What age did your lil ones start shooting shotguns?
 

Also what kind of gun would one suggest starting them on? First thoughts would be a single shot 410 obviously but with today's technologies with semis is there a light low recoil youth model 20 gauge out there so I don't spend a small fortune on shells not to mention the lack of availability.

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Shawn, I have a youth 20 you can try out to see if that would be the route you want

We bought Monica a 410 pump for Christmas last year you can try also.

I have a youth model 20g 1187 that is really nice and low recoil is pretty low

Josh does your son shoot it now?

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Really hoping to go 20 gauge and not have to hunt down 410 shells. Since we've been dove hunting the last 2 weekends my 6 year old wants to kill some. I was going to let him shoot them off the ground but not sure he can handle a shotgun and more less curious when others let their kids shoot. I would only put 1 she'll in the 20 gauge if I went that route by the way.

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I remember my little brother shooting a youth model 870 20ga when he was younger. He would always have problems short shifting it and couldn't hold it steady with his left hand up on the pump, so he would put the left hand behind the pump in front of the trigger guard. He was probably 8 or so. But if you're just putting 1 shell in and have something for him to prop up on roll with it. As long as he doesn't complain about the kick or anything. Honestly I think that 870 kicked pretty bad for a 20 lol. Also had to have a few different boxes made for different blinds so he could stand on to see.

I have two kids that are still in the training stages. My daughter who suddenly took an interest two years ago is 10 now. She's in her second season of learning to shoot; after the way she handled the gun and herself this past weekend she will be allowed to shoot more frequently.

My son is 7 now but started with a BB gun at 5. He is really good with the safety aspect and is still in the "safety training" stages with me. He was allowed to shoot cripples this past weekend on the water. I find though he still to young to just hand the gun too and trust for his and everyone else's safety.
They are both shooting a crack barrel 410 #4-shot. The shells are pricey and difficult to find but I think a 20ga would be too much. Overall in my opinion after what I am learning somewhere around age 8 for me would be a safe bet, but that's just my kids.

Shawn I'm going to have my six year old start shooting a little bit this year; I think I'm going to bring the crack barrel 410, and Remington 1187 28 gauge and have him shoot both and see how he handles them.

If price was not an issue I think a 28gauge over and under would be a good safe set up for a kid.

All depends on the kid. Don't rush them. Let them shoot a bb gun first and get good with the safety aspect. Mine turns six soon and we take him to the woods with us when we go and let him bring his bb gun to learn safety.

Have a friend who got his child a .243 last year at age 5 and kids first experience with a gun was pulling the trigger one time while sighting it in on a lead sled. Daddy thought he was ready to go hunting after that so they went out and a deer came to the corn feeder which was over 100 yards away. Gun kicked him pretty good and he gut shot the deer and couldn't find it. Kid wants no part of a gun right now. Not a good first experience, hopefully he will rebound. Take your time, some are ready at 6, some are ready at 12

What age did your lil ones start shooting shotguns?
 

Started mine at 6 with a Rossi 410 crack barrel. That gun is extremely small but kicked like a mule, probably harder than my 12 ga, and was very loud. Since it wasn't fun to shoot he hated practicing, which as others said is important for understanding safety. But now with two years of shooting a 410 under his belt he's handling a 20ga 1100 very well. If I could go back I would have waited another year and started at 7.


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Started shooting a .410 single shot at 6, moved to a 20 gauge single shot at 8, blew the barrel off it last day of that season. Dad bought me a Remington 1100 12 gauge to shoot from 9 till forever, was like holding a cannon at that age but I was crumpling em.

My single shoot 410 kicks hard which is why I was considering a semi 20, my thinking is the semi would be less kick than the 410 but bulkier to handle. As far as not rushing it, he's asking to shoot not me pushing him. He's been shooting a bb gun for 3 years now and is safer than some adults I've seen. If I let him shoot this year it'll be a very controlled environment and the gun won't be loaded until he is setup and ready. No moving targets obviously.

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If you get him a semi auto, continue using one shell at a time. Like a single shot until he gets used to proper fun safety. Especially in a duck blind. Kids can forget then have more shots remaining sometimes.

Yes that's been the plan the whole time.

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Most single shot 410s kick more than an auto 20g with the lightest load you can find. Started my son at 7 with 20g one shell at a time.

mine started with a 410 crack at age 10

I've started mine on a 20 guage semi. the brand i bought is tristar. i got it at g &h and it was cheap. i've been very impressed with the gun. shoots well with little recoil.

Jayden is shooting a Remmington 1100 Lt20 and loves it. Tried an 870 youth last year and it kicked way to much for her.

true that. The newer model automatics are pretty low on recoil. Do they make a semi auto .410?

Remington 110 .410 but they are expensive.

no, he hasn't gotten to that point yet. It was bought for the wife a few years ago but she never shot it, so it has just been waiting around. Doubt my son will make it up to that level this year

Yeah, buddy just found and bought one. 1200 bucks:eek:

one I have is a Franchi 720 youth 20ga

Wow

Both age & size should be considered.
Try a 20 ga. gas operated automatic, youth model if possible, IC choke.
Then put a long plug in the magazine, only allowing one shot at a time.

age 7
 

Started my boy at 7 on a 20 ga. crack barrel on which I had cut down the stock and put a well padded rubber pad. First shot he made was on a Whistler and he folded it. I kept the piece I cut off and as he grew older, I added the back till his arms were long enough to handle an adult gun. Ah yes, those memories are sweet.:)

Dang, that's one tough little boy! A 20ga crack barrel kicks more than a 12ga semi-auto. I don't even like shooting them. LOL

Age
 

Let him shoot, find his comfort zone. We got him a Remington.410 and moved up to a 20. Never was scared of the recoil, just fit him for his size. Worth every penny for the shells. Sixteen now. Lol!

Yea the hell with a 20 gauge crack barrel; they are way out of balance and bite like a rattlesnake.

Y'all need to jump on the 28 gauge band-wagon; then you can convince the wife you will be saving money by loading your own shells while drinking beer in the shed.

Safety should first and formost...2nd is maturity???

How big and tall is he.. Did U say he's 6??? I started mine 2 sons at 6 with there first BB gun.

My oldest son was bigger 8 so he used a single shot 20...At 9 he used a single 12 ga.

My youngest was small like his Mom... He used that 20 ga for 2 yrs,, At 9 he used the single 12 ga.

My grandson is going to be 6 in 1 month... He's small like his dad.. Not mature...

I've got him his 1st red rider daisy BB gun gor his up coming B Day... Not sure he can even shoot it NOW.. It may be next yr until he can shoot it...

Just my experience.. And Humble Opinion..

I'd get a crack barrel 20ga and put a limbsaver recoil pad on it. That will take most of the kick out of it. He might get frustrated with a 410 because they just don't kill good except really really close range. But then again 6 might be a little young for a 20 ga, like others said just depends on the kid really.

This. ^^^^^^ I bought one for my son also at the same place. It comes with two stocks, a youth to fit him now (short length of pull) perfect for a kid, and an adult, so it can be shot by him or you later. My son was 7 when I got it, handled it well, and he shot only one shell for a while. He's 11 now and got a 12 gauge last year for Christmas.

We hunt a lot of kids at our camp in GC and pretty much all have started with a .410 and graduated to 870 20g. Always bring BB gun cause usually kids that young don't want to shoot a box of .410 shells. Few shots at birds or cripples on water and they are satisfied.

I'm so impressed with his little gun I'm buying a 12 gauge semi auto for a backup

toted a 20 gauge around when I was 7, probably too young but get a regular sized 20 rather than a youth model. He'll outgrow it quick, but a regular sized 20 he can use for awhile.

8 years old with a mossberg youth, he is 10 now and laid down his first 2 teal in flight last weekend


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A 12 gauge semi-auto with low brass shells kicks less than any 20 or 410 single...Full choke cheap 12's will kill any rabbit or sq. you hit with it...High powered loads have more pellets to mess'm up...Due to shoulder injury I used my grandsons youth model pump 20 gauge....Junk...went back to my pump 12 with the cheapest winchesters in #6....Better to get a full size and an after market youth stock...Cheaper to get stock then to upgrade barrel later....Barrels cost almost as much as new pump guns...