I'd say yes.
.410 can suck to learn on; the shot pattern is small, and it's easy to miss clays...meaning it won't be fun.
.410 can suck to learn on; the shot pattern is small, and it's easy to miss clays...meaning it won't be fun.
Young shooters
My kids like watching the high school shooting team. They are 8 and 10 now. We've done a lot of rifle shooting but the only shotgun I have is the full sized Remington 870 12 gauge. So they've never shot a shotgun.
The LGS has a Remington 870 Junior 20 Gauge. Looks and runs just like mine. Is this a good starter gun? Should I look for a 28 Gauge or even a 410 first? Would the smaller than 20g shot take out a clay at 16 yds? The thing I like about the 870 Junior is as the kids grow, there are longer stocks and barrels so they can keep shooting the same 20 for at least a few years. Thoughts?
The LGS has a Remington 870 Junior 20 Gauge. Looks and runs just like mine. Is this a good starter gun? Should I look for a 28 Gauge or even a 410 first? Would the smaller than 20g shot take out a clay at 16 yds? The thing I like about the 870 Junior is as the kids grow, there are longer stocks and barrels so they can keep shooting the same 20 for at least a few years. Thoughts?
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No personal experience, but for what it's worth a couple of the guys I shoot with have their kids with 20ga setups.. Ages 10/11. I like the thinking that you can always modify later to suit needs in the future.
Do you have a friend or a range that'll let you borrow/rent? That's really going to be the best way to figure out if they can handle it... Maybe even find some low-recoil loads to start with and work up to normal loads. (Don't know about 20ga, but Federal has those blue 12ga low-recoil shells... I'm assuming they have them for 20ga also)
Do you have a friend or a range that'll let you borrow/rent? That's really going to be the best way to figure out if they can handle it... Maybe even find some low-recoil loads to start with and work up to normal loads. (Don't know about 20ga, but Federal has those blue 12ga low-recoil shells... I'm assuming they have them for 20ga also)
The 20 ga is good but the kick is relative between the 12 and 20. A youth 12 would be a little more economical due to the ability to feed it all the same ammo.
At 8 and 10 years your looking at the maturity the are able to present with firearms. With a shotgun its more about there body mass and arm strength Ie how well they can handle the fatigue of shooting and remain safe .My kids like watching the high school shooting team. They are 8 and 10 now. We've done a lot of rifle shooting but the only shotgun I have is the full sized Remington 870 12 gauge. So they've never shot a shotgun.
The LGS has a Remington 870 Junior 20 Gauge. Looks and runs just like mine. Is this a good starter gun? Should I look for a 28 Gauge or even a 410 first? Would the smaller than 20g shot take out a clay at 16 yds? The thing I like about the 870 Junior is as the kids grow, there are longer stocks and barrels so they can keep shooting the same 20 for at least a few years. Thoughts?
410's are fun and will force them to aim tight to become proficient, but they are expensive shells. A youth 20 guage is ideal IMHO or even a single shot 20. I started all of mine on a single shot 20,they now shoot 20's and 12's.
As youve pointed out iits easy to switch furniture. YOu can buy standard lengths 20's and purchase youth furniture or vice versa....
Thanks for the advice. I'm thinking mainly the 10yo at this point since he's a big boy like me and can probably handle it. I found out they have a youth league which starts at 5th grade (which is next year).
No one rents guns around here, but I found out when the youth league practice is, so I might buy a box of shells and see if we can borrow a gun from one of the other families for a few shots.
Sent from my BlackBerry 9930 using Tapatalk
No one rents guns around here, but I found out when the youth league practice is, so I might buy a box of shells and see if we can borrow a gun from one of the other families for a few shots.
Sent from my BlackBerry 9930 using Tapatalk
Great plan, glad you found a youth league, best of luck! Let us know how he likes it.
I agree with this here. Start them off with a 20 Ga. recoil is very mild and managable (my brother started on one at age 8 and did fine) and will still give them the power they need to break targets consistently. I personally consider a .410 an expert's gun because there is so little shot in those small cartridges.I'd say yes.
.410 can suck to learn on; the shot pattern is small, and it's easy to miss clays...meaning it won't be fun.
Get a good 20 Ga and you'll be set for fun with your kids!
I just think it is cool that there is a high school shooting team. Around were I grew up every match would end with a SWAT team arriving because of reports of people with guns.
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