Youth Shotgun Recommendations?
- Thread starter lakeside
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A 12 or 20 ga gas operated semi auto. A 20 will have slightly less recoil, but not nearly as much as you'd think. The lighter 12 ga loads will almost exactly duplicate 20 ga recoil and since the guns are slightly heavier the recoil will pretty much even out. A 20 will be 1/2-1 lb lighter than a 12 which may be more important to her.
I started my son at age 10 with a used Mossberg 9200 in 12 ga I picked up used for $150. Lots of used Remington 1100's out there cheap enough to make a good starter gun too.
I cut the stock down to fit my son. By sticking to lighter loads recoil was next to nothing. Much less than you'd get from a pump or single shot 20 ga. Ammo for 12's are easier to find, cheaper and will give better patterns than a 20. Which means more hits for young shooters.
I started my son at age 10 with a used Mossberg 9200 in 12 ga I picked up used for $150. Lots of used Remington 1100's out there cheap enough to make a good starter gun too.
I cut the stock down to fit my son. By sticking to lighter loads recoil was next to nothing. Much less than you'd get from a pump or single shot 20 ga. Ammo for 12's are easier to find, cheaper and will give better patterns than a 20. Which means more hits for young shooters.
Concur on a semi auto 20, or maybe a 12. A pump will also work but I suspect will be more awkward for them to handle. I used to borrow a youth model Rem 1100 20 ga for my son to shoot skeet, it was great and I think the buttstock could be replaced with a more full-size one as the shooter grew.
oneounceload
member
Fit will be crucial for her to have any success; too long of a stock and she will be leaning back and that will add more felt recoil to her shooting.
If she can physically lift the 12, get the 12 and shoot very light target loads. Not knowing your budget, there are many good guns to choose some, but some can get somewhat pricey. My wife like her Beretta A400 Xplor which is technically a 3.5" hunting model, but it only gets fed my 3/4oz 12 gauge reloads. The gun weighs about 7.5# so it isn't too heavy or light, and with the Kick off recoil system and my light loads, my wife can shoot it all day long. Finding a used one will still be over $1K however. You might also look at a slightly used Remington 1100. Putting a Want to Buy ad on the bulletin board at your local clays club - that way she can try it before she buys it.
If she can physically lift the 12, get the 12 and shoot very light target loads. Not knowing your budget, there are many good guns to choose some, but some can get somewhat pricey. My wife like her Beretta A400 Xplor which is technically a 3.5" hunting model, but it only gets fed my 3/4oz 12 gauge reloads. The gun weighs about 7.5# so it isn't too heavy or light, and with the Kick off recoil system and my light loads, my wife can shoot it all day long. Finding a used one will still be over $1K however. You might also look at a slightly used Remington 1100. Putting a Want to Buy ad on the bulletin board at your local clays club - that way she can try it before she buys it.
RPRNY
Member
Unless she's a big girl, at 12 yo, both the 12 and 20 are going to be too big and scary. The most important thing is that she enjoy it. The ideal gun for a girl of that age is a 28 gr 1100 with a youth stock. Provided she can handle 6.5 lbs (and that's not a given), she can shoot a round of Trap or Sporting Clays, hit a fair few of them and enjoy it. If that's not an option, and they don't grow on trees, a 20 ga gas gun with a youth stock shooting 3/4oz target loads would be next up. While a 12 ga shooting light loads may not present a recoil issue, 8 lbs or so of gun is a lot for a little one to keep raising and swinging on clays.
Light gun and light loads are a good formula but the 410 shooting 1/2 oz loads is a frustrating experience for a kid. They need to break some birds.
Light gun and light loads are a good formula but the 410 shooting 1/2 oz loads is a frustrating experience for a kid. They need to break some birds.
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
I don't know if Remington still makes the 28 ga. 870 Express pump, but that shotgun with a shortened stock should work for her. I wish they made their Youth or Junior version in 28...
Don't see them in a quick look at Remington's website, but there are used ones out there - http://www.gunsinternational.com/Remington-870-Express-28-gauge.cfm?gun_id=100422833
If the budget allows, a Youth 11-87 Sportsman might fill the bill - it's a gas operated semiauto in 20 ga. http://www.remington.com/products/f.../model-11-87-sportsman-compact-synthetic.aspx
Don't see them in a quick look at Remington's website, but there are used ones out there - http://www.gunsinternational.com/Remington-870-Express-28-gauge.cfm?gun_id=100422833
If the budget allows, a Youth 11-87 Sportsman might fill the bill - it's a gas operated semiauto in 20 ga. http://www.remington.com/products/f.../model-11-87-sportsman-compact-synthetic.aspx
Virginian
Member
I have started several youngsters and women, including my own daughters at age 12, with my Remington Model 1100 LT20 with a 26" Skeet barrel, and a youth stock. It only weighs a very few ounces more than my 28 gauge, which has the mahogany stock set, and shells are a LOT easier to find and waaaay cheaper, and it cycles more reliably with light loads. Mine is actually a Magnum, but I have two extra 2-3/4" barrels. My wife, who was 5'-11-1/2" tall and had a wider wingspan than I do also shot it well with the full sized stock on it. A friend bough a Beretta 20 semi with a youth stock and it also worked well. Those gas guns are easy on new and/or small shooters. With the 1100s, you can buy a good used LT 20 2-3/4" 20 gauge gun and pick up a youth stock pretty easy. The BLACK youth models are heavier because of less polishing and expensive for what you get. I know because I got one because my step son had to have a black gun. Even with the shorter barrel it weighed more than my polished blue and walnut gun.
Used single shot H&R .410 or 20 ga for $100. Send it in the H&R to have a 28 ga barrel fitted. You get two guns for $225. If the recoil is too much add a slip on recoil pad. Single shots are as simple as it gets and easy to teach safe gun handling.
My wife is 130 lbs and has no problem with a H&R 20 ga and I shoot it better than my Mossberg 12 ga.
My wife is 130 lbs and has no problem with a H&R 20 ga and I shoot it better than my Mossberg 12 ga.
My youngest daughter just turned 14 a few months ago and joined the school clay team. I picked up a 1100 LW in 20g with a 26" barrel for under $350 for her to start with. She is only about 5'4" and 130lbs and has never shot shotguns before. I was worried that the 14" LOP was going to be too much but it seems to fit fairly well. It does not have a recoil pad, but the vest pad works perfectly to eliminate any felt recoil. She is shooting 150+ shells a week now and she would keep going as long as there was ammo and birds 
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