woodshed Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 I have 9 and 5 year old girls. The 9 is just now sounding like she'd be willing to go on a youth hunt for turkey with me. I'm not convinced either will ever make hunters some day. Their mom has them very prissified to say the least. Anyhow. I need a youth shotgun but don't want to break the bank. This may be a one time deal. I need the right one for a 9 year old girl. Can she handle the recoil of a 20 guage? Some of you parents out there,,,, what do recommend? would a 410 work fro turkey? The less expensive shotguns don't have screw in chokes. I'm concerned about the pattern a little. Would I be better off with a shotgun combo for a slug capability or go with a rifle later in a seperate gun. (rifles legal in MO)? Please any advice is appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 I need the right one for a 9 year old girl. Can she handle the recoil of a 20 guage? Some of you parents out there,,,, what do recommend? would a 410 work fro turkey? The less expensive shotguns don't have screw in chokes. I'm concerned about the pattern a little. Would I be better off with a shotgun combo for a slug capability or go with a rifle later in a seperate gun. (rifles legal in MO)? Please any advice is appreciated. Might check your states regs. A 410 is not legal for turkeys here. Have found that availability of turkey loads for 20 gauge locally is a bit of an issue here too, just not many options. Bought my wife a remington youth model 870, and it has a bit more recoil than her .243 with the 3 inch turkey loads we have tried, but is not as much recoil as a .270. My oldest daughter is 12 now, she has been shooting since she was about 6 or 7, she has been shooting and hunting with a .243 and the .50 muzzleloader with downcharged loads without any serious complaints about recoil, but she has not shot the 20 gauge yet. She will shoot it though, really do not think it will bother her. A good pad would likely make a difference too, may put one on my wifes 870. Patterns we are getting with the 20 gauge youth gun are pretty good out to 35 yards, have tried two different loads and a tru glo gobbler stopper choke. I posted some pics in the turkey hunting forum a while back, here is a link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodshed Posted March 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 I just realized I put this thread in the wrong spot. But anyhow, I didn't think of the 410 not being legal, I'll check that. Some of the inexpensive guns don't have screw in chokes. I'm afraid if I can't get a X-full choke she'd be too limited with the pattern. I found a couple of guns on the net that come with 243 or 22 barrel options. I think that would be a good value to go with these, but are modified fixed chokes. The 870 seems a little pricey for me if I'm not sure she'll really take it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 The 870 seems a little pricey for me if I'm not sure she'll really take it up. The 870 youth model in 20 gauge is $268 I think at wal mart. Really was not that bad. A cheaper option would be the charles daly, think it uses remchokes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodshed Posted March 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 On my way to walmart. Thanks Do you have any knowledge of the Rossi single shot or the H&R pardner? They are in the low 100's but modified chokes. I might get what I pay for too. choke options for one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 Do not have any first hand experience with the single shots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 the expirience i have had with the single shots is they kick quit a bit more. my buddy has a single shot 20 for his daughter and he said it kicks more than his mossberg 500 12 ga Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 I am a huge fan of the nef rifles, but wouldn't recomend the shotgun for your daughter. A single shot is way to light and recoil would be really hard for her. I think your best bet would be the 20gu. 870 youth. Put a good recoil pad on it like a sims or pachmyer (Sp?). I think that comes with screw in chokes and she could shoot slugs out of it. But then there's the recoil thing again. The Nef guns are great light riffles and they make good slug guns too, but they are light and recoil will be rough. If you wanted a deer riffle I would say NEF 243. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ny garyyamamoto Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 ia m goin with johnf with the NEF there good lil gun and cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleA Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 I would opt for the Rem 870 youth in laminate. This is going to add a little more weight than the synthetic model thus reducing felt recoil some. You can also make up some dummy shells using nothing but shot in them and putting 2-3 rounds in the tube magazine you just added a 1/2 lb of weight and took some sting out of the gun. While on the subject of weight it can be a double edged sword, in one respect it helps in reducing recoil but in another it hurts the person if he/she can not handle the actual weight of the firearm which I have seen time and time again. I hate to say it, but alot of the youth of today have not the strength needed to hold a 7 lb gun. In the future when the youngster(s) grow to be bigger,adding a full size stock is very easily done with the 870's as are other barrels. Being a repeater they offer more than the single shot which can help in the future when maybe trying sporting clays, skeet etc. Try looking at it as an investment in the future, yes you pay more now but when considering a lifetime of shooting the cost doesnt seem so high. And if the girls decide hunting isnt for them, you can simply switch stocks out and use the gun yourself or sell it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZooBear Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 No offense but, are you sure you want to start your girls off shooting a shotgun? The kick and sound of a shotgun can be a little much for a small girl and if it bothers her you are fighting that forever. I would start them with a cheap 22 rifle. Get them into shooting first, they can laugh, talk, move around and have fun. Later they can hunt rabbits and squirrels and have more fun. If rushed you might turn them away from hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 i agree with the 22 rifle to start out on. as far as gettin a shotgun i believe mossberg has a youth 20 ga and when you buy a new one it comes with a certificate so you can send it in when they get older and they will put the full size stock on it.i have a nef handi rifle in 243 and it is a nice little gun. not too much recoil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodshed Posted March 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 Well guys,,, I hate to say this. I've spent the last few days obsessing with all this. I naturally got very excited when she answered to me that she would go turkey hunting with me. I've been shopping for guns high and low. Well, I thought I had made my decision. Before I acted, I asked her again. "is this something you really want to do, or were you just trying to make me happy?" answer: "I was just trying to make you happy daddy.:(" I agree with you. This is NOT something to rush them into. She said she likes to shoot with me and my dad which has happened a few times. (a .22) She wants to do it again but "she doesn't want to sit in the cold for ever to hunt." That tells me,, she isn't ready. I'm not going to act now. I think if it happens it'll have to be another couple years. A 20 gauge is prob. too much for her right now anyhow, like some of you have mentioned. I'll keep plinking with her now and then with my .22. Thanks for your help guys. I appreciate your time. To tell you the truth,, when she said she just wanted to make me happy.... I melted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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