Scooter 45ACP
Well-Known Member
Browning new A5 in 20 ga. is very nice shotgun and light weight about 5 lb. would certainly fill the bill for anything and everything the youngster may be hunting
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Best 20 gauge Semi-Auto for son
- Thread starter David F
- Start date
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Rick Richard
Well-Known Member
Keep in mind too a turkey load for a 20 gauge on a light gun can have considerable recoil especially for a small person.
PrecisionRx
Well-Known Member
For a youth of that age, I would try for something that has less recoil. Gas operated guns will have a bit less recoil than inertia guns. Single shots and double barrels will have more recoil, but might be better balanced, so it is a trade off. You might consider an over and under, if you can find one priced within your range.
Backcountry sports
Well-Known Member
Beretta or benelli last him for his lifetime
Murph1951
Active Member
Browning A-5 Lt 20.....best shotgun ever made. My second choice is a Remington 1100 (notice I said 1100) LT 20 . Shop gun shows get a steel not Aluminum receiver.
I'd go with a Winchester 20 gauge SXP pump youth model. Just my 2 cents but I think 7 is too young to be traversing woods and fields with a semi-auto!
Bobby Bobcat1
Member
Weatherby SA-08 is pretty soft shooting and light weight. I like mine and so does my recoil fear wife. 
Thanks all for your replies so far! He currently shoots a .410 with turkey loads. It kicks pretty good and we do a lot of practice shooting at turkey targets from 15-25 yards. He shoots his moms 20 gauge pump also. Im a firm believer in buy once, cry once. The way I look at it, is that he's gonna have it for the rest of his life.
I agree with you. Both my brother and I brought up on SS .410. You really have to focus to get consistent kills which is what wing shooting is all about. Then moved to a SS 20 gauge which was very light and kicked like a mule. Would stick with the .410 as suggested and then move to a SS 28 gauge which will not kick so much and risk developing a flinch. When ready for a 12 gauge would highly recommend an inexpensive O/U first for same reason of developing focus and consistency. You could also move to a O/U 28 gauge and only allow one shot at a time for a season or two. If you cannot get them with two shots then another one will not help. See way too many people blasting away with autos and when you hear three shots you can bet it is three misses. The only reason for an auto is if you are a very good shot and want a triple from a duck blind or are doing high volume shooting in South America. Youths with an auto is a good way to develop some very bad habits that are difficult to break.
Mossberg SA20 or Weatherby SA-08 or Tristar Viper 20. Almost all the same gun. All made in Turkey under Beretta licensing. All light with soft recoil. Add a ported choke from KICKS or Pattermaster and lessen the recoil even more. Just be sure to have the trigger pull lightened as they come with about a 7# pull. Needs to be close to 3.5#.
VTbluegrass
Well-Known Member
M2 and the Winchester would be my choice. M2 will be lighter but the recoil will be more. If he can handle the gas gun weight it may be more fun to shoot.
Northerner
Member
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2010
- Messages
- 24
I got my son the Weatherby SA-08. He was a small 10 year old when we got it. It has been very reliable shooting many rounds of sporting clays. Soft shooting and light enough to hold up. At that age I would definitely go with a gas gun. Just because a kid can shoot a heavier recoiling gun does not mean it won't cause bad habits down the road. The Benelli and Franchi recoil operated guns are very nice guns, but they do kick substantially more than the Beretta or Weatherby. While it is great for you to plan on your son having this gun forever, he will outgrow a youth gun at some point. Hopefully he will keep it and have it for his kids, but this next 20 ga probably won't be a lifetime gun unless you get a full size gun and then add a youth stock to be changed back later. Get him a gun that fits, don't skip the youth fit. I like the shorter barrel on the youth gun as well for balance and the ability of a smaller person to hold the gun up properly.
