20 Gauge Youth Semi-Auto

I think I probably already know the answer to this, but what would you suggest for a 12 yr old boy? This will be his first season and we will be going after dove and probably some duck as well. He has my old single shot H&R .410 from when I was a kid, however it's a full fixed choke and shells can be tricky to find. He's an average size boy, and I think a 20 would work much better for him.

Thanks!

A weatherby SA-08 in 20 gauge is about as perfect as you can get.


A single shot .410 is just gonna frustrate kids

I agree. It's what I always used as a kid, but I always dreamed of a semi-auto. I will look into the SA-08. I just looked and can't believe what they want for an 1100 lite these days!!! Almost $1,000. I think I only gave $1100 for my M1 Super 90

I moved to an 870 12ga at about that same age with my scrawny arse and it was awesome. Birds fell alot more often even with the additional recoil.

I think the SA-08 youth is around $500

Bro buy once cry once , get him a lifetime gun he won’t sell

No bubba and booger picker crap, you got the ends

Started my grandson with a used Remington 1187 compact.

Winner

Pops would be broke if I had an 1100 or 1187 at that age lol.

Yep... that’s what I was thinking as well. Looks like they have a youth synthetic stock version for about half of what they want for the Rem 1100.

I saw Yildiz also makes a youth 20 o/u that might work as well. Not sure if he would like that or not. Either way, I’m super excited he has recently really started to like hunting and shooting. I may let him go look at a few and get what he wants. Fun times for sure!

Tri Star, Escort, Weatherby

Any one weighting 80 lbs or over can handle a 12 ga. Nothing wrong with a 20 ga either.

Size and/or weight have little to do with handling recoil.

Benelli sells a Montefeltro "combo" with two stocks, one adult, one youth. That would be a lifetime gun.
At the other extreme, I bought for a kid one of the Yildiz semis with youth stock on sale for like $250. It goes bang just fine.
To me, the paradox of youth guns is that you want low recoil, which means more money. But it is hard to justify spending hundreds on a gun a kid will outgrow in a couple years.

Great points, Lalo. I bought my Benelli back in 2001 and it's by far the best shotgun I've ever owned. I don't see my self ever getting another semi-auto. The montefeltro would get the job done, but like you said... it's a much bigger investment and not one I'm looking to make at this time.

I think we will go up to Cabelas or Scheels so he can get his hands on a few to see what he likes the best.

Thank you all for your input.

Well, we went to Scheels... WOW what a store! They had all the big names there. My son held a few and decided he liked the look and feel of the o/u’s better than a semi-auto. From there we went to Academy where they had a youth version of the Yildiz in 20 gauge. It has 24” barrels and a shorter stock that fits him pretty good. It’s stiff as heck, but I know that will get better over time. The wood is real pretty and it feels like a solid little gun. Even came with 5 choke tubes. Come on dove season!

I keep hearing I need to check that place out. Congrats young man. That is a fine gun

Nice looking o/u and young man.

Thats a nice shotgun. And a happy young man!

Looks like you found a winner! He certainly looks happy with the choice.

Good choice.
I was going to say O/U and he will learn to make better shots because he won't have that third shot.
And with different chokes in each barrel you can tune the gun.

I was waiting to see this comment. Get the 12 year old a $1500-$2000 Benelli or Beretta, while that Weatherby is a perfect starter gun for someone his age for over half the price. Never ceases to amaze me

A kid his age getting excited over getting a gun is exactly what this world needs. Good job dad

One awesome gun!!! Congrats to both you.. if he gets real ambitious those yildez have pretty decent wood just minimal finish work.

In the past a couple guys on here have done threads about sanding stock down and putting multiple light layers of oils which really made wood pop.

I’m sure you can find them with search function

It works...Had a great time with my son today at Elm Fork!

Beretta AL-390 20 gauge