Words of wisdom for Dad buying boy a gun?

[Larsd4]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and am interested in advice for my boy's first gun. After visiting several gun shops and outfitters, he's pretty much sold on the Stoeger Condor O/U 20 ga. youth model. As a fairly small 12 year old, he feels comfortable swinging it.

Anything I should inspect for on this model, i.e. common problems or flaws?

What's a decent price for this gun? I've seen it locally in MN at $315.

Any other models beyond Remington 870 youth and Mossberg Model ?? youth and Stoeger uplander that are a must-see before I buy?

Thanks for looking.

Lars

 

[Fred Fuller]

I can't offer any advice on the Stoeger, I'm not familiar with it. But if it fits the boy well (if you can't tell, find somone who can evaluate gun fit) and he likes it, then that's what you should go with. That is, as long as he has handled several other makes/models and has a basis for comparison. Preferably you have a club near you where he might actually be able to shoot different guns before he/you make up your mind?

Good on ya for getting the boy started, here's wishing you both a long and happy shooting career together.

lpl/nc (might want to get him a copy of Robert Ruark's _The Old Man And The Boy_ while you're at it, if you don't have it already)

 

[JNewell]

I don't know about the shotgun you're looking at, but many 20s are a pound or so lighter than their 12 gauge counterparts. Accordingly, their recoil can be as great as a 12 gauge. You might want to consider making sure you start with light target loads. Good luck, and enjoy! We need more young people who respect and enjoy guns.

 

[Deer Hunter]

The stoeger is a great gun, and just as good as any other gun out on the market today. Dont' get sold into the "You get what you pay for" gimic. That's just an excuse that people use when they buy their Sigs and HKs.

I'm in love with my Stoeger, and your boy will love his too.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Use the lightest loads you can find for starting out. A few 20 gauge, 3/4 oz loads are available from the specialty mail order places, those are nigh ideal for starting off a new shooter..

Trust me on this....

 

[MrRandy724]

Starter shotgun

I started my boy with a New England single shot 20. and put a scope on it for deer slugs, at that age I feel its best get the kid trained on making the first shot count, thats what I started with in my younger years and it is more than enough for target and general hunting, and just think of the $$$ you'll save on shells

 

[Starter52]

+! to what Deer Hunter said on the Stoeger. I bought a used one last summer and it functions flawlessly. The only drawback is that after firing both barrels it takes a bit of force to open and recock the gun. This is not a criticism, just a FYI about the gun.

If possible, have your boy dry-fire both barrels and then open the gun to see how much force is required. You don't want him to have to fight the gun each time he reloads.

Added: I am assuming the model you're looking at has internal hammers and a slide safety. An exposed-hammer gun (coach gun) won't have this problem.

 

[RNB65]

I suggest buying inexpensive. A 12 year old is going to be going through a growth spurt soon and a he's probably going to outgrow a youth model pretty quickly. He'll be ready for a full size 12ga sooner than you think.

 

[azflyman]

If you are willing to go $315 you might as well go $400 for a nice used Remington 1100 20ga. Get an older 20 and it will be the larger receiver that is the same as a 12ga. You can get a replacement stock off the auction sites for about $35 to cut down. This will be a forever gun that will outlast you and him, shoot well, have little recoil, and will never be worth less than you paid. If you decide to sell a 20ga 1100 give me an email

az

 

[berettashotgun]

A 20ga auto is the only way to go, IMHO. Bought my boys 12ga pumps and they shot my reloads, still think the youngest got a little "tired" carrying his around. The 1100 in 20 is an excellent choice as is searching for an older Beretta 301,302,303- they can be found for a reasonable price; $400 mol. Just don't make the mistake I did- letting them shoot a full-on 10ga goose load. Both of the kiddies sorta' flinched after that for awhile.

 

[FunGunner]

Heck, seems like every time that some one wants to intro a new shooter to sporting clays around my place, they want to barrow my 20ga 1100.

 

[1911 guy]

20 ga is a good starter.

Heck, I still use one now, on occasion. Nearly as versatile as a 12, recoil can be less, depending on the weight of the gun.

A big "plus 1" to whoever said to evaluate the fit before buying it. This makes a huge difference. It also makes a mental difference if someone likes the gun they're shooting, so if your son likes the Stoeger, that's a plus for it.

A personal opinion here, but a double or single shot makes a great shotgun for a beginner. As a kid, I regularly outshot friends who had pumps and autos. Me with my little H&R 20 ga didn't have a second shot, so the first one had to get it.

Also check to see if the company offers replacement stocks for the gun. If your son likes it well enough to never retire it, a longer stock can keep him in business with the same gun.

 

[Joseywales3]

Bear with me here:

As a father of a 14 year old I can say this. Be VERY careful about the first gun you choose, it can leave a lasting effect on him. If it slaps him in the face, or hits his shoulder too hard, you could turn him off completely.

It's a very hard concept for me to understand, because as a youth I would fire anything you handed me. My dad's Remington 7600 06' would knock my hat off, but I never flinched when shooting at deer. At age 11, they handed me an old timer SXS 12 gauge to shoot out the back door for fun...damn near sent me across the room. They laughed like hell!! When I was 12, I shot a box of shells from a single shot Harrington & Richardson without a recoil pad. I couldn't lift my arm without pain for a few days. Not good way to start a young gun.

But some young guns aren't as enthusiastic as I was. My son's first 20 gauge was a Remington 1187. Gas operated and it sucks up the recoil. It was beater, but it was better than buying a new gun that would hurt him. And he was on target shooting trap in just one box of shells. Smiling like heck.

2 years later now, he's 2 inches taller than I, still 20 pounds lighter, his length of pull is about 2" longer than mine, and his shoe size is 3 sizes bigger. I just picked up an older Citori Lightning 12 GA and Sunday I'm grabbing an older Franchi O/U. We'll see which one I give him. Should be fun!

Good luck to you!

 

[arcticap]

Deer Hunting?

My only question is whether he will be doing any shotgun deer hunting with it or not? I bought an 870 Youth 20 gauge with a rifled barrel and then bought a couple smoothbore barrels for it afterward. I live in a state where it's shotgun only on state land though. So when you add on a mount and scope, it becomes a very versatile gun.

 

[TMM]

I can give first impressions on a Stoeger Uplander 20g. Just got one.

It's a good weight, it'll soak up recoil well. don't know about the trigger pull. i'm 6'2" 130# and it feels good, well balanced and all. operates pretty well, a little stiff but use will smooth it. not too big or small.

there's my 2 cents

~tmm