Kid shotgun recommendations

[Mtncowboy]

I know this has been discussed before, but there are also new advances in guns and ammo all the time so I am going to post this. My son is 9 years old and weighs 60 pounds. He shoots a 22 and 223 well, but I haven't put a shotgun in his hands yet. We mainly hunt pheasants and chuckars. Sometimes we get a duck/goose hunt in, but not often. What shotgun to you recommend (gauge and brand/model)? I appreciate any advice/experience you may have.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

It may be easier to search by youth models available. I know Mossberg has youth models with choke tubes that offer stock spacers to help youngsters grow into the guns as they get older. Whatever you end up with I would consider upgrading the recoil pad to a limbsaver air tech. As far as gauges go, if you're going to be wing shooting mostly upland with an occasional duck/goose, I think you kind of have to go 20 gauge minimum. .410 just simply have too small a pattern for flying birds IMO.

Good luck!

Mossberg Bantam 500/505/510

 

[JD Jones]

At 9, my son just carried a 410 but to do it over again, I’d consider the 28gauge and possibly a 20. Issue will be the gun size compared to his size and basic maneuverability. A smaller 20 ga might seem like a good idea but really I would say maybe not that early. Those youth 20s can kick harder than a 12.

After a season of 410 and frustration, we move him up to a 28ga sxs cz bobwhite. He kills with it and even today he chooses it over a 20 /12 (13yo now)

 

[Maverick1]

At one point in time the Remington youth shotguns were offered in 20 ga. The youth variety had a slightly shorter barrel and stock, and the stock could be swapped out for a full size / adult stock when the time came. Not sure if that is still the case, maybe something to consider. Good luck, enjoy the journey!

 

[StupidLightweight]

An autoloader 28 gauge would be ideal. Benelli or Franchi make good ones. He'll eventually go to 20 gauge and then 12 before realizing the 28 gauge is the superior choice. By his 30th birthday, he'll be shooting this gun again.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

At one point in time the Remington youth shotguns were offered in 20 ga. The youth variety had a slightly shorter barrel and stock, and the stock could be swapped out for a full size / adult stock when the time came. Not sure if that is still the case, maybe something to consider. Good luck, enjoy the journey!

If Remington is selling the youth in their brand news shotguns, I'd definitely look into these as well as the Mossberg Bantam. I saw some new wingmasters in the local gun store, and I actually commented how those "old" wingmasters were nice looking guns. They laughed for a second and said they were actually brand new! Deep blued metal and actual real wood furniture.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

An autoloader 28 gauge would be ideal. Benelli or Franchi make good ones. He'll eventually go to 20 gauge and then 12 before realizing the 28 gauge is the superior choice. By his 30th birthday, he'll be shooting this gun again.

OP never mentioned anything about budget, but I'd sure hate to spend that kind of money on a shotgun for a 9 year old not knowing whether he will even enjoy the sport. Just my $.02.

 

[Nine Banger]

OP never mentioned anything about budget, but I'd sure hate to spend that kind of money on a shotgun for a 9 year old not knowing whether he will even enjoy the sport. Just my $.02.

I go the other way, we spend gobs of money on our personal weapons, why go cheap on the kids guns? We will essentially have to use them too, if you think about the activity in a broader sense.

This is what we have, its a 28ga silver pigeon one with adjustable comb, adjustable length of pull and adjustable cant.


If you're on a tight budget, moleskin is your friend to get the iris of the child's eye on the rib, but unfortunately being on a budget is going to mean recoil since the "youth" models are 5 lbs and kick like a mule.

I agree with poster above, if you want an auto try to get a 28gauge, or one of these:

A400 Xcel Sporting | Beretta

The upgraded Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting features enlarged controls, Beretta's innovative Blink gas operating system for faster follow-up shots, and Beretta’s Kick-Off recoil reduction system for enhanced stability, comfort, and control for faster target acquisition. Learn More!

www.beretta.com

 

[Mtncowboy]

I appreciate all the responses so far. It is a fantastic journey to be starting out with my son! I should add that I have about a $1000 budget. I started with a single shot 20 gauge and I still remember when I pulled the trigger the first time and it about broke my teeth out I have thought about getting a semi auto 20 gauge and single feeding it for awhile. I have specifically been eyeing a Franchi Affinity 3, Winchester SX4, and a Weatherby SA-08, all in compact models. I like the ability to add the spacers with the franchi, but I like the less recoil of the gas guns. I would like a pump, but am worried about the recoil. I have never shot a 28, but I would be interested in that option. A 410 would be a fun starter, but tough to hit birds with IMO. Please keep the opions coming. Thanks

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

I go the other way, we spend gobs of money on our personal weapons, why go cheap on the kids guns? We will essentially have to use them too, if you think about the activity in a broader sense.

This is what we have, its a 28ga silver pigeon one with adjustable comb, adjustable length of pull and adjustable cant.

View attachment 664714
If you're on a tight budget, moleskin is your friend to get the iris of the child's eye on the rib, but unfortunately being on a budget is going to mean recoil since the "youth" models are 5 lbs and kick like a mule.

I agree with poster above, if you want an auto try to get a 28gauge, or one of these:

A400 Xcel Sporting | Beretta

The upgraded Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting features enlarged controls, Beretta's innovative Blink gas operating system for faster follow-up shots, and Beretta’s Kick-Off recoil reduction system for enhanced stability, comfort, and control for faster target acquisition. Learn More!

www.beretta.com

To each their own, but for me, spending a thousand or more bucks on an auto or custom gun for a 9 year old is crazy.

My brothers and I all graduated from small game and .410s to 20s and then 12s. Our coming of age was typically around 12 or 13 when we were big enough to shoot adult versions. We all shot Ithaca 37 pump guns and never wanted for anything else. In those days a guy could get one of these incredibly reliable shotguns for about $400-500 and they outperformed any Mossberg, Remington, or Winchester. They're all bottom eject too and mostly amidextrous other than the safety. However, I've not looked in years, and they're probably higher now.

My point is, I wouldn't be buying a gun for a 9 year old assuming it will be the same gun he'll be shooting when he's a teenager. Also, although youth guns are light, they will be much easier for a 9 year old to carry all day through the brush than a heavy auto. Recoil management doesn't really matter if he can't shoulder the thing.

 

[Pokerface]

Remington 870 Jr. 20ga, 12inch LOP, lightweight .This is what I got my son when he was 9.But really , even with light loads , these light weight 20's have a bunch of recoil. He still reminds me 17 years later how I tortured him....Joe

 

[qotsa23]

I'd go with a 20 gauge gas gun. My son started on a 1100 20 gauge and gas operation does a lot for recoil. Also consider adding some padding on the comb to not just align the eye, but also reduce shock to cheek.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

To help mitigate recoil upgrade to Limbsaver recoil pad and shoot light loads instead of 3" 20 gauge field loads. Some 2.75" high brass 6's or 7.5s for example. I believe they're marketed as dove, quail, and rabbit loads.

For the record, I'm not anti-auto either. My primary shotgun is a Benelli Super 90.

 

[Felix40]

My son is 9 and 80lbs. He shoots a Stevens .410 now. I’d rather him miss or shoot stuff on the ground than get beat all to hell with recoil. I think in another year he will be ready for a 28ga

 

[Dukhtr3]

I bought my son a hatson escort youth 20 ga. He was 10 when he first started shooting it. That was last year. He shot all season this year and to my surprise it has run flawlessly. Shoot trap loads and 3" #2 perfect. It has to have over a case of shells shot through by now. Oh ya and cant beat the price. It can be had for under $300.on GunBroker

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[Milestone522]

I would get him an H&R single shot, break action 20 ga. You have to manually cock it to fire.

My father bought me one for my 10th birthday. I had to carry a snap cap in the chamber on our first few hunts and my Dad had me go thru the motions when we jumped pheasant, as in "cock, aim, fire," but all I got was a click sound and no bang! He did that to watch me shoulder the shotgun with game, and make sure I had muzzle control and discipline whether flushing birds, crossing ditches or fences...and not flagging the dog either. We put a slip on rubber butt pad as the only addition to the shotgun.

Once he was confident we some shot clay pigeons, and then moved on to live birds in the field with dove or pheasant.

When you only get one shot you learn to make it count. I think it makes you a better hunter as a kid. After saving money from odd jobs for a couple years I was able to buy my own Remington Wingmaster 870 in 20ga. I was 15 when I switched to having my own pump from the single shot H&R. But I still have that H&R 45 years later...

 

[BR7.62]

mossberg does the bantam models. i think its the super bantam that has the spacers for the stock. i just picked up my 6 year old a used wood stocked mossberg 410 a 500e.
need to whack a couple inches out of the stock. im not sure if he can handle it or not...
22lr hasnt been proving very good for squirrel hunting for him though lol.

i have to agree w/ the other fellow that a grand for a kids gun is not something i would do either. its not that i wouldnt spend the money on him but he's hell on everything... and 2 more kids for it to cycle through going to be pretty rough by then.

 

[yfarm]

I started pheasant and duck hunting around age 7 with an old Stevens single shot 20. Rarely got to shoot as it took so long to cock the hammer someone else had already shot the bird. My earliest hunting son started at 8 with a cutdown 870 20 ga with a 20” barrel, did ok,switched to a youth 1100 20 and was night and day. My vote is for a gas operated short barreled 20ga. The youth 1100 and 1187 came with 21” barrels. Sons have migrated to citoris, I use the youth guns with adult stocks for doves and quail. Believe Mossberg makes a gas operated youth 20 with a short barrel.

 

[lonespur]

Picked one of these up for 8 yr. old nephew. Well under the $1k and comes with the full sized stock to grow into. These G2s seem to be fairly reliable as a couple of guys I hunt with shoot them in 28 gauge.

Viper G2 Compact - TriStar Arms

3” gas operated, semi-automatic shotgun that allows you to shoot light target loads to heavy waterfowl loads interchangeably.

www.tristararms.com

 

[willtim]

Do your son a favor and determine his dominate eye. Then, teach him to shoot off of it.