My sons are 10 and 7 and the oldest likes to accompany me bird hunting. He is the type that is hard to get interested in anything but he enjoys fishing and bird hunting with me. We're getting close to him being able to shoot a shotgun but he's skinny and even my small framed 410s are too heavy and much too long LOP. I'd like to get something for them to start on.

The easy solution is a cheap 20 ga shotgun, perhaps an 870 or something similar, with a youth stock or one I don't mind chopping the stock on. It would likely still have a longish barrel and it would be a "disposable" gun... something we'd probably just sell when they outgrow it. I don't want to spend more than about $300 on something like this.

Or... I have a lovely old 20 ga Browning Citori. It is definitely a shooter grade gun, nothing fancy, but belonged to my Dad and a good family friend before that so it is staying in the family. It's a 26" bbl gun and being an OU, is already shorter OAL than a pump or SA... good for the smaller shooter. I can get a new butt stock for about $300 and then spend a little more having it cut down and fitted by a 'smith. Being a double, it's a little safer and more gentlemanly for chasing King Bob.

I have plenty of other bird guns and would not mind dedicating it to the kids for the next 6-8 years.

What would you do?

While I can’t help, I will say not only is that a great looking shotgun but your son would/should love it.

A kingly gift any kid would love to use. Go for it, I say. You have good taste. A good soft buttpad will help. Recoil is not insubstantial in O/Us for little dudes.

quote:

Originally posted by 1KPerDay:
A kingly gift any kid would love to use. Go for it, I say. You have good taste. A good soft buttpad will help. Recoil is not insubstantial in O/Us for little dudes.

Correct... thought about that in favor of option 1 above, but it'd have to be a semi-auto to gain much and I don't want to spend the money. Sub gauge guns are expensive!

I figure if I cut the stock down, I can make shims to grow the stock as they grow and put a slip on decelerator on.

If your son is “getting close to being able to shoot a shotgun” I’m gonna assume 7-9 years old. You can correct me, but most kids in the sticks where I’m from get their first shotgun around that age, or did when I was a kid.

My first was a break action single shot 20 gauge so I’d personally go there first. Therefore your over under pretty much fits the bill.

Maybe a side by side from a manufacturer that isn’t all that fancy for about what you’ll have in a stock and gunsmithing.

Either way I’d lean towards one of those routes over an 870.

Maybe when he’s a teen get him a nice semi-auto or 870.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
it'd have to be a semi-auto to gain much and I don't want to spend the money. Sub gauge guns are expensive!

You can get a garbage-tier Turkish 20 gauge auto for like $300 but this will be WAY cooler... and teach him the value of quality and beauty.

quote:

Originally posted by 1KPerDay:

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
it'd have to be a semi-auto to gain much and I don't want to spend the money. Sub gauge guns are expensive!

You can get a garbage-tier Turkish 20 gauge auto for like $300 but this will be WAY cooler... and teach him the value of quality and beauty.

I do agree with this and other posters. You know him best, would be get more giddy over his OWN new gun or getting yours. We always lusted over Dad’s guns as kids. But every kid is different.

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:
If your son is “getting close to being able to shoot a shotgun” I’m gonna assume 7-9 years old. You can correct me, but most kids in the sticks where I’m from get their first shotgun around that age, or did when I was a kid.

My first was a break action single shot 20 gauge so I’d personally go there first. Therefore your over under pretty much fits the bill.

Maybe a side by side from a manufacturer that isn’t all that fancy for about what you’ll have in a stock and gunsmithing.

Either way I’d lean towards one of those routes over an 870.

Maybe when he’s a teen get him a nice semi-auto or 870.

First six words of my post… lol. Just messing with ya.

Yeah I have a 410 SxS that he has shot, but with me helping hold the fore end up. That was about a year ago. But a stock isn’t easily sourced and I don’t want to cut the original.

I am not thinking of this as a gift. They’ve both got a few years and a bunch of miles to put in with me, or hours in the field to put in with me, before that will happen.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:
If your son is “getting close to being able to shoot a shotgun” I’m gonna assume 7-9 years old. You can correct me, but most kids in the sticks where I’m from get their first shotgun around that age, or did when I was a kid.

My first was a break action single shot 20 gauge so I’d personally go there first. Therefore your over under pretty much fits the bill.

Maybe a side by side from a manufacturer that isn’t all that fancy for about what you’ll have in a stock and gunsmithing.

Either way I’d lean towards one of those routes over an 870.

Maybe when he’s a teen get him a nice semi-auto or 870.

First six words of my post… lol. Just messing with ya.

Yeah I have a 410 SxS that he has shot, but with me helping hold the fore end up. That was about a year ago. But a stock isn’t easily sourced and I don’t want to cut the original.

I am not thinking of this as a gift. They’ve both got a few years and a bunch of miles to put in with me, or hours in the field to put in with me, before that will happen.

I swear I read the whole thing, what a dummy!

My son’s first shotgun was a 20 gauge Benelli youth Nova. My main criteria was having the ability at distance to see the gun was safe. A single shot break open would have worked, but I didn’t think he would grow with it as well. While the youth Benelli is long gone he still routinely grabs a Benelli SuperNova for bird hunts despite a safe full of Beretta A400s and Benelli SBEs as an adult.

Maybe a Winchester Model 37 20ga? I still have mine, and it was my first real shotgun. They made a lot of them, they’re not super hard to find, can be found for the price range you’re talking about fitting a buttpad for, he can use it as a beater without feeling bad, and when he “outgrows” it, he can still hang onto it because it’s not a Turkish piece of junk.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
Maybe a Winchester Model 37 20ga? I still have mine, and it was my first real shotgun. They made a lot of them, they’re not super hard to find, can be found for the price range you’re talking about fitting a buttpad for, he can use it as a beater without feeling bad, and when he “outgrows” it, he can still hang onto it because it’s not a Turkish piece of junk.

Yes I've thought about this. A few issues:
1. The gun would still need stock work (main point of this is reducing LOP). 2. Also, not sure on this, but would probably still be longer overall. 3. 20 ga guns are harder to find and older guns like the 37 tend to have tighter chokes. 4. And the second shot in the double will be preferable after a little time. I can always use the double as a single shot by just loading one shell.

The positive for buying a different gun is that I get a new gun, which has value in the future. Although the value is reduced if I cut the stock.

I am going to make a few inquiries on having a gunsmith cut and fit the stock and see where that gets me.

If you are worried about LOP you are way better off getting a Mossberg 500 in 410 or 20 g with a youth stock (or buying an aftermarket youth stock). Its super easy to get an longer stock or even just cut it down to actual need without regret. You can also get barrels relatively easily as well.

Another vote here for a top break single shot Winchester. I am guessing you should be able to shorten the stock to suit, save the piece you cut off, then reattach at a later date using dowels as was frequently done in olden times.

NEF or H&R Pardner 20g single youth model. Already has short LOP. Single to make that shot count. Also, probably find one less than $100 at Adventure Outdoors. Will outgrow it before you know it.

I had a .410 one of those looooooong ago at about the same age. Fit well, was great for squirrels. Ammo was high, though. Still is.

Benelli monticello hands down. They would never out grow it. A generational shotgun at a great price.

I posted this in the "What guns do you plan to buy this year" thread before I noticed this one.

YellowJacket

As a former skinny kid (5 foot 6 and 110 pounds when I graduated HS) I would have loved something like a Mossberg 500 Bantam Youth in 20 gauge. Looks like most are in the $400-500 range. They even have some models with adjustable LOP's. I have never handled one so I don't know how they swing or point but Mossbergs have a reputation of being a solid gun at a decent price point. I know $500 isn't exactly cheap, but what is in today's market? Frown

Good Luck!

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Benelli monticello hands down. They would never out grow it. A generational shotgun at a great price.

Montefeltro is a fantastic gun but also well over $1000. Like I said, this isn't a lifetime gift idea. I have a host of shotguns that these boys are going to get. I collect Belgian Browning Auto 5s, have multiple Citoris, a Super Black Eagle, a few Remington 1100s and 11-87, and a couple of Spanish SxS. And I'm not through.

It will either be the Citori or I'm coming around on a cheap single shot. I just don't like cheap guns...

My son had a youth Mossberg 500 in 20 ga, when he got old enough I put a full sized stock on it. It's a straight swap

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:

It will either be the Citori or I'm coming around on a cheap single shot. I just don't like cheap guns...

Single shot NEF-style 20 gauge will REALLY thump him, if you're worried about recoil at all. It's doable but it's not pleasant, particularly with a solid buttplate, which most have. Other than that, not a bad choice. They're not refined but at least the NEF/H&R type are quality firearms. The current crop of turkish fold-in-half $100 guns I wouldn't consider personally.