trap gun for 13 year old?
Hello,
Any shotgun advice for buying a gun for my son. He has shot three times with borrowed guns 20 and 12 gauge. He liked the 12 gauge auto Beretta but I don't want to spend a ton of $$ for his first gun.
Thanks for any help.
Any shotgun advice for buying a gun for my son. He has shot three times with borrowed guns 20 and 12 gauge. He liked the 12 gauge auto Beretta but I don't want to spend a ton of $$ for his first gun.
Thanks for any help.
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First, let me welcome you to the forum.
As to your question, buy him a heavy gun. I shot a 12 ga. Ruger Red Label last year for all my trap/skeet, and the recoil was too much after 50 shells or so (competitions of 450 were brutal). Find him a shotgun that weighs at least 8 pounds, or get an autoloader. My best advice would be to either get him a used Remington, or an inexpensive import (such as Baikal). A 20 will be a great help on his shoulder, especially if he shoots a great deal, or has a light build/small frame. I'm partial to a Remington 1100. Even in a 12, there's no real recoil, and they just point very well. I shoot exclusively Winchester Super-X shells, and there's only a 3 pellet difference between 12 and 20 when shooting 8's (no big difference). Whatever you do, don't get fixed chokes, and do get a vent rib. If he gets a good gun, he'll use it forever (I've been shooting the same gun since I was 12 years old, and still love it (not the Ruger)). Don't buy him a Beretta, though, because if he decides he doesn't like it, he'll never use it, and you'll be out a lot of money. Before you buy anything, have him shoot at least a dozen different guns, and for at least 2 rounds of trap a piece.
Long story short, have him shoot a lot, and find what he likes. However, for my money, I'd recommend a Remington 1100 in 20 ga (if he's a good kid, he can have a deer barrel for his birthday without too much searching). If he wants an over/under, buy him a Baikal--they're heavy enough for little recoil, and can be had for a third of a Beretta. If he one day decides that he needs a Krieghoff, he can buy it later. I've probably ranted enough already, so if you have any questions, e-mail me. Good luck, and keep that boy shooting!0 -
Shotguns for kids, now thats a subject I've been through a few times!
I don't claim to be a trap expert but I have been through this with my kids and learned a few things. When my own son and daughter were about 13 they had decidedly different needs. Luckily I have a safe full of shotguns so I let them try a couple of dozen on for size. My son was pretty stocky but short and he shoulders a winchester 1300 with a 26" barrel very well. He had zero problem with the recoil and had more upper body strength so the weight was not a problem. His first shotgun was an Iver Johnson 20 gauge single shot which he ougrew in about 10 minutes. My daughter on the other hand is of a medium build and upper body/arm strength was a problem. Her arms were not strong enough/ long enough to rack the slide of a pump. A Remington 1100 and Winchester 1400 Auto's were too forward heavy and
long. Her favorite is an Iver Johnson 16 gauge with a recoils pad. She loves hunting with it and won't move up. It's light and the loads are about equivalent to a light target 12 gauge. That type of gun can be had for about $75 bucks until your son grows out of it. The chokes are marked choke bore(similiar to trap bore). GREAT TURKEY GUN!!!
A huge consideration with kids and guns is not to spend too much, they are extremely careless about dropping and beating them up. Do both of you a favor and don't buy something that will stress you both out everytime it slides down the side of your truck scratching the crap out of your paint and dinging the $$$$$ Beretta $$$$$. It will take the joy out of the experience for both of you, trust me. Try a Remington 870 express in 20 gauge for $200, it'll last him a lifetime.
....I never met a gun I didn't like!0 -
I would recommend without a doubt a Remington 1100 LT-20 .20Ga for him. As long as it "fits" him it will be a perfect gun that he can shoot all day.
God gave us all a gift. Have you found yours yet ?0 -
H&R / NEF / MARLIN offer a long BBL`d, vent rib single shot break open trap gun in 28 gauge, 20 gauge, and 12 gauge. it would be a superb entry level, affordable trap gun. its cheap, its light, its offered in a youth model, its got the vent rib, a nice choice of gauges, and its well made. it will not do the job for skeet, but its a solid piece.
best regards, mike.
What other dungeon is so dark as ones own heart, what jailer so inexorable as ones own mind.
contact me at the shop at waltsgun@aol.com best regards, mike.0 -
Follow up to my original post...
My son is approaching 6 feet tall and weighs about 110 pounds. I am 6'4 so he will grow alot in the next couple of years. The gracious shooters and range officers at the trap range recommended the Remington model 870 express 12 gauge, because he thought he would outgrow a 20 gauge in 2 or 3 years.
One other gentleman recommended a semi auto because it had less recoil than a pump gun.0 -
get him a winchester super x model one trap gun or a bt-99. stick a merc recoil reducer in either one and he'll do fine. when he's older, he'll see you were a good father that you wanted the best for him. odds are, either one of my guns mentioned will last long enough for him to get use to it and good with it and he'll remember you by it![;)]
former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, former navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.0 -
quote:Originally posted by sunbroker
Follow up to my original post...
My son is approaching 6 feet tall and weighs about 110 pounds. I am 6'4 so he will grow alot in the next couple of years. The gracious shooters and range officers at the trap range recommended the Remington model 870 express 12 gauge, because he thought he would outgrow a 20 gauge in 2 or 3 years.
One other gentleman recommended a semi auto because it had less recoil than a pump gun.
He won't outgrow a 20. It's all I ever hunt with, and it's all I've ever needed. I've used the 870 since I was 12 years old, and it still works fine. My grandfather was 6'4" and less than 140 pounds. He never shot a 12 in his adult life, but kept his 20 till he died.
However, if he does shoot a 12, consider reloading, since you can fill a 12 gauge hull with a 20 ga load. My buddies do that from time to time, and it works for them, not to mention they can still load true 12 ga shells.
Regardless of what he gets, reload. It will come in handy.0 -
bonified registered trap shooting is 12 ga only, unless ive missed something. 0 -
My first shotgun was a Stevens Savage DBL 20ga. It did well for me, and it was a gift from my grandaddy. If I was to BUY a shotgun for my son though, I would have to say it would be a 12ga. Get him someting that he can use in all types of hunting/target shooting. The 20ga just falls way to short in the hunting dept. A gun no one has mentioned here that I have had great success with is the Mossberg 835 ulti. It's relatively heavy for a pump, and recoil with bird shot loads is managed by my small framed wife with ease. Not to mention it can take the 3.5 inch magnum loads when he "grows" into it! 0 -
All of the expert opinions here are all very well and good, but most of you are missing the point! A trap gun is a trap gun and a field gun is a field gun! Period! AND never the twain shall meet!
If your son is going to be shooting trap seriously, then do not waste you time and money with anything other than a 12ga. And please buy him a serious trap gun, so as not to start him off with bad habits. A good used BT-99, or BT-99 plus is easy to come by, and not very expensive, and they are great guns to shoot trap with. and they will last a life time with the proper amount of care. Buying the cheaper brands, only bring grief if he is planing on shooting a lot. I shoot trap at least twice a week, and more if I can, and it is like any other sport, the more time you put into it, the more enjoyment you get out of it. If he is serious about this, you might want to look into a re loader as well!
Good luck,
BigBarn[:o)]
"Respect the land, and it will respect you"0
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