Looking for ideas of good youth shotgun

[dtg]

My little hunting buddy has a birthday this week and his dad is getting him a gun for deer hunting. I know those H&R's get pretty good raves here, maybe in a 20ga youth? I'm also thinking maybe something like a combo, in case he wants to hunt turkey as well, but after shooting a pump, I've not been thrilled with the accuracy over 50yrds with slugs, the distance isn't an issue with a shot barrel, just with slugs.

Any ideas, throw them out. He's a wirey kid, 15yrs old, he was pulling back 36#'s on his bow last year, if that gives you any ideas as far as body type.

[VARMINTHUNTERLAKEORION]

Dunham's has a Remington 20ga. pump on sale as of yesterday - Those are a very good youth gun and it will last him for years.

[Ninja]

Dunham's has a Remington 20ga. pump on sale as of yesterday - Those are a very good youth gun and it will last him for years.

KD Outdoors has a few on sale as well.:D

[Birdhuntr1]

Last summer I bought my 13yr old daughter an 870 adult. We marked and cut the stock 1/2" shorter than the youth model would be. She loves it! She gets the longer barrel, and when she gets bigger a replacement stock isn't going to break the bank. As a side note, I use it the way it is for dove in Ind. and it's great to swing in the thick stuff for woodcock and partridge. Take the boy somewhere he can hold many different models to get one that fits the way he likes and have fun making memories.

[Moe]

Remington and Mossberg both make really good youth model guns. Not sure if the youth models come as a combo but you could always buy the slug barrel after the fact.

[Worm Dunker]

Look at finding a nice Rem. 1100 LT youth model. at a gun show lot of them out. Plus with it being an auto a lot less recoil to deal with.

[Gramps]

If you want a all around nice youth 20ga, check out the Charles Daly field grade, i bought one for my granddaughter last year, it is a semi auto and comes with 3 choke tubes, she used it deer hunting last year, its shoots a 3 in group at 75 yards with winchester 2 3/4 in. riffled slugs and imp cyl choke, i own the same gun ( not youth ) and love it.

[Brian S]

Here are a couple. http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=22&section=products

I got my son the 500 Super Bantam All Purpose last fall. I like the adjustable stock. Fits him real well.

There are other options. Use the arrow below and to the right of the pic of the gun to see their other youth guns. With a 15 year old, he may not need all the adjustment in stock length (my son is 10) that the Super Bantam has.

[English]

Another vote for the Charles Daily guns! I just don't know about a slug barrel for them.

Mike

[Nimrod1]

I'd cast a vote for the Rem. 870. At 15, if he has any size to him, he could probably go with the adult version. He's going to keep growing dad.:) Cutting the stock, like Birdhuntr1 suggested, would make it even more feasable to go this route. Replacement butt stock for that gun has to be all of $20. With a rifled barrel, this gun is good out 100yds, if you try a few differant slugs, and find the one it likes. One thing I would give heavy consideration to, and you should know the answer, is he ready for a repeater? The single shots, with a hammer, are about as safe as you can get. With a quick glance, you can tell if it is on "safe" or not, there is no quick & easy follow up shot, in the heat/excitement of the moment. It may also teach him to place his shots better, since there is no second chance.
My son got a NEF single, 20ga. for his 12th birthday. By his 15th he was shooting my Franchi 12ga. semi. He is smaller framed than most, but a wirey guy. Almost sad to say he's 24 now, and see's girls as priority over hunting.:sad: Soon enough he'll see the error of his ways, then I'll get him back.:D Have fun with the boy, they grow up fast enough.

[Gramps]

Another vote for the Charles Daily guns! I just don't know about a slug barrel for them.

Mike

As of yet there is not a slug barrel for the 20ga, i talked with the company, they told me they are working on it, they might be out sometime this year. but like i said in other post, use the imp cyl tube for slugs it throws a good pattern.

[chinamigarden]

At 15 I would go for the Remington 870 Express 12 gauge or the Mossy 500 in 12 gauge. He is probably too long for the youth model, and he is going to bulk up quick. That 20 gauge youth model will be too small in no time, maybe even before you buy it. My son was shooting my 12 gauge at 12, he is not a big kid and not all that muscular. At the beginning I used a lighter lower velocity load until he got used to the handling of the gun, then I moved him up.

If you think the recoil is an issue, look into a 1187, the gas operated system will take some of the recoil away. Don't forget the ear plugs, much of the perceived recoil is due to the loud bang, not the gun moving.

[Rustyaxecamp]

I got a 12 ga 870 for my 12th bday from my grandpa. I will be 30 in August and I still use that shotgun. From woodcock to turkeys..... all you do is switch the choke tube and keep it clean.

I have since added 870's in 20 and another 12 to my collection.

Great guns.

[Shlwego]

If you want a all around nice youth 20ga, check out the Charles Daly field grade, i bought one for my granddaughter last year, it is a semi auto and comes with 3 choke tubes, she used it deer hunting last year, its shoots a 3 in group at 75 yards with winchester 2 3/4 in. riffled slugs and imp cyl choke...

:yeahthat:

I bought the same gun for my daughter this past fall. Awesome gun for the money. About $400, and I'd put it up against a youth Beretta 371 any day. It's light, so it handles quickly; but with the gas atuo system, felt recoil is very minimal.
A word of caution on any of the NEF/Rossi/H&R single shot weapons: they kick like a horse. If you decide to go with one of them, make sure you get a substantial recoil pad. Young shooters really notice the "kick," and if it hurts them too much they won't want to practice, and in the field they will "anticipate" the recoil to the extent that it will seriously effect their accuracy. Having said that, I'd recommend a pump or an auto-loader over a single shot any day.

[j6mccauslin]

When i was 13 i got a mossberg 500 for my birthday in 20g. I dont think it was a youth model, i have deer hunted, turkey hunter, duck hunted, and rabbit hunted with that gun, it came with both barrels. My 11 yr old cousin just got a mossberg 500 camo combo at gander mountain for around $250. Id have to vote mossberg 500...

[Craig M]

:

A word of caution on any of the NEF/Rossi/H&R single shot weapons: they kick like a horse.

Wrong information your passing out Shlwego. The H&R ultra slug 20 youth that I picked up for my 13 yr old daughter last fall has very little recoil and comes with a nice recoil pad. I'd say the felt recoil is about the same as a .22 (shooting Horneday SST's) and it's a tack driver.

[KalamazooKid]

Lots of choices out there, but I just got my 13 yr old a Rem 870 - 20 gauge (adult size) and it fits him really well! I for sure would pass on the youth model.

So far we've got it patterned with an extra full choke for turkeys and the next step is to get a rifled slug barrel for deer hunting (about $100 locally). You just gotta know your limitations - like any firearm.

He's had a blast shooting clays, rabbits, pumpkins, and hopefully turkeys and deer with this gun!

Even when he eventually wants to get into a 12 ga, this will still be a great "little" gun to have around!!!!!!!

[kimmy48635]

Last summer I bought my 13yr old daughter an 870 adult. We marked and cut the stock 1/2" shorter than the youth model would be. She loves it! She gets the longer barrel, and when she gets bigger a replacement stock isn't going to break the bank. As a side note, I use it the way it is for dove in Ind. and it's great to swing in the thick stuff for woodcock and partridge. Take the boy somewhere he can hold many different models to get one that fits the way he likes and have fun making memories.

I would have to agree with the 870 20 guage. I love mine. It is great. I have had it for about 11 years. It came with the two different barrels. I just killed my bobcat with it and #2 shot. It is a great gun!:D

[Shlwego]

Wrong information your passing out Shlwego. The H&R ultra slug 20 youth that I picked up for my 13 yr old daughter last fall has very little recoil and comes with a nice recoil pad. I'd say the felt recoil is about the same as a .22 (shooting Horneday SST's) and it's a tack driver.

It's not wrong information, because you've GOT a good recoil pad on the one your daughter is using. Take it off or use the standard thin one and you'll see what I'm talking about. A 20ga. NEF left me bruised, I can only imagine what it would do to a kid....

[mihunter1968]

I went for the Charles Daley's semi's for my Grandsons in 20ga. Dollar for Dollar very good quality about half the cost of the 870 or 1187,the Remington's are great firearms.
I can always up grade them as they grow older.
However buy a firearm that fits and you can afford. Second spend quality time on safe gun handling and proper firearm respect. I trully appaulde you for continuing promoting our shooting sport.

[Lindsey]

I disagree with Slwego about the NEF/H&R singles. We have several and many kids and adults started shooting with them. I shoot my H&R singles in 12 and 20 ga quite a lot. I don't recall them kicking like mules with 7/8 to 1 1/4 ounce loads. I don't recall anybody else who has shot them with target or light hunting loads complaining about recoil either.
The trick is to make sure the gun is properly mounted and held. Any shotgun can kick hard if not tucked in properly. Yes, light loads and recoil pads help for shooting clays, as they would when shooting any shotgun.
I favor the singles for hunting guns because of the light weight. Most small game hunters spend a lot more time carrying a shotgun looking for game than they do shooting a shotgun at game. I've seen too many new or young hunters overly tired after a day afield carrying a 7 to 8 pound repeater. The 5 to 6 pound single is easier to carry for several hours walking in the field. The lighter gun just makes the day a little more fun.
That's my 2 cents.

[Pinefarm]

I second Worm Dunker. The 1100 Youth is perfect for all hunting. Get a slug barrel and an extra barrel in modified and the youth has an all purpose everything small game gun too. You can also use that setup on turkey, ducks and geese with the proper loads, out to 35 yards.
Here's an example, although on full choke...
http://www.gunsamerica.com/classifieds/none/_976841319.aspx

[GIBBY74]

I bought my 14 year old, a remington 870 20 ga last year and it is perfect. it's a gun he can used forever, even though it is a youth the smaller size makes it great for tight cover grouse hunts. even for dad:D

[kgibby91]

I went for the Charles Daley's semi's for my Grandsons in 20ga. Dollar for Dollar very good quality.

i deffently agree, charles daily. there nice, affordable,realable, and a very good youth gun. when the kid gets older have him step up to the 12g daily. i love my 12g charles daily!:)

[kgibby91]

oh crap i forgot to say :bowdown:gibby POWERl lol. nice name gibby

[Tooth517]

Dunham's has a Remington 20ga. pump on sale as of yesterday - Those are a very good youth gun and it will last him for years.
yes the Rem. 870 youth combo Rifled/Rem. choke is the best all around youth gun for the price!

[dtg]

Thanks for the help, his dad got him a Mossy 500 with cantilever slug barrel, a shot barrel and a Bushnell scope.