son was getting ready to start shooting.

 

[MNPyro]

I am wondering what sort of back issues you have that you think would prevent you from handling a 12 ga....

Reason I ask is because I am by far a tall/big person plus I have had serious back issues (diagnosed when I was 6, 3 metal rods in my back with 9 - 4" screws later....and here I am) and I have been shooting 12 ga regular target loads since I was about 10.

I'm not trying to come off as being "better" than you, I am just curious as I've had no issues with my dads old Mossbergs, or my brothers Wingmaster both in 12 ga, and I believe 28" barrels.

 

[Grunt]

I went with a Remington 870 Express 7-round in 20 gauge for my son to grow into. I test fired it for function and group with Federal and Remington #3 Buck and immediately fired some 12 gauge 00 Buck through my Mossberg 590 and while the 870 is lighter, the recoil from the Mossberg was still heavier. Nope, don't use any "reduced recoil" loads around here. I figure if you are getting away from recoil you have to be loosing something else and I don't want to loose any velocity I don't have to. As far as recoil, it may be a bit much for him right now (hell, he's 4 so it's not like he's going out next week with the thing anyways) but if he's old enough to handle the gun, he is going to need to man up and handle the recoil that goes along with it.
So why did I go with the 7-round 870 Express? Well, it's the end result of what he can grow into. I have removed the extended magazine for now and have installed an Uncle Mikes magazine cap with sling swivel to further reduce weight and I have on order an 870 Express Compact Jr. Stock with a pull length of 12 inches and with the spacer system, can be lengthened out to 13 inches so that's a shorter stock he can grow with as well. This stock combined with the standard length magazine should make the weapon short and light enough to handle at a younger age (like I said, the recoil is something he just is going to have to learn to man up to although light target loads are the ones he gets to start with so no, I'm not a total hard ass here) without becoming fatigued as quickly. As he grows, the stocks get longer and the extra weight of the magazine extension should be less of an issue. But all these parts are here and waiting for that day, not trying to find them later on. I mean, how common is a 20 gauge extended magazine?

 

[repo]

A bunch of herniated discs in my lower back. It's the repetitive jolt I am concerned about. It might be fine I don't know, I'd just rather go light on it. Physical therapist couldn't offer me much advice on it other than if it hurts don't do it.

 

[oneounceload]

I figure if you are getting away from recoil you have to be loosing something else and I don't want to loose any velocity I don't have to. As far as recoil, it may be a bit much for him right now (hell, he's 4 so it's not like he's going out next week with the thing anyways) but if he's old enough to handle the gun, he is going to need to man up and handle the recoil that goes along with it.

Sorry, but that is machismo gone amok....there's nothing correct or "manly" about handling heavy recoil - that is just plain incorrect and flat out wrong, leading to flinches, missed shots and a distaste for shooting, let alone all of the shoulder, neck and back problems later on in life. If you're only shooting "he-man" heavy buckshot, then you're missing 90% of the fun of shooting a shotgun. I feel sorry for your son

 

[Bud Tugly]

For younger shooters weight is an issue if they can't hold the gun steady. Youth models usually have shorter barrels for that very reason.

Too much recoil can definitely be another issue if it leads to him developing a flinch. If that happens he will never become a good shot and flinches can be VERY hard to eliminate once they develop.

I'd go with a youth model in 20 gauge and start with nothing stronger than 7/8 ounce loads. If he outgrows it in a few years he can always sell it for a decent price since demand for youth models is pretty strong.

Edited to add: I made the mistake of getting a 12 gauge H&R for my first shotgun when I was about 14 or so. I bought nothing but 1 1/4 ounce loads on the theory that more is always better and developed such a flinch that I couldn't hit a thing. When I switched to a 20 gauge with light loads I found out in time that I was an OK shot after all, but it sure took a while to get rid of that danged flinch.

 

[hawkeye216]

Mossberg 500 bantam or super bantam in 20 gauge is the way to go. It is lighter than the 870 and a 13 year old can handle the recoil of shooting 50 to 75 rounds at an outing. I have used that weapon in a used 500 youth and the superbantom weights to train 3 under 13 years of age

 

[higher4hockey]

I started out with a Mossberg 500 when I was twelve. That was thirteen years ago. I went out small game hunting today and took it with me. I absolutely adore the 500. I've got a Remington 11-87 12 gauge that I leave at home 9 times out of ten when I go out for small game. The 500 is an excellent choice.

 

[dougiefreshhh]

My 13 year old daughter did some skeet shooting for the first time a month ago.

It was also her first time shooting a shotgun.

She shot a 20ga pump Rem 870 with trap loads.

She weighs about 100lbs, and handled it without issue.

I shot it and it had about the same kick as my 12ga semi.

Have fun!

 

[troyboy94]

I started out with a Mossberg 500 when I was 12 it's a great starter gun.

 

[Snarlingiron]

My friend bought exactly that in a youth model for his 7 year old. I wish I had taken pictures. I was there when he shot it for the first time. His dad had to support the fore end until the kid called for the bird. He is 10 now and often beats us at skeet.

It's a great first shotgun. You don't mention size, but I would expect that most 13 year olds could handle a full size stock.

 

[deacon8]

I also agree that it would be a fine starter gun.

 

[Guillermo]

ditto, great gun

 

[AcceptableUserName]

FWIW, I started on a 20. A break barrel NEF...but he is 13 after all. Maybe just skip right to the pump and the Mossberg would be fine.


the 20 vs 12 gauge thing...well when I started using the 12 as a kid (around 11-12), I noticed the difference in recoil, yes. But it wasn't bad. Shotgun recoil, to me at least, is more of a push than a sharp kick. It all comes down to the way the gun's set up, really. Imean, don't go having him shoot 3" slugs right off the bat, but for a 13 year old, I don't think 7.5 and 8 shot on a well configured gun is too outside the realm of manageable. I hate to say it, but if you're looking for a low-recoiling gun, the Mossberg isn't it. Others mileage may vary, but the 870's I've owned, especially the ones with metal trigger guards, have always kicked a bit less due to the steel receiver. I've heard of people filling up the stock with weights, though I don't know exactly how it's done. I never used any of that - I got started early, shooting my bb gun daily and 22's every weekend from the age of 5 on and given a 20 ga. @ 9 years old, shooting all manner of buck, birdshot and slug. So there's merit to trial by fire too. So all in all I'd probably suggest the heaviest gun your son can hold and point, with light loads and a good recoil pad.

If you could find a good used Wingmaster 12 and a reduced LOP stock set, that might be where it's at to be honest. Funny hearing me tell you to start a kid out on a Wingmaster, but hey. My first 12 was a Winchester Ranger with a good recoil pad. Loved it then, would pick up another one now, for the right price.