Starter shotgun.

[mrcpu]

My kids, (9 and 12 yo girls) want to learn to shoot clays. I wouldn't mind, but it will probably not be most favoritest thing in the world.

What would be a good low-cost starter shotgun, that they're both likely to be able to handle, isn't a fortune, can use whatever the WWB-equivalent of target shells are, yet still let us get to have some fun at the range?

Thanks.

 

[MrTuffPaws]

Do you want the classic over-under, or do you want to go with a pump or auto gun?

 

[Dave McCracken]

28 gauges are great for kids of all ages. The little H&R singles in 28 gauge will not kick the heck out of the girls but have enough moxie to bust clays well.

About $100 if you look around.

 

[Mr.Brown16]

20 gage single shot can even get one for free.

 

[[email protected]]

I don't know about free single shots. That is about what I would pay for one. I started with a single shot Stevens 94c 12ga. I hated it. Stupid exposed hammers and full choke.

Why buy them a gun they will outgrow? Go get a 20ga 870 Youth. When they get bigger, put on a regular stock or just a slip on recoil pad. They can be found in the $200 range for a used one. My wife just bought a nice newer one with laminated stock and light weight reciever for $169 at a pawn store. It was a good deal and I like the gun so much that I am lookin for one for myself.

 

[ugaarguy]

Mossberg makes their 500 in a Super Bantam version. This 20ga pump has a forearm which extends further back toward the receiver to fit kids' shorter arms. The buttstock is also super short, but the gun ships with a pack of stock spacers allowing you to add length as the child grows so it takes longer for him/her to outgrow the gun. At a little over $200 it gives alot of flexibility for young shotgunners.

 

[GigaBuist]

20 gage single shot can even get one for free.

No! Not this! After two rounds of trap with a NEF 20 gauge I was left with a nice bruise on my shoulder. A buddy tried the same with his NEF 20 gauge and he ended up the same way.

While we're both rather skinny, we're still adult males. I can't imagine what this would do to a 9 or 12 year old little girl.

 

[mrcpu]

I don't know enough about shotguns to know if what config we want. How does a .410 gauge compare to a 20 or 28?

The mossberg sounds like it might be OK. I need to go do some handling I think with the kiddos along and see what's what.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Typical loadings are....

20 gauge, 7/8 oz of shot.

28 gauge, 3/4 oz.

410 bore, 1/2 to 5/8.

The 28 gauge, all else equal, will kill clays like the 20 gauge but kick much less.

The 410 is borderline at best for starting kids off. No kick, but too little shot for successful shots in untrained hands.

 

[Groover]

Same question different gender...

I have two boys that don't need a gun yet but will need one in a few years. I thought I'd keep an eye out for a good versatile youth model that can each pass down...starting now cause I'll need to buy 2...3 if my wife gets her way. They will grow up with easy access to skeet and trap. I'd like something they could also carry in the field. The 870 sound intriguing since I could add adult stocks when they qualify as adult...my boys are on their way to being pretty big.

What are the best options for youth models of full size shotguns?
What guage is the best all around...OK for youth and adult, widest range of clay and game? If they ever competed which guage would be best?
Which one would they want to give their own kids...assuming the 2nd Amendment lasts that long.

Thanks...hope I didn't hijack the thread.

 

[mrcpu]

Not at all, same questions I have, especially as to gauge.

 

[skl1]

I made the mistake of buying a "youth" single shot .410. The problem is that it was light for it's gauge. My kid hated it. I shot it. It kicked ME bad.

28 gauge kicks light and breaks targets great. But the shells cost a lot if you don't reload.

Pumps are light, and kick more than same gauge over-unders. Autoloaders are light, but the gas operated ones suck up some of the recoil. Autoloaders and over-unders are expensive.

I think I'd suggest one of the over/unders by Verona or Fausti in 28 gauge. These things were about $500 at WalMart a couple of years ago, and they were built on the (heavier) 20 gauge frame. Then saw down the stock to fit with a recoil pad.

The other route would be to buy one of the 20 gauge Beretta 890's with the kids' length stocks if you can still find one. EDIT: I forgot, the Remington 1187 kid's length 20 gauge is another good autoloader. It has a steel receiver for a little more weight, too. I still think this might kick a little too much. You could bore a hole in the stock and seal in some lead shot with an epoxy plug to add some weight if you wanted to.

HTH,
Steve

 

[AR-AK-ok]

+1 on the Rem .20ga 870 pump.

 

[throdgrain]

Pumps are light, and kick more than same gauge over-unders. Autoloaders are light, but the gas operated ones suck up some of the recoil. Autoloaders and over-unders are expensive.

Im not sure about that. I had a Winchester 101 12 bore that certainly recoiled a LOT more than my Mossberg pump. But then, if recoil is the issue, how about a semi-auto? They hardly recoil at all? You can get stuff like the Hatsan semi-auto cheap over here in England where guns are expensive due to lack of demand, let alone in the states. Worth a think?

 

[farscott]

My solution would be to find a used 12-gauge Remington 870 pump. Used 870s can be found for $200 or less. Then pick up a Knoxx Spec-Ops stock for $100. This stock does two things: 1) it offers adjustable LOP so it can be fit to your children, and 2) it knocks down the harsh recoil of the 12-gauge into something like a .410 or 28-gauge pump. Thus, you have a gun for about $300. It may not be ideal for clays, but it is a good way to learn if your girls will like it.

The advantage of this method is 12-gauge rounds are much less expensive than 28-gauge or .410, and the stock can be adjusted as the girls grow. It also gives better filled patterns than the .410. My 12-year old daughter tried my 870P with full loads, and she had a blast.