Looking for a good youth shotgun for my son

Mine started on the Mossberg 510 mini 410. I think you can still get them for <300.
Wasn't very smooth, but a kid isn't going to be quick on a pump anyway. If I did it over I'd prob go with the Remington 20.

As someone mentioned, youth guns can kick hard because they are usually light and then people put heavy loads in for their kids to shoot.

Try to find a youth model that fits your kid. If it ends up being a 20 gauge, shoot 1/2 oz. loads. If it’s a 12, shoot 7/8 oz. loads.

If you spend a little more or find a nice used one, a BPS 20g is something he could use for the rest of his life.

Lil Cootkilla is 8 and has been shooting a Mossberg youth 410 for a couple of years now. I got it at academy for around $270. That thing holds a tight arse pattern. He only weighs 50 pounds and has no problem shooting that thing. It is a pump but comes with a plug that only allows one shell to begin with. Pull out the plug and you can put 3 shells.



Here he is with it.

Stay away from the 410, especially the mossberg pump. Do the 870 20.

There's really no easy answer. Light guns kick hard, anything under a 20 gauge doesn't have much of a pattern. Ideally a .410 or 28 gauge but you just have a more limited range.

I started on an Ithaca 20 gauge pump my dad cut like 4 inches off and out a big pad on. I still had plenty of bruised shoulders early on. As said too about a pump early on is they may not be fast enough to pull off multiple shots.

Remington 1187 20 gauge. Worked good for my son. Killed two woodies with one shot one morning.

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I did see some good things about the Remington 870 Express Youth 20 Gauge Pump-Action Shotgun

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My nephew has one and my son has used it a few times. If you want a rusted mess at the beginning of every season, go ahead and get the remington. Not joking at all. My son used the gun and I thoroughly cleaned and oiled the gun before I put it up (in an indoor a/c closet). When I pulled it out a few months later to shoot clays with it was completely covered in rust. Nothing heavy enough to pit but it was solid. Scared me to death since it was my nephews gun. I cleaned it the best I could and asked my brother about. He said to not worry about it as it had done the same thing every time my nephew had used it as well.

Completely ruined me on Remington.

As to the .410. Don't. A .410 is the hardest to shoot shotgun. Meaning it's hard as hell to hit anything with it. Just too few pellets. Not saying it can't be done, there are just better options. .410 is for expert shooters.

I bought my son a Franchi Affinity compact in .20. In two years it's been an amazing gun and he loves it. It was not inexpensive but he will have it his entire life as will his kids.

28 gauge