Youth shotgun?

[WildWill]

Looking for some ideas and recommendations for a shotgun for my son. It will technically be his second shotgun as his first is a old Steven's single shot 410 that was also my first shotgun given to me by my grandpa for Christmaswhen i was 5. I plan on taking him turkey hunting this spring and thought about using some tss in the old 410. but don't really wanna drag it around the woods as I'd like to keep it in good shape might have a grandson who will need it one day.



I'm torn between a couple ideas.

1st: Get him one of the newer synthetic stocked 410. use tss and maybe put some small optic on it.
Pros: A lighter gun will be easier for him to carry around for extended periods, I've been wanting to play around with tss and a 410. for turkey hunting myself.
Cons: The shotgun would really be a one trick pony and would still end up having to get something for wingshooting eventually.



2nd: Get him a youth model 20 gauge pump.
Pros: Very versatile and will cover a variety of hunting scenarios.
Cons: The saying "jack of all trades master of none" comes to mind with this shotgun.



I've also considered a O/U youth model in 410 or 20 gauge (doubt I could find a youth 16 or 28 gauge). I'm a bit partial to the idea of a youth pump 20 gauge. My second shotgun was a youth model 870 20 gauge and I loved it. So what do you guys think? FYI he's 9 and pretty big for his age.

 

[Nick87]

I'll just send you a pm lol.

 

[VikingsGuy]

If it was me, I would let him use it. It will mean much more to him and any grandchild if it had real memories than if it just becomes a safe queen. Scratches are part of the story.

 

[Birdbander]

Get him one of the true made for turkey 410s. When he's ready for wingshooting, get him a good for that purpose shotgun.
I see this in the Pro column, not Con. You've started your son his own gun collection AND provided him with his firsts that he can pass to his children someday with the story of how Grandpa started him out.

 

[Arcola]

How big? Specifically LOP. I’m in the midst of this myself and have squandered money on short term solutions. They outgrow 410’s quickly if you want to wing shoot. 20ga is the answer.

 

[Jbotto]

I'll just send you a pm lol.

Don’t hide good info in PM’s! Some of us need your wisdom!

 

[Jbotto]

My boy is coming up to 3 years old. I’ve already been thinking about this. My thoughts are to buy a youth 20ga 870 express as a family starter gun. I’ll find a few different stocks/barrels/chokes to make as much use out of it as I can. Then at 16 or 18 or some older age I’ll buy both kids their own 870 20ga Wingmaster.

 

[marksjeep]

Started my kids out with 870 youth 20 gauge. It's fine, comes with spacers to extend lop as they grow but barrel is a little short. Son is 3" taller than me now so he has little use for a youth model anything. That shotgun is on the project list to get a Boyds stock and a 26" barrel. With the recent Remington turnover, barrels and other 20 gauge 870 accessories can be hard to come by and expensive. But it will make a decent upland gun and make for a fun little project. Youth O/U are all cheap Turkish imports. For limited field use, they are fine. We tried using one for 4H and SCTP and did nothing but break firing pins. They will not take high round count and the parts can be a pita to find. O/U are a buy once cry once kind of gun, IMO.

20 gauge recoil in a small gun can be stout for a kid. Make sure it fits properly.

 

[Nick87]

Don’t hide good info in PM’s! Some of us need your wisdom!

Franchi affinity youth. I know it's semi auto but it's the shortest LOP out there for a 20 gauge, unless something has changed. Biggest issue is fit. We tried em all that one balanced and was produced the best form.

 

[Salmonchaser]

If you’d like a gun passed on to your grandchildren, keep it in your safe as long as possible. I’ll admit to being pretty long in the tooth before I developed any respect for a 28 gauge, that has changed. Recoil is negligible, pattern density is outstanding, particularly when compared to a 410. With a 28 he can lean to enjoy shotgunning and not get beat up.

 

[wvhunter304]

Steven's 301 from a blind. The blind and rest is more important than the gun.

Just use the bead. He needs to know how to use a bead anyway.

Use decors, get the birds to 20 yards and enjoy success.

 

[Arcola]

Franchi affinity youth. I know it's semi auto but it's the shortest LOP out there for a 20 gauge, unless something has changed. Biggest issue is fit. We tried em all that one balanced and was produced the best form.

Pretty sure the Mossberg Mini is as short as they get in factory form. Something like 10" LOP. I finally gave up on finding the perfect fit and bought a few buttstocks that I could modify for the guns we have. My oldest is finally over 11" LOP so we're getting closer to factory youth model lengths.

 

[Nick87]

Pretty sure the Mossberg Mini is as short as they get in factory form. Something like 10" LOP.

Iirc correct. The mini was only available in .410. Might be wrong this was like 5 or 6 years ago. You couldn't give me a mossberg of any kind, but that's a different topic.

 

[mdhunter]

I bought my kids a youth Beretta to share growing up. Its a 20 gauge with multiple chokes and shims. Worked flawlessly for years.

 

[Arcola]

You couldn't give me a mossberg of any kind, but that's a different topic.

Same

 

[LuketheDog]

Looking for some ideas and recommendations for a shotgun for my son. It will technically be his second shotgun as his first is a old Steven's single shot 410 that was also my first shotgun given to me by my grandpa for Christmaswhen i was 5. I plan on taking him turkey hunting this spring and thought about using some tss in the old 410. but don't really wanna drag it around the woods as I'd like to keep it in good shape might have a grandson who will need it one day.

Take the Stevens. It's not some expensive collectors item, it's an old shotgun with some sentimental value, it's just a "thing" that is meant to be used. I think the sentimental value would grow if your son gets to tell his son that it had been gifted by his great-great-grandfather and used by everybody down the line since then, not just locked up in the safe. My eldest daughter learned to shoot with a cheap Remington .22 my mom and uncle had on their ranch as a kid, and then I used as a kid, and I also taught my cousin's kids to use, everyone got a bunch of enjoyment out if it! The firing pin finally broke and the rifle probably worth less than the cost to fix it, but it was a bunch of fun while it lasted.

But, if you just want to buy a new gun, go nuts, that's fun too...