Low recoil options for youth

[buckeye hunter]

I purchased a NEF youth 20 gauge for my 9 year old son to use in turkey season this spring.  I had it custom fit with a SIMS recoil pad.  The barrel has a fixed modified choke.  My son is small framed and he is a bit leary of magnum loads.  We patterned it with standard 2 3/4 high brass lead
#4 loads, but it wasn't very dense at 20 yards.  Does anyone have any suggestions for low recoil turkey loads that might increase his effective range without causing him to flinch?  Would 2 3/4 Hevi shot #6 loads pattern better?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.


Buckeye Hunter

[dukkillr]

I kill all my fall turkeys with 12 ga 2 3/4" copper plated 7 1/2s... the high power, high brass, Federals... I can find the exact name if you want...  I shoot them out of my 28" modified Model 12.  The recoil isn't bad and those loads are killers... The pattern is dense and also fairly large... it'd be good to 35-40 yards probably...

I shoot that arrangement so I can aim at the head of a flying turkey but it would also work great for a young kid who may jerk or flinch because it would give them a nice wide lethal pattern...

Hell you could pattern the gun with light 8s and then only shoot the hot stuff at turkeys... he'll never feel the recoil in a hunting situation...

[Critter]

In general Hevishot patterns better but it will depend on the gun.  Best bet is to get a box and try them, that is the only way you'll know.

[lil_hunter12]

depending on the size of ur son u might try winchester supreme 3" #6 they r relatively low recoil and kill turkeys very well. thats just my suggestion

[WN]

I had the same problem with my 9 year old son.  I bought him a youth 870 20ga.  He did not like the recoil with high base shells.  Over several Saturdays we went out and shot  boxes of low brass dove shot.  He gained  a lot of confidence and we gradually worked in high base loads.  I would load the gun and slip one in the magazine.  He shot it and never really noticed the recoil.  When I showed him that he had shot the magnum loads he could not belive it.  He is now 10 and will shoot any thing in his 20ga.

[dawei]

I purchased a NEF youth 20 gauge for my 9 year old son to use in turkey season this spring.  I had it custom fit with a SIMS recoil pad.  The barrel has a fixed modified choke.  My son is small framed and he is a bit leary of magnum loads.  We patterned it with standard 2 3/4 high brass lead #4 loads, but it wasn't very dense at 20 yards.  Does anyone have any suggestions for low recoil turkey loads that might increase his effective range without causing him to flinch?  Would 2 3/4 Hevi shot #6 loads pattern better?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.


Buckeye Hunter

My wife has the same exact gun. It's super light; something like only 4¾lbs. To solve the recoil problem I removed the recoil pad & buttplate. I filled the whole cavity with #7½ shot to within ¼" of the top. Then I sealed it with hot glue to pevent the shot from moving. I put the recoil pad & buttplate back on while the glue was still hot. After the pad was back on & the glue hardened I trimmed any glue that oozed out with a razor blade. Now the gun weighs a shade over 6lbs. That modification solved her recoil problem! It's an inexpensive fix that works really well.

You are on the right track with 2¾" Hevi•Shot #6.  After the modification he should be alright handling the recoil. Other viable options would be Federal Premium 2¾" 1 & 1⅛ oz copper plated #6 shot. Additionally you could pattern the gun with good 3" Mag Turkey loads yourself & let him practice with the low base stuff to build his confidence. You just load a 3" Mag after you're all set up. When he puts the "SMACK DOWN" on his first gobbler he won't notice the recoil!  I've done a lot of work using a 20ga as a dedicated Turkey gun. First here is a 30yd pattern from my wife's NEF 20ga:

http://www.thehunterslife.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5466

Secondly read this thread I wrote as it might help out you & your son in your endevors:

http://www.thehunterslife.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5428