Best route for a youth 20 Gauge?

[Hornseeker]

My daughter is 12 and fairly petite... She is currently shooting my old 410, which is perfect size for her, but frankly, SUCKS for shooting things out of the air! And as far as ducks go, is nearly worthless...

What is a good, afforadble route to go for a 20 gauge for her? Buy a used "something" and cut it up so it fits her or try and find a youth model? I will say this, I'm not a huge pump fan, but I'm sure she wouldn't mind. (I like double barrels and autos!! )

[hillbilli]

Either rem 870 youth 20 ga, or mossberg 500 youth 20 ga. I went the mossberg route for my wife's turkey gun, a bit over 200$ at wal-mart, 22" barrel. i also added a better than stock recoil pad. her gun also throws a slug straight, and there is a good chance the boys will get to use it for deer when they are a bit older. both guns are well tested, and common enough you should have no trouble finding an adult length butt stock down the road if you want to..

[trippledigitss]

I just bought a Remington Youth 870 Express Magnum pump action 20ga for my 10yr old boy for $175 at Dj's in Bothell. He is a little guy, he's a twin so a bit smaller than average but it fit him pretty good and he's getting used to the weight really quickly. The stock recoil pad was really hard and the LOP is a bit long for him (it was about 12"+) so I wanted to cut it down and was looking for something softer, like the R3 Limbsaver but couldnt find one that fit. But I found a Pachmeyer slip on and took the stock one off, it didnt fit perfect so I wrapped the stock and it fits well now. He says he cant even feel the recoil and just loves it now, it also shortened the LOP about a half inch which was just about right so I didnt haveg to cut it. I bought the gun for him to get into trap shooting with me and he'll shoot 100 rounds thru it each time out no problems at all. (Took him out yesterday and he scored a 6, 11 & 11, its about his 3rd/4th time out) A coworker just got their boy a Stoger Youth O/U at Cabelas but I dont know how much they paid. Its a cute little gun but is alot heavier than my boy's Rem. The both have 22" barrels. 

[quadrafire]

Ernie
google up Rem 1110 LT 20 ga. I bought one used for my son several yrs ago. Very nice gun. It could be upgraded to a full size stock later I would assume.

[vandeman17]

Mossberg bantam 20 gauge is solid and fits a 5'1", 105 pound lady just right.

[quadrafire]

Oops that should be 1100, not 1110

http://www.gunsamerica.com/994672524/Guns/Shotguns/Remington-Shotguns/Autoloaders/Hunting/REMINGTON_1100_LT_20_20_GAUGE.htm#

I paid $400 about 4-5 yrs ago

[Hornseeker]

Thanks all. I am going to get my hands on an 870 youth tommorrow to "try out" for her. Just after I posted this I was talking with a co-worker and he said he had one that he no use for anymore...might get a good deal on it, I'll keep you guys posted!

[quadrafire]

Thanks all. I am going to get my hands on an 870 youth tommorrow to "try out" for her. Just after I posted this I was talking with a co-worker and he said he had one that he no use for anymore...might get a good deal on it, I'll keep you guys posted!

IMO I would take the 870 over the 1100, unless she just has to have the autoloader. I have hunted with an 870 (in 12ga), for years they are bullet-proof.

[dkecoleman]

another vote for the 870 youth, cheap and extremely reliable. You can't go wrong with it. Even works as a boat paddle

[Barbarossa13]

Yet another vote for the youth 870.  I picked one up for the wife for under $200 from WallyWorld.  I put a "Limb Saver" recoil pad on it and it seemed to help her manage the recoil well. 

[hookr88]

I bought the Mossburg 500 Bantam 20 ga. for my son when he was 12, 5'4" and 120lbs. He's now 17, 6'1" and 170 with the upgraded adult stock he still prefers it over his 11-87.

[quadrafire]

Hey Ernie
Did you get ahold of that 870?

[Hornseeker]

I did and she put a box of shells through it... it was great. Then she blew the head off a ruffy at about 5 yards on the ground! Her first kill! Unfortunately, about 5 hours earlier she missed a DANDY mulie buck at 60 yards with her 243... she was nice and steady and squeezing when he moved and I think his movement caught her by surprise and she pulled!!!

[quadrafire]