20 gauge (youth) options

[boneaddict]

I am contemplating a new shotgun for my daughter for Christmas.   Personally I like nice wood, not pink or synthetic.   I am wondering what is out there and figured this a casual enough place to ask what people have and or what they like or think is best.   Pump action, semi, single or double overunder side to side.   Shed be after waterfowl and upland.   My first thoughts go to an 870 pump action, as I love that in a 12 guage.  Any thoughts or opinions, I would appreciate hearing what you have to say, and your time and honesty.

[Holg3107]

Bone,

I started with a single shot 20ga, then after 2 years I upgraded to an 835 ulti-mag in 12ga. I loved that 20 ga. and to be honest it made me a much better shot knowing I only have one opportunity. In my opinion for a first shotgun a single shot is the only way to go.

[washingtonmuley]

How old/big is she? I started my kids on a Daly 20 pump but it kicked like a mule so I found an 1187 20 gauge compact that was light recoil and fit the youth hunter perfect.

[washingtonmuley]

My son actually started with single shot .410 before the 20 gauge.

[NRA4LIFE]

Browning BPS Youth Model in 20 ga.  I bought it for my wife to shoot.  It is sweet.  Nice thing is it ejects out the bottom and the safety is on top so it can be shot left or right handed.  Wife shoots left handed, I shoot right so it works for both of us.

[boneaddict]

Turns 13 in November.   She is small compared to the rest of us klikendalls, but fairly solid.  She is a "stud" athlete.  She has the core and the shoulders, but lacks a little in arm strength.  She can and does shoot my .410 single.

[boneaddict]

She is ambidextrous, though left usually dominates in real life.  She has been learning with all of my "right" guns.  I haven't decided to outfit her with left or not.  So far that hasnt been an issue.  Thats a good thought....

[Sportfury]

My son started with a 870 youth pump in 20 gauge. It is a great gun. He now moved up to a Stevens over and under in 20 gauge. Both work great and he is a bird killing machine.

With the new Hevi-Metal shot their is no restriction on the 20 anymore for waterfowl. When it first came out a couple of years ago the company rep told us that he exclusively shot a 20 gauge up until the non-toxic rules came out. He told us that he was now going back to the 20. From what I can tell in both my dad, my son, and I shooting it that it works. Good luck.

[Slenk]

Bone
Years ago I bought a little Springfield  pump used. All 4 of my sons grew up shooting it . It was won sweet little gun. I used it for grouse quit a bit also even with the sawed off stock (was that way when I got it. Let my Grandson use it and the bugger sold it. If I had known he was in need of money I would have given him the money and taken the gun back.
Slenk

[boneaddict]

That STINKS Slenk.


That brings up another point I'd liek to hear folks wisdom on.   As this is the first gun Dad is buying for her and sentimentality runs big in my family.   I'm wondering about whether to go youth or ladies, or what.  I'd like it to be a gun she can keep and be proud of as she matures.   I'd like it to be nice enough, almost heirloom ....wondering are there options about getting different stocks....not sure how much more she will grow, maybe one more spurt.  By hunting season next she she might be done......something more to think about. 

[quadrafire]

I picked up a Rem 1100 LT 20ga for my son when he was 13, perfect size for him THEN. Now is 16 and over 6 ft and it looks like a toy in his hands.
I do have a 13 yr old daughter, and she might just get a hand-me-down.

It is and nice shooting gun, traditional wood stock, but it seems a bit hard to load for someone with small hands and little finger strength. My son struggled with it in the beginning.

IF i was to to it over again I would go with the 870.

However as smallish O/U would be kinda cool too.

[quadrafire]

In reply to your last post.
If I was going heirloom I like the O/U idea even more.
Simple to operate, super safe.........
I haven't researched them much for small frame folks, but know they are out there.
just likely $$$ more than a pump or semi.

[Holg3107]

That brings up another point I'd liek to hear folks wisdom on.   As this is the first gun Dad is buying for her and sentimentality runs big in my family.   I'm wondering about whether to go youth or ladies, or what.  I'd like it to be a gun she can keep and be proud of as she matures.   I'd like it to be nice enough, almost heirloom ....wondering are there options about getting different stocks....not sure how much more she will grow, maybe one more spurt.  By hunting season next she she might be done......something more to think about. 

What about going the Thompson Encore route? Or Thomson Contender G2? that way you can add barrels as she ages and full size stock as she grows ect... I know that's the route I will go when I have kids ready. Then if she wanst to hunt deer next year all you need to do is buy a barrel and she's shooting a gun that she is already familiar with.

[Dirty Mike]

My first shotgun was a 20ga youth h&r pardner shotgun dad always said you have one shot make it count. Still have it. I also have many pumps which I like but still carry that single shot for grouse.

[Fl0und3rz]

I started with a H&R .410 single.  Still have it.  It's not what I would call an heirloom, but it has its sentimental value.

I have a 870 youth 20 gauge, and it is pretty nice for a starter.  I bought it used, for my son when he gets older.  The wood is still in pretty decent shape.  It has a plastic trigger guard, and the barrel and receiver finish required a bit of steel wool and Rem Oil to clear up.  The finish on the metal leaves a little to be desired.  I don't know whether Remington has the 870 youth in wood in their current catalog.

If we are talking true heirloom, I would cherish for a lifetime and probably still be shooting a decent 20 ga double unlike my H&R .410.

[Sportfury]

That brings up another point I'd liek to hear folks wisdom on.   As this is the first gun Dad is buying for her and sentimentality runs big in my family.   I'm wondering about whether to go youth or ladies, or what.  I'd like it to be a gun she can keep and be proud of as she matures.   I'd like it to be nice enough, almost heirloom ....wondering are there options about getting different stocks....not sure how much more she will grow, maybe one more spurt.  By hunting season next she she might be done......something more to think about.

Sentiment is nice, but I went for a functional gun that would work for my son. I wanted him to be successful and he was. He was able to shoot the double in skeet when all these kids with fancy over and unders that mom and dad had bought them couldn't. I also wanted a gun that he and I wouldn't have to worry about if it banged around, dirty, or muddy. Not that that little 870 isn't sentimental. It is being passed down to my daughter and in about 8 years my nephew will be able to shoot it.  It will stay in the safe and serve kid duty whenever the opportunity presents itself. We will keep it moving down the family tree as long as we can.

As suggested above the Browning BPS is a sweet little gun. I have a full size in 12 gauge and the tang safety works great. You may want to do some research because there are a couple companies out there that have youth guns and as your daughter grows you can put on a bigger stock.

[Curly]

I picked up a Rem 1100 LT 20ga for my son when he was 13, perfect size for him THEN. Now is 16 and over 6 ft and it looks like a toy in his hands.
I do have a 13 yr old daughter, and she might just get a hand-me-down.

It is and nice shooting gun, traditional wood stock, but it seems a bit hard to load for someone with small hands and little finger strength. My son struggled with it in the beginning.

IF i was to to it over again I would go with the 870.

However as smallish O/U would be kinda cool too.

That is the gun my dad bought me when I was 11 (about 34 yrs ago) and I still love that gun.  I am 6'-1" now, and the gun still is fine to shoot.  I really don't use it much anymore, but I will never sell it. I like it for dove hunting and chukar, but I just don't get out after them like I would like to, but if I do that will be the gun I'd grab even though I do have a Beretta O/U in 20 ga.

It was kind of funny the first few times I shot the semi auto, I forgot that I had more than one shot available because I was so used to just having one shot since I'd started out with a single shot .410.  Just took some time to get used to.  I remember duck hunting with my dad and just shooting once when a flock of ducks flew over; my dad said "Why did you only shoot once?"  I remember being puzzled for a second, then going "Oh, yeah..........I do have 3 shots now".

I think a semi auto might be the way to go.  They might be a little heavier than an O/U or a pump, but felt recoil should be less.  I think I'd consider a Benelli Ultra Light.

Link:  http://www.benelliusa.com/ultra-light-shotgun

[Sumpnneedskillin]

Take a look at the Mossberg 500 20g youth models.  Mossberg also includes a certificate to get an adult stock when the time comes.

[jackmaster]

i bought my son a youth mossberg 20 gauge pump when he was 10, he is 18 now and he decided this year that his gun was to small so he take my 12 gauge, i was fine with it because that little 20 gauge mossberg pump is lite and is quick to the shoulder and does real fine on grouse. to this day it shoots like it is new

[h2ofowlr]

After purchasing many of the youth guns on the market new and old.  I would go with an auto loader.  Less felt recoil.  No issues trying to pump the gun, easier to acquire the target after the initial shot.  Many go with the lesser guns due to price, availability, etc.  The top two go to options for durability, quality would be the Benelli M2 and Browning Silver Micro Midas or Browning silver Micro.  Working with a 12-3/4 -13 LOP.  Both great guns.

[JLS]

Franchi makes a nice youth model semi-auto.  Very light, but with manageable recoil.  I plan on picking one of these up this winter or in the spring for my girls.

[h2ofowlr]

Franchi makes a nice youth model semi-auto.  Very light, but with manageable recoil.  I plan on picking one of these up this winter or in the spring for my girls.

Decent gun for $700.  They offer it in camo and black.

[Gamblin Guy]

Bone, if your looking for a gun that would be a family passed down heirloom I would look to buy a 20 gauge with a normal sized stock and a 26 inch barrel, then buy either a shortened stock for it or buy a used one off ebay or one of the gun parts sites and have it cut down to fit her.  I did that with an Ithaca 37 20 gauge for my son and then put the original stock back on it when his arms got long enough.  This year my 13 year old daughter will shoot it with the short stock on it.  She is also shooting a BPS in 28 but will quickly figure out the 20 will work a little better, although she killed her first duck on the youth weekend with the 28.

I'm partial to Ithacas, especially the Ohio made ones now.  Bought my son a 28 and had it custom engraved for his graduation present, they'll have to split them all up when i'm gone.

[Widgeondeke]

My kids shoot the Mossberg 500. We have the youth stock and full size for later. They are good durable guns
But....since you said heirloom.  I'd go with a nice O/U or side by side 

[JLS]

Franchi makes a nice youth model semi-auto.  Very light, but with manageable recoil.  I plan on picking one of these up this winter or in the spring for my girls.

Decent gun for $700.  They offer it in camo and black.

And wood.  Or used to.

[JLS]

If money isn't an object, get her a Beretta 391 or a Citori O/U

[Hermit]

I have a Mossburg 500 and a 870....... I like them both but for ducks and geese I LOVE my 870 {full choke}.

[boneaddict]

THANK YOU everyone for your input, opinions and ideas.   I am sure I'll keep you posted with whatever we do.   If others want to add, please do.   

[MtnMuley]

I just purchased an older  870 Wingmaster 20 guage in mint shape a couple weeks ago.  Fixed modified choke.  Saw it on the rack and couldn't believe the price.  Exactly like the one I grew up on that was lost in a fire.  Absolutely love the looks, feel, and dependability of those guns.  Best gun purchase for me in quite a while. 

[Special T]

I'm thingking of starting my daughter off with a single shot 20 and then she could work her way up to the 20 pump i used as a kid.

[woodywsu]

Remington 1100. Limited to 2 3/4 though.

[boneaddict]

I just purchased an older  870 Wingmaster 20 guage in mint shape a couple weeks ago.  Fixed modified choke.  Saw it on the rack and couldn't believe the price.  Exactly like the one I grew up on that was lost in a fire.  Absolutely love the looks, feel, and dependability of those guns.  Best gun purchase for me in quite a while.

Is it the fancy nice wood.....do/can the 20s come that way?

[superdown]

I had the Browning 20 gauge bps upland special that was a great little shotgun my gf is only 4ft10in and it fit her very nicely. The only reason we sold it was she wanted a savage model 99 in 284win she just had to have and we haven't been doing much shotgun shooting as of late so it went down the road.

[MtnMuley]

I just purchased an older  870 Wingmaster 20 guage in mint shape a couple weeks ago.  Fixed modified choke.  Saw it on the rack and couldn't believe the price.  Exactly like the one I grew up on that was lost in a fire.  Absolutely love the looks, feel, and dependability of those guns.  Best gun purchase for me in quite a while.

Is it the fancy nice wood.....do/can the 20s come that way?

Yes.  It has the nice wood.  The Wingmasters have the nicer fancy wood, while the Express's have the cheap wood and synthetic.  Same 870 action in both.  I use the cheaper Express synthetic these days in a 12 guage for all my grouse hunting.  It sure does take a beating and still works great even after the abuse.

[boneaddict]

Here is the outcome.




Over under Savage.   I couldn't seem to dream up an 870 Wingmaster in the Yakima Valley.  I guess I could have special ordered one in, but I liked the idea of a doublebarrel and this one just cried out her name.   Looks like I have a bird hunter in the making.   You guys might be seeing fewer big game photos now.

[quadrafire]

Awesome 

[MtnMuley]

While I have never used a Savage model, the over and under's in general are great guns for youth.  They swing nicely for smaller framed people. 

[boneaddict]

That was what I thought when I felt it.  I didn't go youth as I wanted her to have it her whole life.  It felt like she could handle it.    Its a bit big for her, but after a case of ammo shooting some clays, I bet she will be in business.   She isn't afraid of it, and it didn't level her.   
I liked the idea of the single shot/double barrel making her choose her target a bit better, rather than blasting away with all three shots.  That might just be in my head, but I can remember the first shot counting, the second being OK and by the third I'd have been better off just not pulling the trigger.

[MtnMuley]

You couldn't have said it better.  My kill percentage on the third shot far outweighed the first two......especially the first one!

[h2ofowlr]

My 10 year old is shooting the Benelli M2 youth compact 20.  It's very light , so he swings it a little to fast, so we are working the bugs out.

[Old Dog]

PM sent

[boneaddict]

Got it Old Dog.  I need to check my schedule at work to see if I can work something out that day.  Thank you.

[Chevyguy18]

I started on a Mosseburg youth 20 gauge, make a really good reliable one in a pump action. Came with a wood stock, its lite which makes it a good kids gun. Its 2 3/4 and 3in, I even shot my first turkey with it.

[singleshot12]

I started on a Mosseburg youth 20 gauge, make a really good reliable one in a pump action. Came with a wood stock, its lite which makes it a good kids gun. Its 2 3/4 and 3in, I even shot my first turkey with it.

How long of a barrel does it have if you recall? would it be good for ducks too?

[boneaddict]

I checked out the Mossberg, and it felt tin canny to me.   This gun felt really solid, and though I didn't know anything about it in particular I went with it. 

[rasbo]

just a thought,if you go with the 870 12 ga 26inch barrel and use a low base shell,later in life she can always up grade to a longer barrel,low base less kick..still a blast to shoot.no need to buy another shotgun in my op

[boneaddict]

I thought about that Rasbo.   I was still worried a 12 would beat her and then shed be afraid to shoot.   I figure she'll get a lot of experience under her belt with this 20, and then if she becomes a diehard duck hunter, her husband or Dad can buy her a bigger gun.   If not, the 20 will make for a good house protection gun for her.   One of the first things I did was have her shoot it at a couple different distances so she got the ramifications and understood what a shotgun can do.   The three inch holes it left in the plywood at close range (I shot those for her)  made an impression. 

[rasbo]

I thought about that Rasbo.   I was still worried a 12 would beat her and then shed be afraid to shoot.   I figure she'll get a lot of experience under her belt with this 20, and then if she becomes a diehard duck hunter, her husband or Dad can buy her a bigger gun.   If not, the 20 will make for a good house protection gun for her.   One of the first things I did was have her shoot it at a couple different distances so she got the ramifications and understood what a shotgun can do.   The three inch holes it left in the plywood at close range (I shot those for her)  made an impression.