Author Topic: Remington 870 16 gauge youth? (Read 1450 times)

double tap · « **on:** September 04, 2003, 08:06:45 PM »

Howdy all,

Anybody have any experience/opinions about a 16 gauge pump gun as a "youth" shotgun? I'm kicking around the idea of buying a Remington 870 Express youth shotgun for my son (13, about 5'3", 105lb.). He's not a novice shooter, and has done fairly well at the local gun club with a 20 gauge pump, and has even shot my older Winchester 1400 12 gauge once and done pretty well (although it is too big for him).

He does not have any bad shooting habits yet, and I'm concerned that an 870 in 16 gauge might have just enough recoil to give him some trouble. I had been petty well set on a 20 gauge until I went into the local gun shop this afternoon and saw the 16. Doggone choices!!

Any info would be greatly appreciated, since duck season started this past week and we're kind of itching to get out in the wetlands.

Thanks.

Questor · « **Reply #1 on:** September 05, 2003, 04:17:06 AM »

My son shoots a Mossberg youth pump model 500 in 20 gauge. He's 11 years old and weighs about 80 pounds. I load the shells for light recoil, basically the same as the Winchester AA, but with a little less velocity. So long as he doesn't shoot too much, there's no problem. He doesn't like to shoot much more than 25 rounds for routine practice, but he'll shoot more if he's focused on some particular accomplishment.

My only reservations about a 16 would be
1) whether I'd have to get a new loader for it. In our case, we both shoot 20 gauge, so one loading machine works for all of our ammo.
2) whether I could find loading data for loads light enough for lots of practice shooting.

I'm assuming, of course, you're reloading. If you're buying factory ammo, I'd wonder whether you can even get target loads for the 16. There is definitely a big difference in recoil between 20 gauge upland field loads and target loads.

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #2 on:** September 05, 2003, 05:02:49 AM »

I guess I'm thinking stick with 20--------the 870 16ga is built using a 12ga frame---for all the extra weight and loss of handi-ness you might as well get a 12ga.

20ga shells can be found pretty much anywhere----the 3in shells get you into 2.75 12ga magnum shell territory. So you can have light-med-and heavy loads depending on what you think your boy can take. Also---more shot loadings----slugs and buckshot can be had.

16's are hard to find---expensive---limited loadings-----thinking non-toxic 16's will be VERY hard to find---if they even make them???

urika20 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 06, 2003, 01:45:53 AM »

I boght my son a 20ga 870 youth. He shoots it very well. He's 12 and small framed. From what I have been reading and hearing, the Heavy Shot from Rem in 20 is a very good duck getter. Alot of shooters are using the lighter 20's instead of 12's and dropping them out of the sky. I know the heavy shot is a bit pricey, but it may be worth it for an enjoyable day afield.

urika20

double tap · « **Reply #4 on:** September 06, 2003, 06:06:36 PM »

Thanks for the input!

Even though I think my son could probably handle the 16, I believe I'm inclined to stay on the side of caution and go with the 20. Among other things, we only have one shop in town that carries 16 gauge loads. I live in SE Alaska (no road access to the lower 48), so that tips the scale even more toward the 20. Several local stores carry a good variety of loads for the 20. Better safe than sorry!

Thanks again for the suggestions. Hope you all have a great hunting season.

tgiles69 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 07, 2003, 02:18:55 PM »

I bought my son the 870 16ga youth for Christmas last year, he's 10 and handles it well, I was planning to have him deer hunt with it this year but they don't make a slug barrel for it, so I'm going to get him the 870 20ga youth.

Bullseye · « **Reply #6 on:** September 08, 2003, 03:09:07 PM »

I did not go check, but I am 99.9% sure they make slugs for them and Graf's has them in their catalog. I almost bought my daughter one last year and checked into the slug issue. www.grafs.com

razmuz · « **Reply #7 on:** September 09, 2003, 10:12:07 AM »

Go ahead and get the 16ga. That will give you a good excuse to by a 20ga. in a couple of years.

Mr. 16 gauge · « **Reply #8 on:** September 14, 2003, 04:06:58 AM »

As biased as I am towards the 16 gauge, I would suggest you go with the 20 gauge youth model for a couple of reasons: 1.) youth model shotguns are generally designed to fit someone who is smaller framed (the stocks are shorter and the forearms are moved back a bit). 2.) if you have trouble getting ammo, you might be better off going with the 20 (although I feel the 3" 20 gauge 'magnum' is an abomination, just like the 3 1/2" 12).
FWIW, there are several 16 gauge nontox loads on the market, including steel, bismuth, and tungsten matrix. In the catalogs I order from, non are more expensive than comparable 12 gauge loads, so if you are paying through the nose for 16 gauge shells, you are getting ripped off by your local dealer.