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Best Shotgun For Beginners Under $1k

huntingwithdaughters
Remington 1100/1187 20 or 28
Franchi 48AL 20 or 28
Used Beretta 390/391
Used Benelli 20 ga

Cheaper 20 ga ammo vs lower 28 ga recoil
Remington cheaper to buy (1187 20 under $600 new) and maintain
Beretta thought most reliable and lighter
48AL recoil and reliability issues
Benelli reliability issues

Looking for the best gun for beginning kids.

Thanks!
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • grizzclaw
    I've always enjoyed my 1187's, but I started my daughter with an 870 express in junior high school. She's 29 now and still prefers to use the 870.
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  • Grasshopper
    All good as stated. Not preaching, but my son started with a single barrel,,now a pump..Learns the field safety easier,,and engrain in his mind. If yours is ready for the autoloader,, that 1100-1187 or Beretta would be both great guns![:)] good luck/
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  • drl50
    I second the Pump philosophy. Its a better gun to learn with from a safety and mechanical standpoint. Let them learn the auto alternative later and decide it on their own. 20 GA.Remington 870 is a good choice.
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  • FEENIX
    Another vote for the 870 ... they are hard to beat!
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  • mark christian
    Based on the models mentioned I'd go with the Remington 1100. I happen to love the 28 gauge, but for the beginning shooter I don't recommend the 28. A beginning shooter is actually going to want to hit something and their chances of doing that are greatly improved using a 20 gauge instead of the 28. 20 gauge loads can be mild enough to allow for plenty of practice, but can also be loaded powerful enough to make it suitable for all types of hunting. Lightly loaded 28 gauge shells don't pack many pellets while the more powerful 28 gauge loads suitable for hunting will kick harder than most people expect.
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  • rjc
    My first Shotgun was a Remington model 870 in 12 gauge. Still have it and love it. It's about 37 years old. I'd recommend the same if your Son/Daughter is older (14+). Go for the same gun in 20 gauge if younger. Although lighter recoil, I don't like semi-autos for beginners.
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  • savage170
    Sarted my son with a 1100 20 ga youth very easy on the shoulder
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  • iwannausername
    The Kemen low recoil 20ga loads are amazingly low recoil, wholesale on flats is not much more than walmart costs on the winchester stuff when the local clays club does a group buy.

    As to gun, I'd recommend a classic single shot (savage 220a or similar) if they've not had any firearms handling/training at all. If they are already good with the basics of safe gun handling, look at the intro level O/Us like the Fausti (mine is fantastic, still very tight after 1200 rounds), Mossberg, Baikal imports (Remington and a few others), etc.
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  • leeblackman
    11-87...

    I bought an 11-87 sporting clays for $350 about 10 years ago. I've been shooting it ever since. It patterns great, runs reliably, kicks alot less than a pump, and really ticks off the guys with the $3000 custom built over and unders when I whoop them at the shoot with it...
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