Youth Shotgun question (help!)

[10mmman]

Dear Good & Kind Sirs/Mames:

I would like to hear from those of you who have taught enough youths (read Boy Scouts) to shoot shotgun that you can draw on personal experiance to tell me if a rib on a barrel is a notable advantage to learning the art. I am endervering to guide shotgun (& rifle) MB, and while I'm keen on giving the scouts the best opportunity to suceed, I'm also the troop treasurer.

Ceteras Paribus, is a ribbed barrel noticably better for new shooters?

TIA,

X

(Just trying to be prepaired!)

 

[sm]

First- Thank you for taking on the task and teaching! Each one - Teach one.

A couple of thoughts if I may from my experience and observations.

-Many new shotguns will have a rib. Older 870's for instance , and single shots will not - naturally.

-At one time kids learned to shoot. Most learned from .22 rifle. I had to teach the shotgun was "pointed not aimed".

-Kids today...some have never touched a gun. Impressions run from "scared to death", mall ninja, to whatever pc game or John Woo movie they have seen.

- What I did back then and What I often do now. I was taught to shoot without sights on a gun. I have BB guns without sights, ping pong balls for targets. Yep same deal Bob Brister had in his book.

I have at least one single shot, and one repeater without a bead...prefer a non ribbed gun . Absence of anything and the hitting of a ping pong ball or clay re-enforces the "pointing" aspect of shotguns.

I try to teach it is the shooter, gun fit to shooter, correctly used fundamentals everytime, focus on target. I make a point to NOT become dependent on any crutch ...if crutch is not there, becomes broken they have nothing to fall back on.

I have had a bead come off in tourneys - out hunting...targets broke and game fell.

I found some folks very very helpful in donating stuff for teaching and all. I had pawn shops donate BB Guns and old single shots. Folks at gun clubs pitched in ammo , loaned a gun...helped with the clinics. Our club used to have Kids in any Scout group ( Cubs, Boys or Girls) and Greewings come out. Fire up the BBQ and Spoil the kids and parents rotten.

Lady Club members broke the ice with the Girl Scouts. We wanted to be "proper" ...some of the GS figured it best to let some of guys teach...they were not sure about us doing the cooking

[ Ha - we fella's squashed that stereotype right quick I might add We fellers can cook!!]

WE had more fun than the kids. A lot of parents were educated as well.

Gun shops , and members and their businesses chipped in. Every kid went home with safety glasses, safety info, ear plugs...every kid won a prize of some sort.

I betcha if ya asked ,some donations would fall your way...get plenty of ping pong balls...trust me...once they get the "knack"...just get plenty okay?"

HTH

 

[bamf]

A rib is useful when the barrel gets hot and the heat plumes distort the sight line. It gives you a nice clear line of site, which is useful especially for beginners. since the gun is not a perfect fit for them.

But for beginners especially kids and women, recoil and weight of the shotgun is paramount concern. The best gun I've found to use is the Youth Model 20 ga Rem 1100, throws out plenty of shot so they can hit stuff plus the recoil is not bad at all. I've also had success teaching with a 28ga O/U. But if money is a concern, a 20ga auto is your best bet.

It's much better than a 410 in my opinion, which I think is a more expert type gun, the recoil may be non-existant but hitting stuff with it, isn't easy and may be discouraging to beginners.

HTH

 

[ARGarrison]

I personally like the sight a vent rib gives, it's also like the top of Mossberg recivers, if you know what I'm takeing about. It gives the shooter a chance to line everything up, check to stock, front bead back along the rib (or grooves on the reciever) to the eye. I have used and still do use H&R or New England single shot break action. They do not have a rib or anything to "line up" the bead back to the eye.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Kudoes to you for doing this.

Ribs are nice to have, especially when the temps get up or there's lots of shooting going on in a short time. Not an essential.

Good luck...