Author Topic: 20ga and a 10 year old?  (Read 1552 times)

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Offline ccoker

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20ga and a 10 year old?
« on: July 30, 2007, 05:24:16 AM »
I am getting on a dove lease and want to take my 10 year old
I have a youth model 870 20ga that I bought years ago dirt cheap from a friend

my son shoots his 223 with no problem, I just wonder if the 20ga pump is going to be a bit much for him to shoot enough practice at skeet...
he's never fired a shotgun..
I guess the obvious answer is to go buy some light loads and see what happens

he has a 223 handirifle that I could get a 410 barrel for but it would be very tight to get it turned around for fitting with HR in time for season in about a month

Offline lucky guy

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Re: 20ga and a 10 year old?
« Reply #1 on: July 30, 2007, 05:48:20 AM »
a 410 is a hard gun to learn on.  If the 20 ga pump is too much you might try an auto, Rem 1100, or a Rem 58 if you can find one.  Softer shooting than the pumps.

Offline ccoker

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Re: 20ga and a 10 year old?
« Reply #2 on: July 30, 2007, 06:45:17 AM »
yeah, that's what I was afraid of, not a lot of lead out there
I wish I still had the 1100 20ga from my youth :)


Offline jpsmith1

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Re: 20ga and a 10 year old?
« Reply #3 on: August 01, 2007, 04:26:30 PM »
At 12, I was shooting a 12 gauge pump without a problem.  A 10 year old should have little problem with a 20.  If you need to dampen recoil, load the stock with a little lead and a screw to hold it in place.  Get the lightest load you can and keep practice sessions short to begin with.
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Offline PA-Joe

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Re: 20ga and a 10 year old?
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2007, 02:09:24 AM »
You can also get some 20 ga/410 ga inserts.

Offline lil_hunter12

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Re: 20ga and a 10 year old?
« Reply #5 on: August 03, 2007, 05:34:32 AM »
my whole family was turkey and squirrel hunting with 12 gauge pumps before we were 10

Offline dakotashooter2

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Re: 20ga and a 10 year old?
« Reply #6 on: August 03, 2007, 06:17:54 AM »
Since you have the youth model with the shortened barrel and stock he will probably be able to handle it fine. Nothing punishes a kid more than a gun that doesn't fit right regardless of gauge. And frankly when you start having him shooting at moving targets he'll be too busy to even think about the recoil till after he gets home.
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Offline ms

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Re: 20ga and a 10 year old?
« Reply #7 on: August 03, 2007, 06:27:21 AM »
Let the boy shoot the dam gun I bet he'll do just fine!

Offline 30-06man

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Re: 20ga and a 10 year old?
« Reply #8 on: September 05, 2007, 03:10:06 PM »
yeah light loads and a sims recoil pad
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Offline ONE HOLE 4570

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Re: 20ga and a 10 year old?
« Reply #9 on: September 10, 2007, 08:52:05 AM »
My son shoots a 20 ga 48al Franchi I cut down for him & put a limb saver recoil pad. Handels it quite well & has for 2 years he is now 10, also shoots a 20 ga youth h&R routinely. Put a good pad on the pump & let him try
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: 20ga and a 10 year old?
« Reply #10 on: September 10, 2007, 10:16:04 AM »
The 20 is good if stock fits , i use a 12 ga. with a shortened stock for my boys and a 20 ga. youth model , they shot both with out problem , we used 7/8 oz loads for dove and skeet . The 12 kicked a bit less because the gun was a bit heavier ! for buck we used 23/4 or reduced recoil loads , try ear plugs and muffs at first the noise can be more trouble than the kick !
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Offline ccoker

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Re: 20ga and a 10 year old?
« Reply #11 on: November 17, 2007, 11:52:54 AM »
just following up on this
I let him shoot the Remington 870 youth, I cut the length of pull to 12.5 after one skeet session and watching him and then checking the measurement and put a limbsaver on it
used the Fiocchi light loads...

he had a blast at skeet a few times and dove a few times

thanks

two weeks and it's a deer hunt for him
got his first last year :)