My son will soon turn 8. He is a pretty big kid. I would like to get him his first shotgun soon. What should I get him?

All he has ever shot is a 10/22 from a bench. He needs to get used to shooting unsupported. So something that isn't too heavy. But given his size I think he could grow into something pretty easily.

I'm a little worried that a 20 gauge might be too much for him. I'm thinking about a .410 H&R single shot. Let him get used to some mild recoil and shooting unsupported. Then upgrade in a year or so. What do you guys think?

Most people follow this path. However the typical 410 is surprisingly more direct recoil and the stock design is poor. Suggest youth model 20 gauge 870 pump. My daughter tried the 410 and it was not pleasant. She preferred the 12 gauge (12 years old).

The single shot H&R in .410 is a great idea.

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Most people follow this path. However the typical 410 is surprisingly more direct recoil and the stock design is poor. Suggest youth model 20 gauge 870 pump.

I agree. The nice recoil pad helps too. I have one for home self defense.

Wait 2 years and get him the 870 Express Youth. if he truly a "big kid", it wouldn't be an issue now. Start with target loads.

The .410 will be a disappointment. Not enough pellets to have early success.

Good luck.

Remington 870 model 81161. It's 20 gauge, 18-3/4" barrel, vent rib, chokes, and has a 12" LOP for youth.

Looks like they also have one in a 21" barrel too.

OF course the 870 is a wonderful shotgun, but being all steel it is heavy. A Mossburg 500 youth moder with it's aluminum receiver is a lot lighter. Find and use the lightest 20 ga. ammo and he should be fine when he is ready.

Not a tiny youth model, that's for sure. I suggest the biggest one he can safely handle, more gun, more mass, less recoil, easier to shoot, more enjoyable.

I got my first at 8yo, a single shot, break over, Remington youth model, and it was rather mule like for a kid, and wish I'd have gotten a bigger one from the beginning.

And I was an average sized kid, grew up to be 6ft and 190ish.

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Originally posted by 46and2:
Not a tiny youth model, that's for sure. I suggest the biggest one he can safely handle, more gun, more mass, less recoil, easier to shoot, more enjoyable.

I got my first at 8yo, a single shot, break over, Remington youth model, and it was rather mule like for a kid, and wish I'd have gotten a bigger one from the beginning.

And I was an average sized kid, grew up to be 6ft and 190ish.

This has always been my philosophy as well. A heavier gun is actually easier to shoot. I just don't want one too big for him to handle.

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Originally posted by SIGWALLY:
OF course the 870 is a wonderful shotgun, but being all steel it is heavy. A Mossburg 500 youth moder with it's aluminum receiver is a lot lighter. Find and use the lightest 20 ga. ammo and he should be fine when he is ready.

Thanks! I'll look at this one!

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Originally posted by tatortodd:
Remington 870 model 81161. It's 20 gauge, 18-3/4" barrel, vent rib, chokes, and has a 12" LOP for youth.

Looks like they also have one in a 21" barrel too.

Awesome! I'll look at it!

When my youngest son was ready to graduate to a shotgun I picked a 1100 20 gauge, it was my dads quail gun. My son was pretty large for his age (8) just not large enough for a adult sized gun, so I cut off 3 inches from the butt stock which was just about right for him. The soft recoil from the gas operated 1100 worked out well. The piece that I cut off the stock I saved and when he was about to outgrow the gun I removed the slip on recoil pad, glued the piece that I cut off back on and put the slip on recoil pad back on. He used that gun for years til he moved up to a 12 gauge 870.

Where in Arkansas are you? I'm a 4h youth instructor in Crittenden County and wouldn't mind a bit to help you fit him. Skip the .410 and the single shot.

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Originally posted by dwright1951:
When my youngest son was ready to graduate to a shotgun I picked a 1100 20 gauge, it was my dads quail gun. My son was pretty large for his age (8) just not large enough for a adult sized gun, so I cut off 3 inches from the butt stock which was just about right for him. The soft recoil from the gas operated 1100 worked out well. The piece that I cut off the stock I saved and when he was about to outgrow the gun I removed the slip on recoil pad, glued the piece that I cut off back on and put the slip on recoil pad back on. He used that gun for years til he moved up to a 12 gauge 870.

Do they make a youth-sized semi auto?

My sons were very large for their age but 8 is a little young for a serious shotgun-they just don't have the upper body strength or coordination to handle a shotgun on flying targets at that age. A .410 youth single barrel on static targets is a good choice, and maybe some hand thrown clays at your son's age. You don't want to turn him off with too much recoil at that age. I started my boys in trap with a 20 gauge 1100 youth and 870 youth in 20 gauge at age 11. They both became expert trap and skeet shooters as they grew older. I also recently got a Citori youth/ladies in 20 gauge for my 11 year old granddaughter and am really impressed with that gun as a starter.

I think 8 is too young for even a .410

Maybe stick with .22 until he’s 10-12 then try something? My Dad had me shooting a .35 Remington Model 336 Marlin at 12 and he later admitted that was way too much gun for me.

I bought my son a Remington 1100 youth model for his 8th birthday but gave it to him a couple of months earlier so he could dove hunt with it. He knocked down some dove that first season and then did pretty good a few months later on decoying waterfowl. He was big for his age and handled it well. He loved the gun and has killed a bunch of birds since. My thought process was the following:

The 1100 is gas operated, and a touch heavier than some other options, and would bleed off some recoil by cycling.

The youth model being 21" barrel and 13" LOP fit him well so he could shoulder it correctly and swing it effectively.

Being a 20 gauge it was both cheaper to shoot and more effective than .410 or 28 gauge.

I just replaced it with a full size 12 gauge last Christmas just after his 13th birthday. His little brother is using it now. It has been the right choice for us, of course YMMV.

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Originally posted by Rigby470:

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Originally posted by dwright1951:
When my youngest son was ready to graduate to a shotgun I picked a 1100 20 gauge, it was my dads quail gun. My son was pretty large for his age (8) just not large enough for a adult sized gun, so I cut off 3 inches from the butt stock which was just about right for him. The soft recoil from the gas operated 1100 worked out well. The piece that I cut off the stock I saved and when he was about to outgrow the gun I removed the slip on recoil pad, glued the piece that I cut off back on and put the slip on recoil pad back on. He used that gun for years til he moved up to a 12 gauge 870.

Do they make a youth-sized semi auto?

They make two youth size 11-87s:

Model 83630, 20 gauge, 21" barrel, adjustable LOP, and mossy oak new break-up camo.

Model 83626, 20 gauge, 21" barrel, adjustable LOP, and black synthetic.

This would be a great setup for a young man starting out learning to hunt. This is the exact gun I bought my boy, without the slug barrel. Would have jumped on a combo like this at that time. I also looked specifically for an older model 1100 like this one, no plastic parts and beautiful wood furniture. The kind of gun that he could pass down some day. I would ask the seller to measure the shot barrel again as I suspect it's 21", not 26" as he probably included the shank that fits into the receiver in his stated length.

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/697860912

*****I am in no way affiliated with the linked auction or seller, just a quick search to provide an example produced this gem.

Try a 28 gauge. Mild recoil and fun to shoot. So what if the shells do cost a bit more.