Suggestions for a shotgun for my boy

[mcr-85]

My oldest boy just turned 11. Last year was his first year of hunting small game and he used my wife's youth Rem 870 20 gauge. He had a lot of fun hunting doves and grouse but he wanted his own shotgun. He actually challenged my wife to a shooting contest on clay pigeons, winner keeps the gun. She declined. He is 4'10" and 90lbs right now. He shot the youth 870 pretty well, I think it fit him ok last year.

He is a little sports nut and loves to compete in wrestling, baseball and now football. In October of last year I challenged him to doing pushups 5 days a week, weekends off, for a year. It started at 100 pushups per day and has increased slightly. I told him if he'd do that, I'd get him a shotgun. My goal with challenging him was to teach him how much hard work would pay off. It's going to pay off in more than one way as he has gained a ton of strength from where he was at when he started. He's stuck it out and is doing 140 pushups everyday right now. The days he's missed he has made up the next day he's had a chance. Technically the challenge doesn't end until October 10th I think, but with the small game season kicking off in a couple weeks, I have been thinking about getting him what he's earned a bit early so he can hunt this year with his own gun.

He thinks he wants a semi auto in 20 gauge. I haven't done much research yet but is there anything worth having around $500? I grew up with an 870 12 gauge and then bought myself an 11-87 when I got into waterfowl for a period in my 20's. Interested in hearing suggestions on what I should get my boy now.

 

[HoneyDew]

My dad had a Remington 870 wingmaster 12 gauge that was his primary shooter for a decade before I came along. When I was old enough he had me use that one and he used his auto. When I moved out of the house he gave me that shotgun and it’s my favorite to this day. Easy to shoot, disassemble and clean at home or in the field. He jokingly says he regrets giving it to me as he thinks it’s the best one he ever owned. Everything else he has needed to be repaired by a gunsmith for one reason or another.

 

[MikeDeltaFoxtrot]

I bought two of my kids Benelli Montefeltro youth combos. It is 20 ga Monty with a 26" bbl. It comes with a 12.5" LOP stock, but there is a 14" stock in the box as well. Instead of spending money on a gun the kid will outgrow, this one is good for life. The semi-auto action also helps absorb some recoil.

 

[Maki35]

Nothing wrong with the classic 870. Imo
But if you’re looking for a semi-auto shotgun for your son in a $500 price range, maybe take a look at a mossberg sa-20.
Otherwise, its not uncommon to see SA shotguns in the $1k range.

 

[yfarm]

Remington made 1100 youth models with 21” rem choke barrels and I believe the 1187 in the same configuration. Mossberg SA20 as noted above 24” barrel can get a bantam stock. My middle son at 11 went from a cutdown 870 with 20” barrel to a 1100 youth and his shooting improved significantly due to the length of the slide for the action despite the 12” stock on the 870. Lots of discussion here about the affect of recoil on shooting precision with rifles, same applies to shotguns. I needed a 12ga 3.5 “ for a conservation goose hunt and for saltwater duck hunting, bought a 935 turkey, worked well and was well under 1k for new. Brother bought a sa20 and has no complaints.

 

[Dukhtr3]

I bought my kid a youth hatsan escort 20 ga off of GunBroker last year. He shot it all season last year and never had one failure with it. It shoots trap loads fine and no problem with 3" 2's for ducks. He is 12 this year and I think he will be moving up to a full size gun next year. I myself have a hard time spending $1000 on a youth shotgun that he will shoot for 2 years.

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[Gravel Road]

For a semi-auto shotgun in the $500 range the Tristar Viper G2 is probably the best bet. Trying them out in person is the best option, as some than sound great don't fit at all.

 

[HandgunHTR]

For a semi-auto shotgun in the $500 range the Tristar Viper G2 is probably the best bet. Trying them out in person is the best option, as some than sound great don't fit at all.

I opened this to recommend that as well. Cabelas has the camo/cerakote version on sale right now.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/tristar-viper-g2-bronze-cerakote-semi-auto-shotgun

I picked one up in 16GA last year just to bang around with and maybe shoot some doves. Did 2 dove hunts and shot a few rounds of skeet and 5-stand with it. No failures at all with Rio or Federal loads (coming up on 400 now). Easy to breakdown to clean and simple to operate. Very good "budget" gun in my opinion.

If you want to spend a bit more and get something that will become an heirloom, try to find a used Browning Gold Hunter in 20ga. They are great and very well built.

 

[MallardSX2]

Cz 712-als

 

[Steve300xcw]

$500 doesnt buy much these days, an I bet he hangs onto it for a long time......

I grew up with a pump gun and have a hard time getting away from them. I'd snag a M2 if/when I get a semi.

Props for stickin with the 20ga.

 

[steelheadmike]

I got my son a Stoeger M3020 last season. I got a 26” barrel on it. It came with full size stock but I ordered a compact stock for it ($65). I think it was somewhere in the $5-550 range.

Has worked well and I can swap the stocks in about 5 minutes when I want to hunt with it.
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[sndmn11]

I've seen weatherby elements for I der $500 lately.

 

[CBB1]

I just bought my son a Retay Gordon compact 20. It has stock spacers that made fitting him very easy. It’s a Benelli clone and operats and functions identical to my SBE.


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[bnsafe]

I have shot pretty much everything from1100s, 1187, sx4s, stoeger 3000, several cheap guns. The sx4 is my personal favorite. However, I TOTALLY agree with the couple comments above. Tristar viper g2 youth. They are great shotguns for the dollars.

 

[bnsafe]

If you go to gun.deals and type 713780241302 into the search this is 522. There are several other models from 450 to 550 for the viper g2 youth

 

[mcr-85]

Thank you for all the suggestions. We'll take a look at these and I'm sure we can find something he'll like.

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[JPC6000]

Both my sons first shotgun were Weatherby SA-08, which are made in Turkey - same factory that makes a number of similar models for various brand names. Absolutely no issues.

 

[MtnW]

A lightweight 20 ga auto that has some form of length of pull adjustments for later they can grow into. A young shooter should only be allowed one shell in their new to them auto for obvious safety reasons. I wouldn’t allow more than 1 shell at a time until after one full season unless the young shooter has expressed proficiency and safety in numerous sessions on a sporting clays, trap or skeet range.

 

[omicron1792]

Lots of good suggestions. I will recommend a 28gauge though. Perfect wing shooting caliber. Only place it will lack is for ducks (still can be used) but I find you probably need a dedicated duck gun if you get into it.

 

[mcr-85]

I ended up getting him an Escort PS youth. I figured he'd outgrow this one and the next one he gets can be a little nicer. He's excited about this one though.

We have it out for the first hunt tonight. We're hoping some doves come into this pond. There were a lot more birds 2 weeks ago.