non-competition shotgun question

[obsessiveshooter]

Hi All,

I figured I'd take this question to the experts, event though this has nothing to do with 3-gun stuff.

I'm doing all I can to get my boys (12,13 yrs old) to find some form of shooting they really enjoy.  I'd like to get a shotgun for them so they can try breaking some clays.  My boys are thin and smaller framed like my wife, so recoil is going to be the biggest factor in whether they enjoy this or not.  

The conventional wisdom is to get a 20ga with a compact stock, correct?  But, I understand that low-recoil/low-noise shells like Winchester AA ammo brings the 12ga down a LOT in recoil.  If I bought a 12ga with a compact stock and 24" barrel, and just fed it that kind of ammo for them, would it be more or less recoil than a 20ga?  Anyone have some suggestions, especially someone with experience with the ammo I mentioned? 

I already have a 12ga pump with a 28" barrel.  I doubt my boys could swing it very well, even with a shortened LOP.  I like the idea of keeping all my shotguns the same gauge, after seeing in a hunter's safety class what happens when you drop a 20ga shell in a 12ga shotgun, then load a 12ga shell behind it and pull the trigger.  yikes.  But, that concern isn't a deal breaker.  

 

[RiggerJJ]

If you look at 20ga ammo, it's nearly the same as 12ga. 1oz @ 2 3/4 Dr and such. So recoil will be about the same as a 12ga, plus the ammo is waaaaaay more expensive.

I would look at over/unders and use some extra lite rounds (2.5 in 7/8 oz) on a skeet field first. Why skeet? The distance shot is much shorter than trap or sporting clays, so using the extra lite ammo won't be petering out on the longer shots.

 

jmho...

[LMS]

I have some experience in this area (shooting trap/skeet/clays and helping kids to learn).  

 

There are lots of reasons not to get the 20 ga.    The bigger thing to do to manage recoil is to make sure the gun fits them (LOP probably most important, but lots of other factors too).   You can get or load 1oz 12ga loads that won't be as soft as 20ga, but will be close.  Plus, as they grow they'll grow out of the 20ga and want the 12 anyway.  Finally, they'll bust more birds with 12ga given more pellets are out there.   Trap especially is a 12ga game.  If they have low recoil but aren't breaking birds, it's not gonna be much fun for them.

 

I would strongly suggest getting a used Beretta 391 (but other similar semi-autos wold work too, like an 1100).   Put an adjustable stock on it (adjustable in LOP and an adjustable comb).   Get a barrel meant for the game (trap barrel for trap, skeet or SC barrel for skeet and sporting clays), and make sure it has replaceable chokes.   You can get 28" barrels that they can swing easy and then graduate to 30 or even 32 as they grow and get better.   This might sound like a lot, but this will grow with them and they can shoot all the games, if you get two barrels.  Used guns and standalone barrels are out there all over the place.   Trapshooters.com has a healthy for sale section, and if you buy used correctly you'll get almost all of your money back if you decide to sell.   But, I went this route and have not sold mine - there's always someone who says "hey I'd like to try that" and we break out these guns.

 

I'll be happy to answer in more detail here or via PM.

 

Good luck - they'll love it.

[warpcorps]

I've been teaching Scouts how to shoot shotguns for years - Including at 2 jamborees. I've used both 12 and 20 Ga, Low recoil rounds are available for both. Winchester makes an AA ultra light - which is great for new shooters. As for Shotguns, The Semi-Auto guns work the best for both recoil and weight. The spring in the action helps absorb the recoil. The 1100's tend to be too heavy for most young shooters, Benelli makes a great SA in the Montefeltro - a little more expensive but worth it. It is also one of the easiest guns to clean. I've also found shoulder covering recoil pads can sometimes help boost the confidence of new shooters but may be hard to fit smaller frames. BA (Bob Allen) makes one and you used to be able to get them at Walmart for about $20. There used to be an "escort" shotgun available for a reasonable price in 20 GA that was perfect for new shooters of the smaller variety. I have not seen them in a while but if you can find one used its an excellent starter gun. 

[obsessiveshooter]

Thank you so much for all the info, gentlemen!

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[Rader1812]

Growing up doing scholastic trap shooting as a kid, only used a 12GA. Started off with a over/under, then a 1100, then a benelli super sport. The biggest issue I had as a kid was shotgun fitment. Some parents would get the shotgun stocks fitted for their kids and that helped however can be expensive. We practiced at least 100 rounds of shells twice a week with estates 2 3/4. Shooting Winchester AA felt so nice during competition. We ended up putting a cheek pad on my stock ( on the 1100) because I was shooting so much to a unfitted stock (and my form sucked, etc) that I kept busting my cheek open. The cheek pad solved that problem and magically fitted the stock to sight alignment better for me back then. I was 5' 8'' and 116 pounds back then.

[Davidp1911]

I'll just drop this here... 590A1