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Youth Shotgun #6093509 12/20/15 09:05 PM
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js4242 Offline OP
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I know there are posts on the subject but why not another one - Looking at the right time and gun to buy my son. A little background - 10 year old, 4'8", 86lbs. Can handle a youth 243 with no issues. I hunt mostly ducks/dove. I am thinking of a semi with one shell loaded at the beginning. I am trying to stay away from buying a super short "youth" model and replacing it in a couple of years. He has a younger sister who has shown a great interest in the outdoors as well. Thinking of buying a 20ga with a compact stock with a 26" barrel. In a couple of years his sister gets the gun, he gets my AL391, and Dad gets a new 12ga. Should I just wait until he's older? He's to the point where sitting in the blind has become "boring" if he is not an active participant. Should I wait until this summer to see if he can handle a 12ga? If you have gone through a similar experience I would like to hear what you did?

Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: js4242] #6093520 12/20/15 09:11 PM
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20he Franchi Affinity Compact. Should last him 5yrs+.

My almost 10yo has been shooting for the last 3 years and is smaller than your boy. He shoots a cut down 870 youth. He is outgrowing it and I will be getting him the Franchi soon

Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: js4242] #6093589 12/20/15 10:14 PM
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Get him a .410. He'll thank you later...

Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: js4242] #6093598 12/20/15 10:21 PM
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10 is pretty young for a 12, especially at 85lbs. He needs a lightweight, good fitting, and balanced gun that will enable him to use proper form and gain confidence. .410 offers these qualities as does most 20ga. Buy Woodstock so you can take it to a gunsmith for fitting.

Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: js4242] #6093726 12/20/15 11:46 PM
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My 9 year old boy has a youth 870 20 and it fits him awesome. It's obviously not an optimal fit, but I'm 6'2" and I can still shoot it


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Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: js4242] #6093730 12/20/15 11:47 PM
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I bit the bullet 2 years ago and bought my son a Remington 1187 youth. Presently he is 9 yrs old and weighs about 90lbs. We used 1 shell at a time at first but have gone up to 2 this season unless were hunting with a large group.

I figure you only get one chance to make sure he loves the outdoors. Do whatever it takes to make certain he is enjoying every shot. Buy something that fits and wont make him scared to pull the trigger. It will also ensure success which is ultimately what makes them follow in your footsteps.

People are always looking for a good youth shotgun so you wont lose much money if you decide to sell it a few years down the road. Or keep it for grandchildren down the road.

Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: Fishuhalik] #6093890 12/21/15 01:33 AM
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Originally Posted By: Fishuhalik
My 9 year old boy has a youth 870 20 and it fits him awesome. It's obviously not an optimal fit, but I'm 6'2" and I can still shoot it


Agree with this. My son is 9, and he will be opening his first shotgun this Christmas. He is getting a 870 20 ga youth, 21" barrel. He can get an auto later, when he gets better and older. He needs to learn a pump like the rest of us did. Lol


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Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: js4242] #6094517 12/21/15 02:52 PM
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If you want your son to enjoy shooting at his age stay away from a pump. From experience, a 20ga. youth pump kicks like a mule. He wont like it. Go with an auto. IF you cant afford it then wait till you can. As far as a 410 that gauge was never meant for an amateur shooter. Sure it wont kick as much but he wont hit anything with it either. besides youll get weary of paying 10.00 a box for shell. I'm a grandfather now and have seen many kids shoot a pump then hand it back to Dad and say that hurt. Did it with my first Grandson. Went down the next week bought a youth auto and couldn't keep him in shells after that.


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Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: js4242] #6094709 12/21/15 04:26 PM
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I have never seen a kid not enjoy shooting because of a pump.


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Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: js4242] #6094772 12/21/15 05:12 PM
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I appreciate the responses so far. I am leaning towards an auto. Does anyone have thoughts on a certain brand? I have heard that inertia type systems kick harder than gas. Any thoughts on that? I know I can't really go wrong by sticking with the 3 Bs, but would like opinions on Weatherby SA-08 and Franchi?

Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: js4242] #6094806 12/21/15 05:32 PM
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I haven't had a single issue with the Remington 1187 youth and it is priced real reasonable compared to the 3 Bs, and $200 to $300 cheaper than the Franchi. Compares nicely to the Weatherby.

Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: js4242] #6094926 12/21/15 06:42 PM
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I got my son, 9 yr old back then, a Browning Silver Micro Midas in 20 ga and 26" barrel; an absolute joy to shoot. Paired with low recoil rounds it kicks nothing, plus they don't have enough force to cycle the action so it is basically a single shot gun until you move up to standard loads. You can buy the full size stock at half price once he needs it, but beware as I found out you don't just swap the butt stock, you need to get a new action spring tube, however everything will be around $100 to make it a full size. Browning doesn't tell you about the spring tube, their Growth Insurance plan information is very skimpy, you need to call their customer service to get all the details.
I was also considering the Benelli Montefeltro combo, comes with 2 stocks but ended up getting the Browning.
There are other less expensive and equally effective guns, I just chose this one because I liked how it fit.


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Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: Leonardo] #6094951 12/21/15 07:03 PM
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Originally Posted By: Leonardo
I haven't had a single issue with the Remington 1187 youth and it is priced real reasonable compared to the 3 Bs, and $200 to $300 cheaper than the Franchi. Compares nicely to the Weatherby.


Where did you find the 1187 youth $200-$300 cheaper than the Franchi? I have looked at the 1187 youth at Gander and it was the same price as the Franchi.

I like the 1187 youth as well as the Franchi and would go either way, but if I can pick up the 1187 for a couple hundred bucks cheaper that may sway me to go that way.

Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: js4242] #6095022 12/21/15 07:46 PM
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My son is 9 - will be 10 on Valentines Day. He's always been a little big for his age. As of right now, he's 5'1" and 98 lbs.

Heres my experience with guns for him.

I bought my son a Savage Rascal when he was 5/6 yo. Put a scope on it, and let him shoot anytime he wanted. He loved it. Shot it really well. When he was 7, I let him shoot my AR. Loved it. He would melt the barrel if I let him. Never flinched, was very steady.

Then, this happened.

When he was 8, he won a 20 ga Mossberg youth pump at a Delta banquet in Longview. He loved it until he shot it. Even with light loads, it was too much for him. He was 8, and he is a big kid. He shot it a couple times in the yard - I thought we were good. Went hunting, had a flock of 20 GWT come in and land. He wouldnt shoot. Raised the gun, but never pulled the trigger. Come to find out, he was scared of it. Said it hurt when he pulled trigger and didnt want to shoot it. He would flinch when he pulled trigger on anything. Didnt matter what gun it was. We took some time off from shooting.

Decided to buy him a semi-auto. Bought the Weatherby SA-08 youth shotgun. He loves it. Very little recoil and has held up really well. he back to driving tacks with his rifles.

Shot his first deer this year with his 7mm-08.




Last edited by BJ Duplechain; 12/21/15 07:46 PM.
Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: js4242] #6095081 12/21/15 08:29 PM
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Weatherby SA-08 Youth 20ga. Great price and dependable. I duct taped a extra thick recoil pad to extend for adult use when my son grew out of it and now I rarely shoot anything else. My SBE has not been shot in two seasons!

Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: RiverRunner] #6095309 12/21/15 10:45 PM
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Originally Posted By: RiverRunner
Originally Posted By: Leonardo
I haven't had a single issue with the Remington 1187 youth and it is priced real reasonable compared to the 3 Bs, and $200 to $300 cheaper than the Franchi. Compares nicely to the Weatherby.


Where did you find the 1187 youth $200-$300 cheaper than the Franchi? I have looked at the 1187 youth at Gander and it was the same price as the Franchi.

I like the 1187 youth as well as the Franchi and would go either way, but if I can pick up the 1187 for a couple hundred bucks cheaper that may sway me to go that way.


I bought several years back but paid around $500. The Franchi was never in consideration for me, mainly because I just don't like them, but the price I remember is $700 to $800. Just pulled it up online and Cabelas has 11-87 for $599 and Franchi is $749

Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: js4242] #6095355 12/21/15 11:08 PM
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Originally Posted By: js4242
I appreciate the responses so far. I am leaning towards an auto. Does anyone have thoughts on a certain brand? I have heard that inertia type systems kick harder than gas. Any thoughts on that? I know I can't really go wrong by sticking with the 3 Bs, but would like opinions on Weatherby SA-08 and Franchi?


Weatherby has a great youth 20 ga that shoots both 23/4 and 3". They even just came out with a new marsh cameo pattern, can't remember which one, so the little shooter can match dad. Their guns are very affordable and the gas system does a great job of bleeding off recoil. You can get one for around 625.00.

Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: js4242] #6095367 12/21/15 11:22 PM
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I've heard good things about the Weatherby as well. Great thing about youth autos, when he finally does outgrow it you can sell it for darn near what you paid for it


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Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: js4242] #6097013 12/22/15 09:58 PM
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Get him a 28 gauge. He will keep it for life.
Thats my to go to gun all year and i love it.


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Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: tuf-duc] #6097627 12/23/15 03:50 AM
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Originally Posted By: tuf-duc
If you want your son to enjoy shooting at his age stay away from a pump. From experience, a 20ga. youth pump kicks like a mule. He wont like it.



Not always, and I'd generally say nope. Yes, a 20 can kick, but no a 20 isn't necessarily brutal. I bought my kids a Mossberg Super Bantam 500 20ga, and my 7yr old handles it like a champ. We started last week with some peewee light dove/target loads at the skeet range, then he put the hammer on some redheads TODAY with Estate 20ga 3/4oz 1400fps 2 3/4" #4's. Smacked several drakes at 30yds with a IC choke with no problem. Nothing but grins and just had a tshirt and a camo hunting jacket.

If you work with them and let them go at their own pace, they will not only manage a 20ga pump but will put it to justice!



Re: Youth Shotgun [Re: tuf-duc] #6097630 12/23/15 03:51 AM
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Originally Posted By: tuf-duc
If you want your son to enjoy shooting at his age stay away from a pump. From experience, a 20ga. youth pump kicks like a mule.


Really difficult to unlearn bad habits from flinching.

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