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What shotgun should I get for my 11 year old son?
Posted on 7/29/13 at 11:13 am
Posted on 7/29/13 at 11:13 am
I am in the market for a shotgun for my son...Will get myself one too...we have some bird hunting trips planned for this fall. We have always borrowed shot guns, but now I want to own some.
Can someone break down what makes and models I should consider?
- 12 or 20 gauge, and why?
- Over/Under, Side by side, pump, automatic?
- what manufacturer?
- would probably need youth model for him, regular for me
Thanks in advance...
Can someone break down what makes and models I should consider?
- 12 or 20 gauge, and why?
- Over/Under, Side by side, pump, automatic?
- what manufacturer?
- would probably need youth model for him, regular for me
Thanks in advance...
26
Posted on 7/29/13 at 11:14 am to Chicken
How big is he? I'd suggest 12ga if he can handle it because he will outgrow a 20ga within a year or two
pump
Remington 870 or Benelli Nova
pump
Remington 870 or Benelli Nova
This post was edited on 7/29/13 at 11:19 am
Posted on 7/29/13 at 11:17 am to Chicken
ithaca model 37 featherlight 20ga. great gun. my first
Posted on 7/29/13 at 11:18 am to Chicken
Get him a 12 gauge Benelli. Their patented intertia deal makes it have little recoil. It'll be the last shotgun he'll ever need.
Posted on 7/29/13 at 11:19 am to Chicken
quote:
for me
benelli super black eagle 2 or gtfo
Posted on 7/29/13 at 11:22 am to Chicken
Every kid is different in size and maturity. I upland bird hunt a lot and got my son a o/u in 20 gauge. This was done for a number of different reason but the biggest being when we are walking through the woods the gun can be open and visibly seen at a distance that the gun is unloaded. I picked up a CZ, 20 gauge with 24" barrels and 13" stock price was around $750 from Buds. The guns balances and shoots well.
With an O/U or pump you can buy quality shotgun shells with reduced recoil (these probably won't cycle in an auto) I really like the shells made by RST Shells They are a mail order company that sell direct.
Notice how much shorter his gun is...
With an O/U or pump you can buy quality shotgun shells with reduced recoil (these probably won't cycle in an auto) I really like the shells made by RST Shells They are a mail order company that sell direct.
Notice how much shorter his gun is...
Posted on 7/29/13 at 11:24 am to Chicken
Something you can easily get a full sized replacement stock for after he outgrows the youth model
I'm an 870 fan. It all depends on your budget though. 870 express youth models are very cheap. On the other side of the coin you can get him an extremely nice O/U
Set a dollar amount and you'll get some more accurate suggestions.
I'm an 870 fan. It all depends on your budget though. 870 express youth models are very cheap. On the other side of the coin you can get him an extremely nice O/U
Set a dollar amount and you'll get some more accurate suggestions.
Posted on 7/29/13 at 11:25 am to Chicken
quote:
- 12 or 20 gauge, and why?
If he is recoil-shy, stick with 20 gauge. But I will tell you that 12 gauge shells will be easier to find and you will be able to find more variety in them in most places.
quote:
- Over/Under, Side by side, pump, automatic?
A semi auto will have the least felt recoil since some of the energy is transferred into the bolt to chamber the next shell. But he could probably handle a 20 gauge pump just fine. Same goes for an O/U or SxS.
quote:
- what manufacturer?
I think the Remington 870 is the perfect pump but some people are anti-Remington as of lately.
For a semi auto, Benelli and Beretta know what's up.
EDIT: Forgot to mention the Mossberg 930 or Winchester SX3. Both are good semi auto shotties.
quote:
- would probably need youth model for him, regular for me
Well, depending on your preferences for YOUR gun, it will probably vary in what he wants. If you want a simple, affordable pump 12 gauge, A Remington 870 or Mossberg 500/590 are hard to beat.
But if you prefer semi auto, like I said, take a look at Benelli or Beretta.
This post was edited on 7/29/13 at 11:28 am
Posted on 7/29/13 at 11:25 am to Chicken
quote:hat and i share the same sentiment
How big is he? I'd suggest 12ga if he can handle it because he will outgrow a 20ga within a year or two
pump
Remington 870 or Benelli Nova
Posted on 7/29/13 at 11:26 am to Chicken
quote:
Chicken
Budget?
quote:
- 12 or 20 gauge, and why?
12 if he can handle it. As previously said, he will outgrow a 20 in short order and will need to upgrade to a 12 if he continues to hunt.
quote:
- Over/Under, Side by side, pump, automatic?
For versatility, an auto or a pump. Depends on budget. If pump, Rem 870 or Benelli Nova are the standards. A BPS (Browning pump) is a great choice too.
For auto, stick to the 3 B's: Browning, Beretta and Benelli if you can swing it (looking at over $1k). That being said the Rem 1187 is a great deal at approx. $700 for an auto.
quote:
- would probably need youth model for him, regular for me
The youth model Rem 870 in a 20ga is a wonderful starter shotgun, and once he outgrows it, the small size is handy for home defense purposes.
Posted on 7/29/13 at 11:27 am to Chicken
If he can handle a 12, go with gas operated auto. The higher end guns are all nice and each has some pros and cons. Go with whichever feels/points the best for him. a gas gun will have less felt recoil than the inertia system. If he isn't ready for a 12 go with a 20 gauge pump, that should get him by for a years until he's ready for a 12
Posted on 7/29/13 at 11:28 am to Chicken
I have a 12 year old and he shoots my old remington 20 gauge pump pretty well. He is fairly tall for his age but the gun fit him well when he was 11. I think starting him with a pump with teach more about the guns inner mechanics and will give him more of an appreciation for semi-auto down the road.
Posted on 7/29/13 at 11:28 am to Chicken
I would go with the remington 870 pump if he is big enough to shoot a 12 gauge.
Posted on 7/29/13 at 11:29 am to Chicken
quote:
we have some bird hunting trips planned for this fall.
What kind of hunting are you doing?
Posted on 7/29/13 at 11:46 am to Chicken
I started with a 20 at about that age. My old man always said theres no bird a 12 gauge will kill that a 20 gauge wont. "Its all about shot placement" he'd say.
When I was in college I moved up to a 12 and to be honest my kill rate remained the same. Now as a late 30-something I've gone back to the 20. If you check out the patterns of a 20 and 12 which are comparably choked and at the same distance the difference isnt as much as you'd think.
When I was in college I moved up to a 12 and to be honest my kill rate remained the same. Now as a late 30-something I've gone back to the 20. If you check out the patterns of a 20 and 12 which are comparably choked and at the same distance the difference isnt as much as you'd think.
Posted on 7/29/13 at 12:38 pm to Chicken
I got my first gun for my 10th birthday. It was a 20ga winchester youth model pump. I still use a 20ga for birds, but the only birds I hunt are doves. For small game birds, a 20ga is ideal, unless you're just a terrible shot.
With 3" shells he could even hunt turkeys, but probably not past 35-40 yards. But, if the bulk of his shooting will be at things larger than a dove or squirrel, a 12ga might be more appropriate. I don't think I'd start an 11 year old with one though.
With 3" shells he could even hunt turkeys, but probably not past 35-40 yards. But, if the bulk of his shooting will be at things larger than a dove or squirrel, a 12ga might be more appropriate. I don't think I'd start an 11 year old with one though.
Posted on 7/29/13 at 1:05 pm to Chicken
quote:My nephew can handle the recoil from his Dad's old Remington 1100 20ga better than his own 410 crack barrel. I'd get him a used 20 gas autoloader for starters then once he's bigger and fully committed to hunting and gun care get him a nice new 12 gauge for Christmas.
If he can handle a 12, go with gas operated auto...... a gas gun will have less felt recoil than the inertia system
Posted on 7/29/13 at 2:36 pm to Chicken
If I were going to be a bird hunter and separated by distance, I would like to see him with a O/U. Mainly for an ease of insuring he is unloaded when he needs to be.
If I was going to be in a duck blind next to him, I would go with an auto loader or pump. I don't have a issue with shell use...he is only going to get one at the time.
I just think those little crack barrel singles are worthless.
Also regarding recoil, I have seen that most the times that recoil of any sort is an issue is if a child really isn't mature enough to be shooting anyway, that or poor form. Spend some time with them on clays or cans...whatever, just insure form is good and recoil is much easier to handle
If I was going to be in a duck blind next to him, I would go with an auto loader or pump. I don't have a issue with shell use...he is only going to get one at the time.
I just think those little crack barrel singles are worthless.
Also regarding recoil, I have seen that most the times that recoil of any sort is an issue is if a child really isn't mature enough to be shooting anyway, that or poor form. Spend some time with them on clays or cans...whatever, just insure form is good and recoil is much easier to handle
Posted on 7/29/13 at 2:40 pm to Chicken
An acquaintance told me to look at the Berreta A400...12g for me, 20g for the little man...
Posted on 7/29/13 at 3:53 pm to Chicken
I grew up with a Remington model 1100 20 gauge. Auto loading shotgun. I loved it and have slayed many a dove and squirrel with it.
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