Haven't purchased a shotgun in a while but my son is ready to do some turkey hunting and I am seeking opinions on some of the lower price point shotguns.

I'm thinking semi auto to cut down on recoil. Tristar, Mossberg, Charles Daly?

This will be a dove and turkey gun. As of now those are the only birds we hunt with any consistency.

Any opinions welcome.

Weatherby SA-08

I have a TriStar that blasts clays, dove, pheasants, chukars, and quails out of the sky. I would recommend it for your son; it's the combo one with the adult stock and a barrel extender and 3 chokes.

Here: http://www.tristararms.com/products/semi-automatic-shotguns/viper-g2-series/viper-g2-youth/

My choices in order of preference from first to last.
Weatherby SA-08
Mossberg SA-20
Tristar

Charles Daly went out of business a number of years ago.

Tough not to like a remmy 1100

I would probably get a Remington 1100 and cut the stock down to fit him and buy a full size adult stock for when he grows.

This one. Bought one for my son a few years ago. He's run a few cases of ammo through it by now and it's never had a hiccup.

They sell low recoil ammo you could use in a pump or a single shot, it is as advertised. But the semi's won't cycle it.

Get a 1100 LT , I think it comes in a youth model
Great gun ...

I'd say older Remington 1100 lt if you can find one. Nice guns - I've got one, never had a problem. Also picked up a Legacy Escort 20g youth auto for my kids a few years ago. All synthetic, removable spacers for stock, low recoil. Not the prettiest gun but it works well. I like it because don't really worry about beating it up.

I have high hopes of getting my wife started shooting some clays with me just for fun. Not being sure whether she'll take to it or not, I started looking for a very low cost .20 ga semi-auto as a starter. I found a Hatfield .20 ga auto, 3" & shorter shells, with 3 choke tubes & wood stocks for $200 brand new at Walmart! There was a write up on this gun in the latest NRA American Rifleman magazine.

FWIW...

Its just a piece of cheap thin pipe with a firing pin, even the $10k ones. Hard to beat a regular inexpensive walmart Mossberg Bantam with an extra full choke.

They all do the same dang thing.

Remington 1100s are great and go forever. I have a Super-X 2 that I've developed a certain fondness for, though, and I don't think I'd swap it for ANY 1100.

Those Hatfields, or whatever they are selling at Walmart are pretty inexpensive. A friend of mine has used one for a dove season or two and has not complained (nor limited out! ) as of yet...but I don't think he'll be passing it down to one of the kids in 30 years.

IMO, better to spend a little more to get something that will last, and especially in semi-autos.

All great advice. Love the THF. Thanks