[Cupped-n-Committed]

I bought a 20 GA break open Pardner for my son to start shooting shotguns. He is a wiz with a 22 and I was hoping to start getting him in to shotguns to start hunting next year on little stuff. Doves and Squirrels and like stuff.

The shotgun rocked him a little too much. Maybe it was too light and high brass too powerful and the action does not assorp any of the shot.

Ideas?

 

[ks_waterfowler]

I started with a youth model 870. Don't know if you are looking to get rid of the single shot, but I believe REmington makes a youth model 1100 and maybe an 11-87. Don't know much about other gunmakers.

 

[Wags]

Remington and Mossberg both manufacture youth models. If I had to it all over again, I'll start with a Ithaca Mod 37 20 ga. due to it's quality and light weight, and let them grow into it. Plus they will still be able to use it as they grow into their adult hood. No more what do I do with this youth model now since they are grown?

 

[Robberwood]

Youth model 870 is the best way to go. Its what i started on and i recommend to all my freinds just starting out also. Also u can beat them to the ground and they still come up firing like the day you bought them. Great choice and my recommendation.

 

[thaner]

I started on and 870 and still have it, 30 years, and love it. It didn't fit the best when I was first starting. I think your issue was recoil. Sounds like you need a gas gun. Lots of good ones but I kind of like the 390 or maybe it's a 3901 youth. Has a gray stock with a section you can take off to make it shorter and then put back as they get bigger. Won't last them forever for fit but should go a good long time. The berettas also have a stock shim system that allows for fitting the gun to the shooter. Hard to go wrong with that. Just got one for myfriends son. He loves it and has no complaint about the recoil. I think it is lighter than the remington auto. I am sure there are other good youth models out there, this is the only auto other than the remigntons that I have had alot of first hand experience with.

 

[oldhunter]

You didn't mention how old or big your son is, was he siting or standing when he shot? Was he shooting 2 3/4in or 3in shells? If you are going to start him on doves and squirl just let him shoot low base 2 3/4in field shells, they will work fine for this game. Steel over lead kicks a lot less. Make sure he is standing and have him where ear protectures, this can take about half the recoil away. Recoil can be a physological thing to if the people around him speek of it a lot. I always try to play the recoil down to kids that are just starting to shoot big guns. When they ask how hard the gun kicks, I just say a little harder than your 22. If this still don't work for him then maby you will need to find him something that has more weight to it. The heaver the gun the less felt recoil. Autos take a lot of the recoil away also. Benelli has recoil compinsators for a lot of their guns, and this might be an idea also. I hope this might help with him.
oldhunter

 

[Ducksbeus]

Just get ya one of them butt pads at Wal Mart....Thats what I used when I was a kid. Y'all have a nice day!

:salude:

 

[Cupped-n-Committed]

My boy is 11 and about 70 pound or just a little less. He's not a real big boy for his age. He shot 2 3/4" 7 1/2 shot that was high brass. The gun has a butt pad and is light but I don't know if he can handle a heavier gun too much.

I bought a skeet launcher and would like to get him on that this spring if I can find a way to warm him up to a shotgun. He said he would try it again if I got some low brass and I was hoping to find the lowest kicking anything for the 20 GA and bring him back up to high brass slowly. I am not sure he was prepaired for the shot and snugged the gub butt up tight even though I warned him too. He tends not to listen too well on certain things sometimes. He listens to enough to do it but thinks he knows enough to go on his own sometimes and I think this one surprised him.

 

[tealslayerblw]

im 13 and i shoot a 6 pound charles daley o and u for about everything ducks doves and pheasents and ive been useing it scence i was about 11 all ive got in it is a dead mule "dead mule cant kick"

 

[huntmq1]

I would try and find some different shells like what your allready doing, ask your local dealer. I started my son off when he was 9 with a break open 410. Once he got over the noise, he loved it. It cost me about $70 new at Wally World and now, 2 years later I can start to move him up the gauge scale. By the way my first shotgun was at the age of 11 and it was a youth model 410 pump by Savage. LOVED it and STIll own it after 25 years.
Be safe and good luck. :salude:

 

[gsphunter]

I started shooting on a .410, but they aren't very practical for anything but squirrel hunting. (I'm sure someone will come back and say they dove hunt with one or something.) I know just about all the major gun mfgs. make youth guns if you really want to switch guns. I just looked at an 1100 at gun show that was real nice looking.

I would try shooting low brass first and see if that helps.

 

[Thundersnow]

You might want to think about buying another gun. Although it might not be what you want to do- it could be the difference of if your son likes shooting for the rest of his life or not.

The 410 single shot would be good for getting him started. As oldhunter said, make for sure he wears ear protection all the time. A 410 is not the perfect "hunting" gun ,but, it should kill a squirrel out to about 30 yards or so and not many kids under 10 have the cordination to hit flying targets regularly. It's better to let him enjoy shooting even if he misses the flying stuff than to get him in a lifelong problem of flinching because of the kick. Use the lightest loads you can and try to get an aftermarket butt pad. Let him get confidence shooting cans and such. When he gains confidence maybe let him shoot the 20 with a lot of clothes on. Try not to let him know you are changing guns -if possible (thats why I would try to get a 410 to match the 20). If he doesn't seem to notice the kick than you are ready to sell the 410.

 

[duckbuster]

single shots are really the worst thing to start a lil kid out in they have way more kick then any pump or semi auto. i watched this happen to my little brother it was only a 20ga shooting low brass shells and his shoulder was bruised and so was his cheek i had to work with him for 2 months after he healed up just to get him to shoot again....its a good way to discurage a kid from shooting.

 

[Thundersnow]

Thats why I said try a 410. Most kids who cannot handle the kick from a light load 20 are not big enough to handle a pump or auto. Not all,but, most.

 

[duckbuster]

im not saying that a .410 isnt a bad gun to learn on because there very good i still love to shoot mine. but if u can get a beginner behind a semi auto 20 with a limb saver recoil pad there is a greater chance they wont feel the recoil as bad.

 

[labman45]

I first started hunting with a youth remington mod 870 and think it is a very good gun. :withstupid:

 

[labman45]

I started with a youth remington 20 870 its been a good gun for 6 plus years. Very affordable :umm:

 

[duckweed]

i started out with a remington 870 youth and it doesn't kick at all. i am 14 now and used it sience i was 8. it is very powerful and yet it does't kick at all. i took down a goose at 40 yards in one shot. knocked him dead cold. so i would have to say being a small kid too, i am 5'1" 100 pounds, to go with the remington 870 express youth model. it is the best 20 gauge i have ever shot.

:salude:

 

[pblewett]

I would like to buy a shotgun for my boy who will twelve this summer. He's a big kid (probably 130 lbs). What is the recommended guage for a kid that size?

 

[Cupped-n-Committed]

I bet at 130 he could handle a 12 ga pump and a 12 ga auto loader for sure. Start him on low brass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!