Youth shotguns

[Philt]

I have been looking for youth shotguns for my 2 boys. I was thinking 20 gauge Remington 1100 or 1187 but ran across this Wetherby sa08 but don't know anything about it. The boys are 7 & 4 neither of them are ready to hunt yet but guns aren't getting any cheaper.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Phil
 

[Janicholson]

Side by side Ranger 410 or Ithica if you can find one. Easy on the shoulder, does squirrels and rabbits correctly and makes a really good bird hunter due to the skill needed to down them with a small bore. Jim
 

[pete black]

I bought 410's for first gun. Simple, easy and relatively
inexspensive to shoot. Later on advanced up to 20 ga. pump.
After that, men of their own, purchase what they want. 410"s
are valued guns for snake and varmit control now.
 

[donjr]

Might want to take a look at a Savage Mdl 49 over and under, .410 & .22. It'll let them learn to shoot fairly cheaply because a .22 is cheap to shoot. The 410 gives them a nice little rabbit and squirrel gun. I believe it's also available in a 20 gauge and a few other caliber rifles. But they're not expensive and a well made gun for a first gun.
 

[Royse]

Can't help with that gun Phil, but I do have 1100's and an 1187.
No problems with either. Trouble free except replacing the O-ring.
For a youngster though, a semi-auto may make them trigger happy
instead of taking the time to aim and shoot correctly.
Ionia County MI here.
 

[NCWayne]

Just got one of the Rossi youth, matched pair models for our 9 year old daughter. She got it as sort of an early, combined, Christmas and 10th birthday present ((((birthday not until the end of Dec)))They have several different combinations, and adult sized models as well as youth sized models. The one we got her has a .22 LR barrel and a 410 shotgun barrel. I didn't realize it until I got the gun and noticed it, but the gun says both Rossi, and Taurus on it, both well known name brands.

Based on appearance and shooting it it's a well made gun. With the interchangable barrels it makes it very versitile. The good thing is that changing them out is as simple as unscrewing the sling swivel in the foregrip and breaking the gun open just like any other break action single shot. This is something so simple that a young shooter will have no problem doing themselves once familiar with the gun.

Out of the box her .22 still needs a bit of tweeking on the sights to get them dead on, but the 410 holds a pretty decent pattern out to at least 30 yards which is as far as I've tried it. The shotgun still has a bit too much kick for her to shoot, but she loves the .22. Both barrels offer auto ejection of the spent cartridge which is nice. They also have both the regular, in use safety as well as a special parental safety that locks the hammer with a sepcial key that comes with the gun.

Price wise I found them all over the board, but Wal Mart beat everyone else I tried on price by nearly $100 selling it for $169, plus tax.

The 4 year old will, more than likely, be a bit small for this gun, but there are other .22's on the market that are smaller in size that would probably work. That said, if it were me, at that age I'd be more inclined to get him one of the very real looking airsoft guns to begin teaching him basic gun safety before putting a real one in his hands.

Good luck and I hope your sons both enjoy their new gun, whatever you decide to get them, as much as our daughter enjoys hers.
Rossi

 

[oldtanker]

Bang for the buck you just can't beat the Rem 870. I just got one for my wife, youth (she's 5'3") 20ga. Not too expensive.

I love 410s but my dad almost ruined me for hunting because of them. A 10 year old, not allowed to practice, and yelled at for every missed shot. Squirles and rabbits were no problem but quail, pheasant and grouse were just beyond what I could do. I was about to tell my dad I wasn't interested in hunting anymore when he gave me a pump 20. Next weekend I bagged my firt bird on the wing.

Rick
 

[d beatty]

I would start them off with .410 and work them up to the 20 and 12 gauge. If start them on a gun with to much kick they may end up not wanting to shoot at all.
 

[Nathan (SD)]

I stared with a 1100 20ga at age 8. It was a good fit. Went to a 870 12ga at 12. Still my main gun. I think a 410 is more for expierenced shooters, not beginners.
 

[C.R.]

how about a H.&R. single shot in 20 gauge? an autoloader might get the kids into the spray and pray mode of shooting
 

[sd pete]

If it was me buying the shotgun i would buy the 20
gauge. The 20 is a better bird gun imho.
 

[doubleN]

20 ga.
Remington pump or semi.
Mossberg pump.
 

[Mashbox]

Bought a Remington 20 guage youth 870 years ago fore my son and daughter. I love the gun, but it kicks HARDER than my 12 guage 870. Also got a Stoeger .410 youth and I don't think you will find a better gun for the money. single shot, vent rib barrel, at the time just over $100 (7 years ago).
 

[ss55]

Start kids with a single shot gun, it will teach them to aim well and to make the first shot count.

Consider replacing the recoil pad on an older shot gun. Old recoil pads get hard and ineffective.

I hope you will be always be there supervising your kids with a shotgun. Seven year-olds still enjoy shooting at each other with toy guns and they will shoot at each other with an "unloaded" shotgun too. Do they really comprehend that a gun is not a toy yet?

Why not start with a weak BB gun when they are mature enough to be responsible and safe with guns? You will loose enough windows, have vehicle damage, holes in the house siding and have other property damage with young kids and just a BB gun.
 

[Fergienewbee]

Royse;

Where do you live in Ionia County? I was around Lowell a couple of days ago. I like to fish Sessions Lake--not jetskis or big outboards tearing around.

Larry