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Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: ANDERWAGON on November 24, 2011, 07:33:46 PM


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Title: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: ANDERWAGON on November 24, 2011, 07:33:46 PM

I'm looking for something compact. Perferably a 20GA. Anyone outfitted there youth with the perfect all around shot gun?
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Bob33 on November 24, 2011, 07:42:00 PM
Remington 870 Express, 20 gauge all the way.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: lokidog on November 24, 2011, 07:46:47 PM
Mossberg 500 youth combo includes a rifled slug barrel and a shotgun barrel with choke tubes.  We got the 20 as I think it makes a better deer round than the 12 but just my opinion.  One set has a really nice rifled barrel with a cantilevered scope mount.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on November 24, 2011, 07:47:20 PM
Remington 870 Express, 20 gauge all the way.

 :yeah:  You can get the Youth model with the shorter stock, and when he grows, just get an adult length-of-pull stock.  There's no more versatile shotgun made than an 870.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 24, 2011, 07:47:28 PM
870 20g :tup: I also have a older mossy that was better quality then now days and it has been a great gun.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: seth30 on November 24, 2011, 07:48:41 PM
Remington 870 Express, 20 gauge all the way.
That was my first shotgun and I still have it.  Everytime I look at that gun I get a rush of old memories :tup:  I highly recommend it!
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: idahewes on November 24, 2011, 07:51:22 PM
I agree 100% with the youth 870 express in 20 guage and fit it with a good recoil pad.  I got my son one last year (just turned 9 at the time).  He loves it and shoots trap loads comfortably practicing and can handle it well.  No problems shooting 3" rounds while hunting out of the blind etc.  The only complaint I had was the stock recoil pad was pretty poor for a youth gun.  I believe I ended up putting a grind to fit limbsaver on it and problem solved.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: cwuwildcat on November 24, 2011, 09:06:04 PM
Remington's got a $30 rebate till the end of this year on the 870 express.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: seaduckhunter on November 24, 2011, 09:25:29 PM
Youth  Benelli Nova.    870 express was my first shotgun but I dont like the matte finish  it gets surface rust to easy especially if you are hunting salt.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Sportfury on November 26, 2011, 03:51:58 AM
Remington 870 Express, 20 gauge all the way.

 :yeah:  You can get the Youth model with the shorter stock, and when he grows, just get an adult length-of-pull stock.  There's no more versatile shotgun made than an 870.
:yeah:
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Bigshooter on November 26, 2011, 03:54:13 AM
Hard to beat a 870 in 20ga.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: ICEMAN on November 26, 2011, 05:19:21 AM
Mossberg youth 20. Has the removeable section at the butt which allows the gun to be truly short enough for the young hunters grasp. Lightweight. Makes an excellent grouse gun even for adults later.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Wacenturion on November 26, 2011, 09:01:19 AM
You might want to consider a 28 gauge.  As an example a Franchi AL-48 auto weighs 5 1/2 lbs.  They also make a youth model...shorter stock.  Also an Remington 870 comes in 28 gauge.  Generally speaking, 28's weigh less depending on gun, and are extremely efficient pattern wise.  More so than people realize.

Also 20's are heavier as well as the shells one packs around weigh more.  Ammo is a little harder to find in the countryside, but generally any major outlet like Wholesale or Cabelas carry 28 gauge ammo. 
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Maverick on November 26, 2011, 09:21:55 AM
You might want to consider a 28 gauge.  As an example a Franchi AL-48 auto weighs 5 1/2 lbs.  They also make a youth model...shorter stock.  Also an Remington 870 comes in 28 gauge.  Generally speaking, 28's weigh less depending on gun, and are extremely efficient pattern wise.  More so than people realize.

Also 20's are heavier as well as the shells one packs around weigh more.  Ammo is a little harder to find in the countryside, but generally any major outlet like Wholesale or Cabelas carry 28 gauge ammo.
:bdid:
28 gauge shells are usually way harder to find and can cost more. I myself don't like the express because of the matte finish. But i have one and they are perfect for youth. They can also take a beating and they drop the birds.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: wildweeds on November 26, 2011, 09:23:25 AM
Perhaps a bit more info please................How old a kid,how big is he,smaller or larger stature?I'm really on board with the other posters here on the 870.Fact is My buddy has two boys that outgrew their youth models and have graduated to that new remington in 12 ga. with the composite barrell and the steel liner I can't remember the model # but they appear to be a pretty nice weapon.If waterfowling is your game weight won't be an issue,upland trudging will be a different story.

I've got a 28 and learned to shoot with a .410,I've got every guage in the collection but a 16.The weight/ recoil savings in the 28 is perhaps not near the advantage as compared to pellet count and accuracy needed to solidly anchor a target for a new to the game shooter.....................it's pretty disappointing to miss all the time when your a kid.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: scudmaster on November 26, 2011, 09:43:13 AM
Also, what are you using it for?  Deer, Birds, Turkeys?  Is he left eye dominant, right or left handed?
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: ANDERWAGON on November 26, 2011, 07:34:47 PM

Wow, thank you all for your response.

Here’s a little more info. My boy is nine and around 85lbs. Right handed and right eye dominate. He just finished hunter safety in September and has dove into hunting head first. He’ll shoot his 7mm-08 all day if you let him as the recoil doesn’t seem to bother him. His big game season is over so I’m going to try and regroup and do a little duck hunting with him. I haven’t hunted ducks in over 15 years so it might be a little interesting.

Thanks again.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: scudmaster on November 26, 2011, 09:17:20 PM
I would suggest a 3" 20ga for ducks with Hevi-steel or Hevi-shot type ammo. 
If he really can handle the recoil a 12 ga with collapsible/adjustable stock and 24" barrel may be a good start.  Start with 2 3/4 inch shells and he can grow into heavier loads.  Pump guns are more economical and you can get any kind of accessory for a Remington 870 and since he is Right hand and right eye, that will work well.  Good luck.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: BigGoonTuna on November 27, 2011, 10:10:30 AM
i think the recoil difference between a 12 and a 20 gauge is a little overstated, you'll feel a 20 gauge just as much if it's a lighter gun.  that said, a 20 gauge is a lot nicer to pack around usually and when it comes to shooting at game, he won't probably feel anything anyway :)

i'd say maybe look for an older wingmaster and fit it with a shorter youth buttstock..  they can be had for less money than a new express, and are a much nicer gun.  i always hear bad things about the fit and finish on the 870 express, and the ones i've handled seemed very rough.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Special T on November 27, 2011, 10:25:52 AM
I had a rem 870 20 when i was a kid, just because my father couldn't find a single 12 for me. What about a single 12???
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: wildweeds on November 27, 2011, 11:18:52 AM
The single shot is a good idea for more than one reason,Safety being the first,the second reason is................focus.A cheap single can be had for a little over a hundred bucks,Baikal makes hammerless model with a safety on the trigger guard.Get the kid camped out on some decoys,get their feet down and wings cupped coming in hard and have him pick out greeners and knock em down.You be the backup shooter.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Special T on November 28, 2011, 10:06:07 AM
 :yeah:
I had a pump as a kid but my father only let me have one shell at a time.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Black Plague on November 28, 2011, 12:32:32 PM
870 Express and a can of spray-paint for the barrel...they do tend to get surface rust easier with the heavy matte finish....or get one pre-camoed  :twocents:
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: nwwanderer on November 30, 2011, 05:23:53 PM
I have one of the Baikal single shots.  Get him one and let him dismantle it, refinish the wood, checker it and fine tune the metal fit.  Great way to learn and a decent shoooter.  Should be able to do it for around $100.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: dawei on November 30, 2011, 06:43:33 PM
Just my $0.02 but I started my son (now 40), and 5 of my 6 grandsons; with an H&R®/NEF® 20ga single shot w/a MOD choke. Purpose is to teach safety first, then shooting skill, then confidence develops. After 2 years, if they still were interested in hunting; I then gave them a Mossberg® Mdl 500C 20ga pump. (My son was an exception in that I gave him a Winchester® Ranger™ Mdl 120 20ga pump.) These guys are all grown men now, yet they all hunt with their 20ga pumps to this day.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: JKEEN33 on November 30, 2011, 06:53:00 PM
I picked up one of the single shot shotguns cheap for my nephews to use. What I found is the hammer on them is to stiff for a kid to pull back safely with their small hands. Not sure if these other models of single shots are the same. I wound up picking up a used moss. 500 youth model for them to use. I've been eyeing it myself for a turkey gun. It's a lot lighter than my full sized guns.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: scudmaster on November 30, 2011, 08:15:32 PM
One more thought with a single shot.  Make sure it has a hammer safety that allows it to be de-cocked safely without the chance of the hammer slipping.  Nothing will rattle anew shooter like a negligent discharge.  A lot of old timers say it is not necessary, but almost all will have a story of a time when the thing "Went Off".
 
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Black Plague on December 01, 2011, 10:43:54 AM
 :yeah:    soooo true ....if its cold out and your kids hands are freezing....its not a good combo for anyone involved...I too have seen it happen
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: wildweeds on December 01, 2011, 07:19:38 PM
 Which is exacly why I suggested the hammerless baikal with the trigger guard cross saftey...I  had an unexpected discharge of my browning lever action .22 because my thumb slipped off,it was raining and the attached scope has a little less room than would be liked to de-cock.

One more thought with a single shot.  Make sure it has a hammer safety that allows it to be de-cocked safely without the chance of the hammer slipping.  Nothing will rattle anew shooter like a negligent discharge.  A lot of old timers say it is not necessary, but almost all will have a story of a time when the thing "Went Off".
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: LincolnTWilliams on December 06, 2011, 09:26:30 AM
Can you find a 12g in a youth model? An 870 12g with a 24" tube would be great. Light loads wont belt him as hard as his 7mm-08 I wouldn't think. Then you guys can shoot out of the same box of shells. I think the limiting factor would be weight/being able to shoulder the shot gun. I got my first pump when I was around his age and I had a difficult time with that.... But he wont be a little fella for too much longer.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Holg3107 on December 06, 2011, 09:33:26 AM
If you are looking for a pump / multi shell gun the 870 youth is tough to beat. I will say that I started out with a single shot 20ga when I was 11 and I believe that it made me a much better water fowl hunter. It forced me to focus on one good shot and make it count instead of knowing that I had two more shells in the gun to miss with. Personally I am a huge advocate of single shot guns as starter guns  :twocents: . I also still use my trusty old single shot 20 ga for grouse and plan on passing it down when I have kids.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Special T on December 06, 2011, 05:28:42 PM
I saw a single 12 ga advertised at Big 5 a NEF i believe for $115   :twocents:
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: boneaddict on December 06, 2011, 05:32:43 PM
Quote
If you are looking for a pump / multi shell gun the 870 youth is tough to beat. I will say that I started out with a single shot 20ga when I was 11 and I believe that it made me a much better water fowl hunter. It forced me to focus on one good shot and make it count instead of knowing that I had two more shells in the gun to miss with. Personally I am a huge advocate of single shot guns as starter guns   . I also still use my trusty old single shot 20 ga for grouse and plan on passing it down when I have kids.


I honestly think this builds a better hunter.....takes away from the MORE FIREPOWER theory.     I assume this was in the day of lead.  How would this work now?
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Holg3107 on December 06, 2011, 05:40:15 PM
Actually Bone this was right when steel was comming into play in Colorado (around 1995). I am still a firm believer in the single shot shot gun for the beginner especially with upland birds, It really makes you focus on your shot and tracking the bird a it goes down. The safety system on a single shot is also extremely easy for a novice having an exposed hammer system. Sometimes simple is better.  :twocents:
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Special T on December 06, 2011, 05:41:53 PM
 :yeah:
I agree sometimes finding the bird is a lot easier when your not focused on the next shot.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Curly on December 06, 2011, 05:49:31 PM
My dad gave me a youth model Rem 1100 20 ga when I was a kid.  Still one of my favorite shotguns and it is about 32 years old now. 

You can't go wrong with a 870.......he can use it the rest of his life.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: KillBilly on December 06, 2011, 07:09:55 PM

I'm looking for something compact. Perferably a 20GA. Anyone outfitted there youth with the perfect all around shot gun?

I have a perfectly good Winchester 12ga. Model 1200, 2 3/4" couple of chokes that I will give to him if it is okay with you. There is a condition however. If it does not work for him, bring it back to this forum so we can pass it on to some youth that can use it. If you can trade it for a better fit for him, good enough.....post pictures of him and his new gun so we can all see a happy new hunter.   Are you interested? 
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Ridgeratt on December 06, 2011, 07:11:35 PM

I'm looking for something compact. Perferably a 20GA. Anyone outfitted there youth with the perfect all around shot gun?

I have a perfectly good Winchester 12ga. Model 1200, 2 3/4" couple of chokes that I will give to him if it is okay with you. There is a condition however. If it does not work for him, bring it back to this forum so we can pass it on to some youth that can use it. If you can trade it for a better fit for him, good enough.....post pictures of him and his new gun so we can all see a happy new hunter.   Are you interested? 

Bravo!!!   :tup:
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: ANDERWAGON on December 07, 2011, 03:44:20 AM

I'm looking for something compact. Perferably a 20GA. Anyone outfitted there youth with the perfect all around shot gun?

I have a perfectly good Winchester 12ga. Model 1200, 2 3/4" couple of chokes that I will give to him if it is okay with you. There is a condition however. If it does not work for him, bring it back to this forum so we can pass it on to some youth that can use it. If you can trade it for a better fit for him, good enough.....post pictures of him and his new gun so we can all see a happy new hunter.   Are you interested?


WOW!  :o  Killbilly that is an incredible offer I'm floored and don’t know how to respond. I've got to tell you all I'm a fairly new member to forum and sometime I cant believe the generosity of the folks on here. It says a lot about your character when you offer something like this up.

Please don’t take this the wrong way but there has to be someone less fortunate that you could help get started. I'm not rich and It's not at all that I don’t appreciate the offer but that I would feel guilty excepting something like this. If 12ga pump is the route we go I would be happy to purchase it from you. Asking for suggestions has opened my eyes to many issues in the field. Right now I'm kind of leaning towards a break action single shot.

Thank you again, Gary.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Miles on December 07, 2011, 04:42:05 AM
Without reading through all the posts, here's my thoughts.  I started off with a single shot .410 and I think it helped make me a better shot.  There's no relying on the second shot as a sort of "insurance" for taking a crappy first shot.  Make the first shot count or no bird.  For a first time hunter I think it helps on the safety end of things too.  There's no shooting and then jacking another round in while excited, only to forget putting the safety back on.  You shoot and the gun is empty.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Curly on December 07, 2011, 11:20:43 AM
While I agree with all that has been said about the single shot shotguns, not everyone can buy a gun one season and another the next season. It's real easy to make a pump into a single shot. Just hand out one shell at a time.
:yeah:
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: LincolnTWilliams on December 07, 2011, 11:29:47 AM
This thread is like the mans version of a halmark movie. Killbilly, you sir, are one of the good ones!
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: KFhunter on December 07, 2011, 07:35:49 PM
I'm just a couple years ahead of you as my boy is almost 13 now.
 
couple things I read in this thread I gotta address, first the 28ga shotgun...As much as I like the idea of a 28 ga for fast swinging upland/dove gun he mentioned hunting waterfowl.  Ducks are tough to kill, and prohibit lead shot.  good luck finding 28ga in steel shot when you really need it.
 
stick to 20ga and 12ga
 
at 85 lbs he's a smaller dude, like my boy. 
grandpa picked up and another grandson a couple of charles dalys (20 ga) out of walmart, for the price point on these guns I'm not displeased with them.  They are very light, but with that light weight they really got a pop to them and will make a sore shoulder pretty quick - even on me!
 
For single shot, I'd stay away from those too for shotguns (rifles yes I like single shot)- I don't care how good of a shot you are the very nature of a shotgun you will get wounded birds that need a follow up shot to stop them running away.  You'll loose wounded birds with a single shot I guarantee it.  I didn't realize HOW MANY wounded birds there were until I started running a dog. 
 
last time at the pheasant release site I limited out and did not fire a single shot, my dog rounded up my limit of already shot birds - all were still alive.
 
As far as brands go, I stay away from anything mossberg - 1st gun shame on them, 2nd gun SHAME ON ME
Ya I've gotten two of them both are unusable - one won't eject as the shells wedge in the barrel and the other the slide release sucks bad - poor design.
 
I'm not expecting much from the walmart charles daly either, but heck kids grow so fast it'll get them thru to their 1st nice adult gun.
 
   
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Special T on December 08, 2011, 04:21:47 PM
KF if you have a couple of MB 500 you wanna sell cheap you should PM me... I love em...  :dunno:
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: KillBilly on December 11, 2011, 01:04:55 PM
While I agree with all that has been said about the single shot shotguns, not everyone can buy a gun one season and another the next season. It's real easy to make a pump into a single shot. Just hand out one shell at a time.

Or make a longer plug for it... easy to do.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: KillBilly on December 11, 2011, 01:06:40 PM

I'm looking for something compact. Perferably a 20GA. Anyone outfitted there youth with the perfect all around shot gun?

I have a perfectly good Winchester 12ga. Model 1200, 2 3/4" couple of chokes that I will give to him if it is okay with you. There is a condition however. If it does not work for him, bring it back to this forum so we can pass it on to some youth that can use it. If you can trade it for a better fit for him, good enough.....post pictures of him and his new gun so we can all see a happy new hunter.   Are you interested?


WOW!  :o  Killbilly that is an incredible offer I'm floored and don’t know how to respond. I've got to tell you all I'm a fairly new member to forum and sometime I cant believe the generosity of the folks on here. It says a lot about your character when you offer something like this up.

Please don’t take this the wrong way but there has to be someone less fortunate that you could help get started. I'm not rich and It's not at all that I don’t appreciate the offer but that I would feel guilty excepting something like this. If 12ga pump is the route we go I would be happy to purchase it from you. Asking for suggestions has opened my eyes to many issues in the field. Right now I'm kind of leaning towards a break action single shot.

Thank you again, Gary.

I appreciate what you say but the offer is still open. Free this year, if it doesn't work out then gift it to someone else on the forum.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: KillBilly on December 11, 2011, 01:10:59 PM
While we are on this topic, If anyone else knows of a Youth that could use this gun, let me know.
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Hunting7mm on December 11, 2011, 01:27:32 PM
Ok my daughter was 12 when she started shooting my 12 gauge.  She would shoot my 870 supermag. and I would shoot the mossy 835 ultimag, but she would only shoot 2 3/4.  Pumping the gun was a little problem so I bought a stoeger and when she went with me I let her use that.  She loves that gun and she likes to shoot 3" federals.  She will not even think of shooting the hypersonics.  I recently bought a mossy 935 and she refuses to shoot it just because she likes the stoeger.  Go figure!!   :dunno:
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: KillBilly on December 11, 2011, 03:04:04 PM
Ok, the Winchester Model 1200 will be picked up about 4:00 along with a couple of Ricks closed reed calls to drive the parents batty... :chuckle:
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Fowlweather25 on December 11, 2011, 05:15:57 PM
Thank you so much Al that was very nice of you! I never thought I would meet someone so generous! That cottontail call will drive them nuts! Haha! Hope you enjoy the pepperoni! Give me a call if you ever wanna go cruise around the woods!
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: KillBilly on December 11, 2011, 06:35:30 PM
Thank you so much Al that was very nice of you! I never thought I would meet someone so generous! That cottontail call will drive them nuts! Haha! Hope you enjoy the pepperoni! Give me a call if you ever wanna go cruise around the woods!

It is my  pleasure to help another youth hunter get his own gun to get started. I am confident after meeting you that you will mentor him well and wisely.

I promise you I will enjoy the pepperoni, and I will let you know when I find the other 2 chokes I so conveniently hid from myself... :chuckle:
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Hunting7mm on December 11, 2011, 06:37:44 PM
Very cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :tup:
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: Fowlweather25 on December 11, 2011, 08:19:55 PM
Haha thank you for the good words! I hope you do enjoy it! I look forward to it!
Title: Re: Need to buy my son his first shot gun. Any suggestion?
Post by: ANDERWAGON on December 11, 2011, 08:57:39 PM

  This is awesome, nice work Killbilly! You are the MAN... :tup:
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