Best 20 gauge Semi-Auto for son

[Swiftkill]

Hi David,

Just get a 12 gage. 20's are so light they actually kick more. I have a Beretta AL391, a Hatsan Escort 12, I had an Escort 20 and my son grew out of it in a year. Took me 4 or 5 years to sell it, dirt cheap.
I have a Mossberg JM930 for competition and a Stoeger M3K. The Mossberg shoots MUCH softer than the Stoeger which is basically a Benelli; NO comparison. The 930 has been a great Gun, so has the Escort. The Stoeger is weird; the wrist is weird and the trigger pull is weird. My stock does not have an adjustable LOP and it is too long for me and I am 5-8. I Know the Remington Versa Max is awesome, but expensive, my friend has it. I am looking for a new JM 940. If you can get the new gas system, get it, it can gpo I wouldn't hesitate to get the 930 though. I say Forget the 20 ga. You can shoot light 12 ga loads. If you can rent guns at a range or if a friend has one then compare them side by side. You can get 18-24" BBLs for the 12 ga to help lighten it. My opinions FWIW.

Hi David, I say Just get a 12 gage. 20's are so light they actually kick more. I have a Beretta AL391, a Hatsan Escort 12, I had an Escort 20 and my son grew out of it in a year. I have a Mossberg JM930 for competition and a Stoeger M3K. The Mossberg shoots MUCH softer than the Stoeger; the Stoeger is basically a Benelli; NO comparison. The 930 has been a great Gun, so has the Escort. The Stoeger is weird; the wrist is weird and the trigger pull is a weird angle. My Stoeger stock does not have an adjustable LOP and it is too long for me and I am 5-8. I tried the Youth stock and it was too short, and the distance from wrist to trigger was the same as an adult stock which is strange. I wanted the Stoeger to work due to the gasless system, but it kicks harder, much harder. I Know the Remington Versa Max is awesome, but expensive, my friend has it. I am personally looking for a new JM 940. If you can get the new gas system in a 940 , get it. I wouldn't hesitate to get the 930 though. I say Forget the 20 ga. You can shoot light 12 ga loads. Get a synthetic stock with adjustable LOP. I have not looked at Mossberg for that, but you can. If you can rent guns at a range or if a friend has one then compare them side by side. You can get 18-24" BBLs for the 12 ga to help lighten it. My opinions FWIW.

Sorry, part got cut off..
Regarding the 940, it can go much longer without cleaning the gas system. ....

 

[Window]

Looking for experiences and suggestions for a 20 gauge semi auto shotgun for my sons 7th birthday. He currently shoots a single shot .410 and wants a 20 gauge. I don't know much about semi autos. I've had a 12 gauge pump my whole life. He wants to hunt upland, turkeys, pheasants and waterfowl so looking for a versatile gun he can grow into. Reliability is very important and the cost not so much! Thanks for the suggestions!

Beretta A300 all the way. Soft shooting and will last forever.

 

[Allen Kitts]

Benelli M2 as well. I have seven shotguns and the 20 ga M2 is by far my favorite. Very reliable, light and cycles everything.

 

[aOWENc]

Beretta A300 or a used AL391 Urika youth. I still shoot my al391 youth model and it's never had a hiccup, and it was in terrible shape when I got it. Light as a feather.

 

[BurlyCamo]

Looking for experiences and suggestions for a 20 gauge semi auto shotgun for my sons 7th birthday. He currently shoots a single shot .410 and wants a 20 gauge. I don't know much about semi autos. I've had a 12 gauge pump my whole life. He wants to hunt upland, turkeys, pheasants and waterfowl so looking for a versatile gun he can grow into. Reliability is very important and the cost not so much! Thanks for the suggestions!

CZ makes a nice one

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

Benelli M-1 Field 20 gauge 3".
I shoot everything from doves to Geese & Turkey with the right chokes and shot. Very light to carry easy recoil.

 

[GUNNNN]

Looking for experiences and suggestions for a 20 gauge semi auto shotgun for my sons 7th birthday. He currently shoots a single shot .410 and wants a 20 gauge. I don't know much about semi autos. I've had a 12 gauge pump my whole life. He wants to hunt upland, turkeys, pheasants and waterfowl so looking for a versatile gun he can grow into. Reliability is very important and the cost not so much! Thanks for the suggestions!

I bought an 11/87 Remington for my grandkids in the adult version and then bought the youth stock so as they grow the gun can grow with them plus it has a 3" chamber the kids love it

 

[Plowboy85]

Benelli M2 or Beretta A400 Lite if he is a small fella. The Beretta can come with a 24" tube a s 12.5" LOP.

 

[2ndson]

Bought my wife a Franchi Affinity 20 last year, I really like it. Fast and nimble.

 

[kbrezlin]

I bought my boy the Franchi Affinity Elite 20 gauge last year. Comes with 3 aftermarket trulock chokes. I put a youth stock on it with the spacer plates but he quickly outgrew it and it has the regular stock back on it. I really like it, but I'm a fan of inertia guns personally.

 

[GUNNNN]

Looking for experiences and suggestions for a 20 gauge semi auto shotgun for my sons 7th birthday. He currently shoots a single shot .410 and wants a 20 gauge. I don't know much about semi autos. I've had a 12 gauge pump my whole life. He wants to hunt upland, turkeys, pheasants and waterfowl so looking for a versatile gun he can grow into. Reliability is very important and the cost not so much! Thanks for the suggestions!

I bought my grandkids a Remington 11/87 20 gauge for around 550.00 dollars new a couple of years ago then I got the youth stock for around 50 more dollars I think I had around 650 total shipping and everything and when they grow into it I can convert it back to the adult size the gun so far has never failed it's 3" to

 

[Canthitem]

My daughter uses a Tri-star 20 gauge its a compact or Womens version . It has some weight to it so the recoils not bad but still light enough to swing in duck season.

 

[Backcountry sports]

Sorry, part got cut off..
Regarding the 940, it can go much longer without cleaning the gas system. ....

Weatherby element or sa08 great 20 gauge all three of us shoot them

 

[aOWENc]

What did you end up going with, OP?