Opinions on what the best youth shotgun for a beginner bird hunter?

[STEELSLINGER78]

My son is seven years old and wants to start bird hunting with me and I would like some opinions on the best youth shotgun for the money and reliability. Can be single shot or auto.

[Steve RA]

I'd suggest a good single shot, properly fitted to him. Teaches that you only have one chance at a bird, tends to make a better shooter in the long run. Later, whatever he wants.

[STEELSLINGER78]

You have any suggestions on a brand of single shot?

[Zmego]

Youth Remington 870 20 ga. I learned on one. It is rugged, easy to use, and affordable.

[STEELSLINGER78]

Thanks for the input.

[kurtm]

I would say what ever gun you find that fits him correctly! Better chance of hitting the targets and it wont beat him up! Too many times we give them stuff that doesn't work for their size and then it sucks for both of you.

[GunCat]

Yep, a good fit (likely a short stock and a forearm the kid can reach without stretching the arm out too far) is very important. Plan on find another stock or gun in a year or so as those kids grow quickly (ask me how I know X 2).

A 20ga 870 youth model is going to be hard to beat. You can put in a longer plug in it so the magazine will hold 1 or 0 rounds if you choose. The guns (with minimal maintenance) are tough. We’ve used the standard size youth gun and one cut down even smaller (in LOP and barrel length) in our Hunter Ed courses for years and they never miss a beat.

Think twice about the little, relatively inexpensive, single shot guns. Most are light weight and will have fairly hefty recoil for a little kid (most 20 ga shells are standard or high velocity, you won’t find much “low” recoil ammo)

Edited October 1, 2013 by GunCat

[larry weeks]

Another vote for fitting anything to the kid. I'm short with no neck and my stocks look like a dog's hind leg, kicked over to the right by 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch. Only 12-3/4" pull and very little drop. First stock I had fitted by a shotgun specialist stopped the bruises and missed birds. Made me actually want to shoot a shotgun instead of dreading it. Been having them fitted or fitting them myself ever since.

Told the story before. Saw a girl struggling at the trap range with a long 20 ga. 1100, borrowed the fitted 12 ga. O/U of a pro skeet shooter. She hit 19 of 20 with no bruising. FIT the gun.

[MetropolisLake]

30 years ago I got a Winchester youth model 20 gauge pump. Still have it, looks like almost new even though it's been on countless squirrel hunting trips. So I've kind of got to mention it here.

[Larry White]

My son started at 9 with a 20 ga 870 express, cut to fit with a good pad. Over the years the stock was extended with spacers a time or two and finally replaced. When we first let him hunt he had to stay with me and I gave him one shell at a time for the first few hunts. Hes in his mid 30s now and by choice is still shooting that Rem express. I have to say that gun was money well spent. I hope the two of you have many good days together.------------Larry

[mpeltier]

As has been said fit is important. My first shotgun was a single shot and I hated it. It hurt. My second was a mossberg 500 and it to hurt but was a little more fun cause it held more than one. This was in Arizona and we spent a lot of time quail and dove hunting. The single shot sucked for that. Finally for Christmas I got my dream gun and it was THE ultimate youth shotgun and I believe still is. A Remington 1100 youth model in 20g. It made hunting fun again and that's what it is all about for kids getting started. Don't get em something that will discourage him. Of course safety is paramount and the single shot has the shortest learning curve. This may be a consideration as I do not know your child's current ability level.

[waxman]

My son who is almost 11, test fired alot of shotguns before we found the one he liked.Mossberg imports a semi auto youth model that fit him perfectly.Not only has he been shooting clays in our local quary, he also has shot sporting clays with it.On that note, my son also used it to harvest his first dear last year.I have nothing but praises for this rugged reliable soft shooting shotgun.My son tried several borowed pumps, the recoil quickly turned him away from them, the single shots are the same, if not worse.If the kid does not like it or it hurts him, it will quickly stear him away from shotgunning.A guy i work with failed to take this advice, he is now stuck with hard kicking cheap POS single shot that his son hates.

[mwx40x40]

As has been said fit is important. My first shotgun was a single shot and I hated it. It hurt. My second was a mossberg 500 and it to hurt but was a little more fun cause it held more than one. This was in Arizona and we spent a lot of time quail and dove hunting. The single shot sucked for that. Finally for Christmas I got my dream gun and it was THE ultimate youth shotgun and I believe still is. A Remington 1100 youth model in 20g. It made hunting fun again and that's what it is all about for kids getting started. Don't get em something that will discourage him. Of course safety is paramount and the single shot has the shortest learning curve. This may be a consideration as I do not know your child's current ability level.

+1 on 1100 youth. If you need something more economical check out the Tri Star 20 ga youth. They even have a model that comes with an additional adult stock for later. Pumps and Single

Shots can be rough on recoil.

[Toolguy]

Check out the CZ 20 ga. auto youth model. Very nice gun for around $450 (in this area).

[Mike41]

Remington 11-87 with the youth stock and shorter barrel. Only load 1 shell until you are confident with his safety then you can load more til the legal limit. With the youth stock you can lengthen as he grows. Also, this gun has little recoil for the little guy.

Mike

[314shane]

+1 for the 1100 youth for lots of reasons. 1. Stocks are available everywhere and don't cost a ton since he will get bigger its hard to add a lot of legenth to a stock so you will need more than one of them. 2. Soft recoil since its a gas operated. 3. If your comfortable with him having several shells in the gun he might be more successful and therefore more likely to continue hunting and shooting the gun. Most importantly get it to fit him properly it makes a huge difference and go practice.

[ranger]

Another vote for Rem 1100 Youth 20 gauge. But, I recently purchased a TRISTAR 20 gauge youth auto for an extremely cheap price and it is serving well.

[dogtired]

I won an Escort youth 20 ga semi auto a few years back. It has mostly been waiting for the kids but I did shoot a round or two of skeet with it and it proved to be reliable and I think I shot 22/25 with it. It is small with stock extensions, cheap and ugly.

[ambluemax]

Remington 870 youth 20 was my favorite when i was that age. Shot the Beretta (390?) didn't like it. I never really bought into the single shot school of thought. I'be always been a larger frame guy so I stepped up to a full size gun pretty quick. I've been shooting the same Browning Gold since I was 13 (that was over 10yrs ago)...until I got into 3 gun and became a benelli guy.

[mwx40x40]

Another vote for Rem 1100 Youth 20 gauge. But, I recently purchased a TRISTAR 20 gauge youth auto for an extremely cheap price and it is serving well.

My Gun Club uses Tri Star auto SG's for rental guns . They get very little attention in regards to cleaning ,lubing and such and have given very good service.

[Aleric]

The CZ 712 als is a near clone of the tri stars. The ALS is collapsible stock with an adjustable cheek piece. My kids enjoy it and dad gets a new toy to play with.