Best shotgun for small 10 year old boy?

DC4OU · Sep 16, 2013

My boy turned 10 years old 2 weeks ago. He has a smaller frame (approx. 60-65 lbs). He just got in the OKCGC 4H shooting sports. He is required to shoot a 20 gauge. He is currently shooting a very small 410 pump because his first 20 gauge pump (a year ago) kicked him so hard it bloodied his teeth a few times. I am trying to find a 20 gauge semi auto for him. He shot a Montefeltro today that was a little big for him. I do not know if it was a youth gun or not. I thought a semi would be better than a O/U due to the reduced recoil. Does anyone have an suggestions? Is the recoil better on a semi than on an O/U?

poopgiggle · Sep 16, 2013

When I was 10 I shot a Remington 1100 LT20 with an absurdly short barrel and stock. The thing was so front-heavy that to this day when I mount a shotgun I look like I'm doing a power clean. I feel like a pump might be a better choice for that reason alone.

The reason I would stay away from an O/U is that a decent O/U is pricey, and your kid will probably outgrow it before too long. Don't get a cheap O/U either.

TacticalK9 said:
I could have sworn Jesse was trying to sell a 20ga Benelli a while back.

When I was 10 years old, I was shooting a 12ga 870 for skeet and 5stand with my dad

"Back in my day all I had was my granddad's 10 gauge goose gun. Goddamn thing doubled every 100 rounds or so. The broken clavicles built character."

jtischauser · Sep 16, 2013

20 gauge kicks slightly less then a 12. Semi kicks slightly less than an O/U

The big problem with young boys is the sticks r too long. Then it's not cheap to get a stock shortened.

Have you Tried ome Winchester AA Win Lite low recoil low noise shells.

What's your budget?

Why r they required to shoot a 20 gauge?

dennishoddy · Sep 16, 2013

The 1100 LT 20 ga would be a good choice, with the 7/8 oz dove loads. I'd have to do some looking around, but I believe you can buy a synthetic youth stock to get the LOP your needing.

poopgiggle · Sep 16, 2013

Yeah I lucked out because my dad bought my LT20 Youth Model off a guy who had it set up for his wife who was very petite, so he didn't have to mess with LOP at all. I'm not sure if it was that short out of the box or not.

JustSayWhen · Sep 16, 2013

In our shop (Stillwater Armory) we have two semi-auto 20 gauge youth models you should have him shoulder. One is a CZ and the other is a Weatherby (I believe). If you have time and can make it to Stillwater during our business hours I would tell you to bring him and have him hold and shoulder the shotguns that is the best way to find out what works best for him. also just like Jesse said find some low recoil shells.

Matt1911 · Sep 16, 2013

My daughter 5'0" 80lb shot Kirks CZ720 pretty well back when he had it.

Jeff T. · Sep 16, 2013

Matt Rigsby said:
My daughter 5'0" 80lb shot Kirks CZ720 pretty well back when he had it.

I have this CZ720 now, it has a very light recoil. I am only 5'6" tall and it fits me pretty well, It is a short LOP, I'm not sure if it has a youth stock or not. You should look at one of these for him.
Like JustSayWhen said, you need to let him shoulder one and see how it feels.

Matt1911 · Sep 16, 2013

I think it does have the youth stock on it Jeff. Its a soft shootin gun for sure though.

DC4OU · Sep 16, 2013

Jesse Tischauser said:
20 gauge kicks slightly less then a 12. Semi kicks slightly less than an O/U

The big problem with young boys is the sticks r too long. Then it's not cheap to get a stock shortened.

Have you Tried ome Winchester AA Win Lite low recoil low noise shells.

What's your budget?

Why r they required to shoot a 20 gauge?

This is an unplanned expense so I am not sure what I should spend. I want to get him the best gun at the best price (don't we all). Since weight, recoil and length are all a big issue, I am afraid I may have to spend way too much. I have a fund that I have been saving to get me a M2 for 3 gun...I may have to give it to him. Bummer!! The Weaver is about a half pound heavier than the Benelli Montefeltro but it is half the price. I think the LOP is the same. I would love to stay at $500 but I am willing to pay more if it is perfect for him. I don't want to pay a lot and it still not work well for him. It would be nice if I could find one that someone has already cut down that their kid has outgrown. I can't be the only one that is trying to get their kid to shoot a gun that is too big for him. ha

The Remington 1100 is the about the right size but too heavy. He held it up yesterday and it was too heavy. It is a pound heavier than the Montefeltro. It looks like the CZ weighs over 1.5 pounds more than the Montefeltro and has a 1/2" longer LOP. If it was not so heavy, I would just have the stock shortened. Right price!! What other brands are there? Frenchi looked like it might have a youth gun that works. I really want him to shoulder one and there are not a lot of places around that carry many youth guns.

JustSayWhen...If you will let me know what you have in stock, we will come visit you.

They said he had to shoot a 12 or 20 gauge to stay consistent. They do not want a kid to double load a 28 guage in a 20. I think the cost of ammo might have something to do with it too.

striped1 · Sep 16, 2013

For my at the time, very slight 9 year old niece, I took a remington 870 youth 20 with smooth and rifled slug barrels and had the stock cut another inch, installed a limbsaver recoil pad and a Hi Viz fiber optic sight. It works great. It balances well and is the right size and is quite comfortable to shoot.
I wouldn't start with a 12 as even with the reduced loads, it will likely instill a flinch.

This gun was perfect for all her hunting and trap shooting.

She is 15 now and doesn't use it. If you are interested, I could be talked into parting with it.

She would show up at the local trap ranges and the old farts wouldn't be real high about her shooting until she would drop a 23 or 24 on them and then I couldn't show up without her.

Scott Hearn · Sep 16, 2013

striped1 said:
For my at the time, very slight 9 year old niece, I took a remington 870 youth 20 with smooth and rifled slug barrels and had the stock cut another inch, installed a limbsaver recoil pad and a Hi Viz fiber optic sight. It works great. It balances well and is the right size and is quite comfortable to shoot.
I wouldn't start with a 12 as even with the reduced loads, it will likely instill a flinch.

This gun was perfect for all her hunting and trap shooting.

She is 15 now and doesn't use it. If you are interested, I could be talked into parting with it.

She would show up at the local trap ranges and the old farts wouldn't be real high about her shooting until she would drop a 23 or 24 on them and then I couldn't show up without her.

I was going to recommend a 20 gauge 870 too with the lightest and slowest shot charge you can find. I'd jump on this deal.

JustSayWhen · Sep 17, 2013

DC4OU (Dale) said:
This is an unplanned expense so I am not sure what I should spend. I want to get him the best gun at the best price (don't we all). Since weight, recoil and length are all a big issue, I am afraid I may have to spend way too much. I have a fund that I have been saving to get me a M2 for 3 gun...I may have to give it to him. Bummer!! The Weaver is about a half pound heavier than the Benelli Montefeltro but it is half the price. I think the LOP is the same. I would love to stay at $500 but I am willing to pay more if it is perfect for him. I don't want to pay a lot and it still not work well for him. It would be nice if I could find one that someone has already cut down that their kid has outgrown. I can't be the only one that is trying to get their kid to shoot a gun that is too big for him. ha

The Remington 1100 is the about the right size but too heavy. He held it up yesterday and it was too heavy. It is a pound heavier than the Montefeltro. It looks like the CZ weighs over 1.5 pounds more than the Montefeltro and has a 1/2" longer LOP. If it was not so heavy, I would just have the stock shortened. Right price!! What other brands are there? Frenchi looked like it might have a youth gun that works. I really want him to shoulder one and there are not a lot of places around that carry many youth guns.

JustSayWhen...If you will let me know what you have in stock, we will come visit you.

They said he had to shoot a 12 or 20 gauge to stay consistent. They do not want a kid to double load a 28 guage in a 20. I think the cost of ammo might have something to do with it too.

We have a weatherby sa08 youth 20 gauge for 535.19 here at Stillwater armory that I would highly recommend. And a cz 720 20 gauge for 479.99

irons_shooter · Oct 1, 2013

DC4OU,
Did you end up with something yet? The kids at the club shoot the Weatherby's in 20 quite a bit. They seem incredibly reliable and manageable for all frame shooters. The club gets the shells at an incredible discount from Remington (Gun Clubs) but can only get them in 20ga. I believe they are shooting Estate (federal) in 12, although in skeet you are not losing anything by shooting 20. Most serious skeet shooters never shoot without tubes in their guns, even for doubles. If he can handle the Weatherby, it's a great starter gun for the price.
Mike