Youth shotgun?

[Bill Zent]

My sons started with a single shot 20 gauge Winchester 37-A with the rare Improved Modified choke. I think it was also called a Youth Gun. With a single shot they had to make every shot count and it made them better shots. It has taken many birds!
If you can find one of them you can't go wrong. I may even part with mine.

 

[WNC2500]

My thoughts are the 20 gauge. Although I am much older now, I remember when I learned how to shoot and it was with a Harrington & Richardson 410 single shot. Learned how to hunt squirrels and doves with that gun. But, it also taught me sight picture, and proper gun safety.
Now that I am the one paying for guns, I have had my eye on a Browning Citori 410 O/U, and even had one in my cart a couple times. I do not have a son, but praying for a grandson one of these days. Having three daughters, I ain't rushing it.

 

[jabber]

I bought a youth model 870 in 20 gauge for my son. It was/is a nice gun but definitely had a bit of a kick to it.

 

[WildWill]

Alright if I'm doing this correctly his LOP is almost exactly 12in.



After reading some of the comments I think we will take the old Steven's turkey hunting this season. He killed his first squirrel, rabbit, and dove with it the added memory of his first turkey will only make the gun that much more special. That way I'm also not feeling rushed to get him a gun before April and gives us more time to research and hopefully hold a few and find what fits him best. I'd like to have something by September for dove.



I'm torn about getting a semi auto. Everytime I consider it the ghost of my father shows up to lecture me. He firmly believed a semi auto should be earned I can still here him chastising me in the duck blind "might as well have thrown that 3rd shell in the trash". That's given me some preconceived notions that a pump should come first. But honestly I'm just gonna let him pick what fits him best if that's a semi auto well I guess I'll just have to pay for a few extra shells.

 

[Nick87]

But honestly I'm just gonna let him pick what fits him best if that's a semi auto well I guess I'll just have to pay for a few extra shells.

Fit is important, when my step son first started I only let him load one shell. Just because it holds 3 doesn't mean you have to load 3. My old man did the same thing with my first 870, which served me well. Regardless you'll make it work.

 

[Arcola]

At 12” LOP, you have your choice of any youth gun, so pick the one that fits and balances. Wouldn’t hurt to look for one that you could buy a full length stock for, as he grows. @Nick87 is spot on with shell distribution. No matter how many it’ll hold, he can only shoot as many as you give him.

On a side note, I started my boy with a .410 with a red dot for turkey. The .410 is great for that, but the red dot is unnecessary. When he moved to a 20, we patterned it with the bead. Let him do the whole thing and come to his own conclusion of how things worked with aim and point of impact. It worked out well.

Now he shoots an older cz 720 (with a dad modded stock) for everything. Averages 18 in his trap league, wing shoots well, and has a couple turkeys “old school” aiming with the bead.

Long story short, pick something you like and think will work and let him practice with it. Lots of fun.

 

[Jbotto]

At 12” LOP, you have your choice of any youth gun, so pick the one that fits and balances. Wouldn’t hurt to look for one that you could buy a full length stock for, as he grows. @Nick87 is spot on with shell distribution. No matter how many it’ll hold, he can only shoot as many as you give him.

On a side note, I started my boy with a .410 with a red dot for turkey. The .410 is great for that, but the red dot is unnecessary. When he moved to a 20, we patterned it with the bead. Let him do the whole thing and come to his own conclusion of how things worked with aim and point of impact. It worked out well.

Now he shoots an older cz 720 (with a dad modded stock) for everything. Averages 18 in his trap league, wing shoots well, and has a couple turkeys “old school” aiming with the bead.

Long story short, pick something you like and think will work and let him practice with it. Lots of fun.

I’m glad to hear you have a cz720 that shoots. Kinda forgot about that one. I must have got a lemon. This is a great reminder to send it back to see if they can fix it.

 

[Arcola]

I’m glad to hear you have a cz720 that shoots. Kinda forgot about that one. I must have got a lemon. This is a great reminder to send it back to see if they can fix it.

It’s been pretty great, especially for the used price I paid. It clearly was not babied prior to my possession, but it flat out works.

 

[LuketheDog]

Do you happen to know the model of the broken .22? I might have a parts gun for it if it’s a 514.

It is a 514!

 

[Steelsearchin]

I grew up shooting a side by side 20, and was always a big kid. It was an skb 200 with a shorter than normal stock. Dad liked that he could see if the action was open when i was crossing a fence or small creek.

My little guy is almost 15 and is finally hitting his growth spurt. Years ago I bought a youth model weatherby sa-08 on the recommendation of a buddy. I'd read about guys upgrading the bolt handle to the tactical version as it was bigger and easier to manage. I never upgraded his but didn't really factor this in as a serious concern. Even at 13 or 14 he struggled a bit racking the bolt back. Sitting in a turkey blind or a dove field next to him it wasn't a big deal to help him load, but when bird hunting or shooting sporting clays it wasn't ideal.

Light loads don't cycle well in that gun, especially when shouldered by a skinny kid. I picked up an older skb o/u 20 this summer and he likes shooting that much better than the auto. Easy open, easy load, cycles light loads, and still knocks down doves and breaks clays. The gun has a few scratches already so a few more ain't gonna hurt it.

Good luck with whatever road you choose!!

 

[CowboyLeroy]

My first was a Mossberg 500 20 ga. As a youth it was easy enough for me to handle, but as an adult I've grown to appreciate the versatility of the 20.

 

[Steelsearchin]

...as an adult I've grown to appreciate the versatility of the 20.

Heck yeah. I bought a 28 gauge o/u for my daughter shortly after she was born 17 years ago. Grouse started falling, she got bigger, doesn't like shooting, and I decided my kids can buy their own guns if they want them! 28s are fun too, but you almost have to reload if you do much shooting.

 

[CowboyLeroy]

Heck yeah. I bought a 28 gauge o/u for my daughter shortly after she was born 17 years ago. Grouse started falling, she got bigger, doesn't like shooting, and I decided my kids can buy their own guns if they want them! 28s are fun too, but you almost have to reload if you do much shooting.

There's a cz bobwhite in 28 on auction locally and it is TESTING my resolve

 

[elevatorman]

Get him a youth 870 in 20 gauge. Perfect for what he needs and in 20 years he can still find use for it as his wife's shotgun or for his own kids

 

[Horseman]

I think the .20ga is the way to go

 

[Horseman]

There's a cz bobwhite in 28 on auction locally and it is TESTING my resolve

28ga is a sweet shell. I have a rem 11-48 in a 28ga that I can’t miss with. For some reason it knocks down birds way farther than you would think it should

 

[Horseman]

Alright if I'm doing this correctly his LOP is almost exactly 12in.



After reading some of the comments I think we will take the old Steven's turkey hunting this season. He killed his first squirrel, rabbit, and dove with it the added memory of his first turkey will only make the gun that much more special. That way I'm also not feeling rushed to get him a gun before April and gives us more time to research and hopefully hold a few and find what fits him best. I'd like to have something by September for dove.



I'm torn about getting a semi auto. Everytime I consider it the ghost of my father shows up to lecture me. He firmly believed a semi auto should be earned I can still here him chastising me in the duck blind "might as well have thrown that 3rd shell in the trash". That's given me some preconceived notions that a pump should come first. But honestly I'm just gonna let him pick what fits him best if that's a semi auto well I guess I'll just have to pay for a few extra shells.

I started with a single shot 410 at age 7 then move up to a o/u ruger 20ga when I was 9. Hunted everything up to and including geese with that .20 until I bought my own 870 12ga at 15yo. Moved up to a semi auto 12ga at 17,18yo. I totally agree that the third shot is almost always waisted by an inexperienced bird hunter.

 

[howl]

Don't put TSS in an heirloom. If a pellet gets loose from the wad it will score the bore.

 

[WC53]

There's a cz bobwhite in 28 on auction locally and it is TESTING my resolve

That has become my senior gun! It can shoot as far as I can see.