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Youth 20 gauge shotgun - pump or semi-auto?

farmplinkerfarmplinker Member Posts: 245 ✭✭
edited August 2002 in General Discussion
I want to buy a youth shotgun to introduce my son (10, 5' tall, 90 lbs.) to informal trap shooting (at my in-law's farm, not competitive at a gun club). I've decided I don't want a .410, and have pretty much settled on a 20 gauge.

I've always shot a 12-gauge semi-auto shotgun. The only youth auto I can find is the Remington 1100. I understand that an auto-loader reduces recoil due to its action. But the Remington 1100 is much less available used and costs twice as much new as a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 youth pump-action.

How much more recoil does a 20-gauge pump have than a 20-gauge auto-loader? How do they compare in weight and "handling" for a youngster. My son is skinny and not all that strong. I'm concerned both with recoil and gun weight, but figure I can reduce recoil with light loads and a good recoil pad.

Any advice from parents who have gone through this process recently?
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Comments

  • DancesWithSheepDancesWithSheep Member Posts: 12,938 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If this will be for sport shooting only, I would buy the cheapest trap/clays gun I could find; if this is only as a preliminary to hunting, then I suppose a pump would be my pick, if only for safety reasons.

    My father introduced me and my best friend to trap shooting when we were eleven. My friend took to it in a big way, but I soon developed a flinch and dreaded our outings. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE THIS MISTAKE. There are ten yearolds, and then there are ten yearolds; my father never understood this.

    Why does man kill? He kills for food. But not only for food; frequently, he must have a beverage.
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  • NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I feel the pump is safer for the beginner,and enjoyable as well.

    Rugster


    Toujours Pret
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  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you're thinking pumps also look at the Featherweight Ithaca 20 gage Youth model.
    The Mossberg youth model is probably the most economical.
    Figure in, cutting the stock and installing a good recoil pad.
    Whichever you buy get a vent rib barrel.
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  • gskyhawkgskyhawk Member Posts: 4,773
    edited November -1
    farmplinker: rem 870 20 gauge youth comes with a 21 inch vent rib barrel and a recoil pad and 1 mod. choke tube sells for about $239 in my area,. over all length is 40 1/2 inches , 13 " lop and about 6 1/2 pounds good shooting little guns and if you use light loads your sons should be ok with it
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  • E.WilliamsE.Williams Member Posts: 1,101 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Another vote for the pump here.Try a 870 youth in 20 gauge I have seen many kids start with one of these.I think a pump will teach a little more skill having to load your own next round.Nothing wrong with a single shot either it will teach to make that first shot count.A very valuable lesson.I learned on a single shot 12 gauge at 8 and it taught me alot for later shooting.

    Eric S. Williams
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  • E.WilliamsE.Williams Member Posts: 1,101 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you go with a full size gun to save ome $$ Hogue sells a short shot shotgun stock which is few inches shorter with a 11 1/2" draw.It is aimed at younger shooters and women.Academy sports has the Mossberg Maverick on sale for $139.00 right now and the recoil wont be much of an issue I doubt with light loads a heavy gun and a recoil pad I think he would love to shoot and the younger he learns to deal with recoil and be proficient with a scatter gun the better.Try a 12 gauge he will be used to it in no time I was anyway.

    Eric S. Williams
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  • nelchrisnelchris Member Posts: 557 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey,I would get him an 1100 if those are only 2 that willdo but I think you should be looking at SxS and over/unders.If you reload you can load down your shells to take care of the kick. but that would not work with semi not enought bang to cycle shell.PS this could be in your family for many many years ,or not just a thought

    MY DAD DID IT, YOU ARE DOING IT,EVERYONE NEEDS TO GET SOME ONE SHOOTING
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  • bhayes420bhayes420 Member Posts: 1,314 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Bought my 8-year-old a youth 870 last year in 20 gauge and he loves it. Has no problems with it all with light loads. I hate it though! Only shot it once, and the dang thing is so short, my back hand came back with the recoil and busted my nose! Kid thought it was hilarious though! All in all, a great youth gun.
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  • Rafter-SRafter-S Member Posts: 2,173 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My son's first shotgun was a 20 ga. 870 with vent rib. He was 10 and skinny (now he's 36 and skinny). We went dove hunting and he couldn't hit anything with it until it occured to me; he was concentrating on pumping the action for the next round and not concentrating on the shot he was making. So, for the next 2 days, I had him load only one round at a time in the gun--empty tube. His accuracy improved 1000%! You might want to remember this if your son has trouble with accuracy.
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  • moparmopar Member Posts: 338 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I bought my daughter her first shotgun for Christmas last year.
    She's about 5'5" and around 120lbs,not a real big girl for 19 years old.

    I got her a Remington 870 pump 20ga youth model with 28' barrel.
    She took to that gun like a duck to water and loves to shoot it whenever possible.Recoil doesn't bother her at all.

    I think your son wouldn't have any problems at all with a gun like this.GOOD LUCK!!
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