Shotguns! Can We Chat?!

[sawhorseray]

AFTER REVERSE REPLACEMENT SHOULDER SURGERY ON BOTH SIDES ALL MY LONG GUNS ARE GONE NOW. MY LAST SHOTGUN WAS A WINCHESTER SX-2, THESE DAYS I BELIEVE IT'S NOW THE SX-4. SEMI-AUTO THAT WEIGHS SEVEN POUNDS, HANDLES 2&3/4" QUAIL LOADS TO 3&1/2" MAGS, 28" BARREL, FAST AS A BENELLI, I NEVER HAD A JAM. COMES WITH CHOKES THAT'LL HANDLE EVERYTHING FROM DOVES TO GEESE, GET SLUG CHOKES FOR BUCKS TOO. ONE GUN THAT'LL DO IT ALL, MINE LASTED 25 YEARS, GOT $500 FOR IT AT CABELAS WHEN I HAD TO DUMP IT LAST YEAR, PRETTY TOUGH TO BEAT.

I HAD A REMINGTON 1100 DISINTIGRATE IN A DUCK BLIND IN MY HANDS, AND THEIR SEMI-AUTO 22 MAG BLEW UP IN MY FACE. IF YOU DECIDE ON A REMINGTON GET A 870 PUMP, THEIR AUTOS ARE JUNK. RAY

 

[chopsaw]

REMINGTON 1100

My buddie had one . Drive 8 hours to Iowa to pheasant hunt . Bang , jamb ,, cuss , cuss , bang , jamb , repeat .

FAST AS A BENELLI,

I heard that about the Winchester .
I was looking at a Benelli years ago . They had a video of it shooting five shells before the first casing hit the ground .

 

[schlotz]

Lots of good advice & opinions here on what to get. Teaching him to shoulder it correctly before squeezing the trigger would be my first suggestion. Done properly either gauge will work for your son. Once you decide, take him skeet shooting. Great place to learn a number of valuable techniques.

In earlier days this Browning 20ga was my choice. Purchased brand new in 1969 - Belgium produced. Haven't used it in a number of years, but the grandson is now 11 and it just might come out of hibernation

 

[chopsaw]

A5 Browning ,, awesome shotgun .
A feature I love on those is the chamber lock out . Blocks the feed , and you unchamber the shell . Leaves the chamber empty for moving around .
Always wanted one .

 

[schlotz]

FYI, don't properly hold this 20 ga for a lengthy skeet session and you'll come home black & blue. Don't ask me how I know

 

[crazymoon]

Justin, I too agree with the "get a 12 ga." crowd. You can always buy a slip-on Limbsaver recoil pad until your son gets a bit older. No picks for make or model, there are too many good ones out there .

 

[pineywoods]

Justin I started using a 410 at age 7 and have owned quite a few shotguns since. Right now there are a bunch of shotguns in my gun safes. They are mostly 12 gauge but I do have a 20 gauge or two as well. I would suggest as Mr Wipple did buy a 12 gauge 3 1/2" magnum just because it can shoot 3 1/2" magnum shells you don't have to shoot them until he decides he wants to hunt something he needs them for. If he's bird hunting for dove and such he would be using birdshot and it doesn't kick much if shouldered correctly. I have seen several different brands mentioned and there a a lot of good ones. I have mostly pumps but do have a Benelli semiauto in 12 gauge 3" also a Browning 12 gauge 3 1/2" Gold Hunter semiauto. The Mossberg 835 is a nice pump gun. When I was younger we used to deer hunt with dogs and we all carried shotguns. Thick woods narrow dirt roads and running deer makes the shotguns the best at least for about 15-20 of us that hunted together. I have killed a lot of deer in my life and most of them have been taken with a 12 gauge Mossberg model 500 chambered in 3" magnum. If you practice or shoot enough you can shoot the pump about as fast as an auto and they don't jamb. I also have the first model 3 1/2" that I had ever seen it is a 12 gauge Browning pump.
As far as brand if you stay with the ones that have been listed in this thread I would say buy the one he feels fits him the best. I have two shotguns loaded and where I can get them fast both are pumps one 12 gauge the other 20 gauge.

 

[WaterRat]

Add me to the 12ga crowd. If your son is close to average size for 16 it’s no problem. I was using a 12ga at 13yrs and I was kinda scrawny. I think the year before I used an Uncle’s 20ga that had a cut down stock to youth size.

If it’s also mostly for waterfowl I’d go synthetic stock with full camo paint job. My Dad actually just picked himself one up on a black Friday sale.

Autos are nice, pumps almost never fail. My late 80s Rem 870 still runs like a champ. Though as others said the new 870s are best avoided.

Happy hunting!

 

[1MoreFord]

I agree with everyone who says to stay away from later year production 870's. The older ones were great and even the more modern Wingmasters were(are?) far better than the run of the mill junk 870's Remington has produced. However they cost a lot more than most of the later 870's.
Would far rather have a current production Mossberg 500.

The Ithaca M37 is nice pump gun as is the Browning BPS. Last I knew the BPS could be had with a magazine cut-off. Really like mine but I chose one w/o a cut-off because it was cheaper.

Big fan of the Winchester SX- series guns and the similar Brownings. The current world speed shooting record for shotguns was done with a SX the last I knew. My Winchester is an old SX-1. Also have my grandfather's 100+ Y.O. model 12, 12 ga. Will keep it til I die, because of sentimental reasons and it's still a fine shotgun.

The only shotgun that ever hurt me to shoot was a 12 ga Benelli. Don't remember the model but it was supposed to be one of the fast inertia models. Maybe, and hopefully, they aren't all that bad. An Ex-KC Chief linebacker let me borrow it to use at a match one day. Never again plan on shooting one again.

 

[Winterrider]

Benelli would 100% get my vote. Can be stripped down( if got dirty) very easily in the field if needed in less than 5 mins. That is a great plus as I clean this gun way more often than I did of any of my previous tubes.

 

[clifish]

hmmm, I inherited my dad's vintage 70-80's under/over weatherby 12 ga that we used to shoot trap and skeet in the 80's. I think it was considered a pretty nice rifle?

 

[Fueling Around]

Ignore all the brands and find what feels best for him and for you.
Stay away from single shots. Yes they are light and reliable but all kick as the proverbial mule.

Don't currently own a shotgun. My son destroyed the 12 ga Springfield I got from my uncle. He put it in a press to push the pin and bent the receiver.

If I was shopping today a street sweeper would be nice. OK just kidding.

Benelli Beretta would top my list. Got to see Tim Bradley a number of years ago. Yes Benelli Beretta sponsored him, but He personally said it was the finest shotgun. I think he got off 7 rounds before the first casing hit the ground.

...
Also safety location . I bet most are on top for right or left handed people , but just something to check .
...

I was going to ask about this, too.
I'm a left shooter and the thumb safety on my Springfield 20 ga pump was great as a youth and also for my son that shot left when he went small game and in HS trap league.
As an adult I can handle a button safety with ease.

edit old age brain fart

 

[forktender]

I agree with everyone who says to stay away from later year production 870's. The older ones were great and even the more modern Wingmasters were(are?) far better than the run of the mill junk 870's Remington has produced. However they cost a lot more than most of the later 870's.
Would far rather have a current production Mossberg 500.

The Ithaca M37 is nice pump gun as is the Browning BPS. Last I knew the BPS could be had with a magazine cut-off. Really like mine but I chose one w/o a cut-off because it was cheaper.

Big fan of the Winchester SX- series guns and the similar Brownings. The current world speed shooting record for shotguns was done with a SX the last I knew. My Winchester is an old SX-1. Also have my grandfather's 100+ Y.O. model 12, 12 ga. Will keep it til I die, because of sentimental reasons and it's still a fine shotgun.

The only shotgun that ever hurt me to shoot was a 12 ga Benelli. Don't remember the model but it was supposed to be one of the fast inertia models. Maybe, and hopefully, they aren't all that bad. An Ex-KC Chief linebacker let me borrow it to use at a match one day. Never again plan on shooting one again.

I work on guns as a side gig, the Browning BPS is a smooth shooter, but they are right up there with the most difficult guns to break down and reassemble made, for that reason alone I'd stay away from them. I was taught to break down and clean my guns after every use, and I still do it that way, unless I'm hunting or shooting multiple days in a row. Then they just get wiped down and swabbed with a bore brush until the last day, then they get a full break down cleaning.

 

[forktender]

I'm the opposite of that . I got my first shotgun when I was 9 . Didn't own a high power rifle until I was in my 50's .

First off is find something that fits him , as already said . Also safety location . I bet most are on top for right or left handed people , but just something to check .
Second , don't base the gauge on recoil alone . Think pellet count / shot volume .
Chances are in a " shot " situation he won't even feel the recoil .

Then grade of the gun , then brand .
Sounds like a field grade would be a great choice .
Then chamber / what shells it will take , and what barrel options there are .

I have an older ( 2nd gen ) Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Turkey in Realtree all purpose gray .
I have a rifled barrel with a scope rail in the same camo pattern for it too .
Quality firearm , hands down . 26" ported barrel with threaded chokes .
shoots 2 3/4 , 3 and 3 1/2 .
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Remington is another great option . 870 field grade , black synthetic . It has a safety mounted down by the trigger guard . I like top of barrel location . Top of barrel , I just slide my thumb up , bang . Trigger guard I have to roll my hand around the bottom to use it , get my finger back on the trigger . He might not have trouble , but make sure he operates the safety ( unloaded ) with it shouldered to see what he thinks .
Save the Wing Master for later in life .

So pump
12 ga
Camo or black synthetic stock
Chamber up to 3 1/2 " shells .

Also ,, been a long time since I looked at or bought a shotgun . Back then the barrels weren't compatible with steel shot for waterfowl . Not sure what it's like now . Maybe they all spec out for lead or steel .


Great choice too . Early 500's were prone to issues . The first of the " corrected " ones were 500A . I had a 500A and also bought a powder coated , ported , rifled slug barrel for it . Only gun I ever sold , and still regret it to this day .
That was years ago . In today's market , Mossberg is a quality brand .

That first shot gun at 9 years old ? My Grandpa on my Dad's side J Stevens single 12 ga .
Bought out of Sears Roebuck catalog . 1920's .
I redid the wood on it , and had it professionally reblued years ago . All the flats filed clean and square .
I have the original cleaning kit for it with the bag , and a leather boot that ties on with a foam insert . Only owned by my Family .
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My first shotgun was a Single shot 20GA sear & Roebuck Ted Williams model, I got it when I was 5 or 6 yrs old, and I still have it. Dad had me in the duck blind every weekend of the season starting out at 4yrs old, learning the ropes. My Dad is in his mid 80's and still hunts every weekend. (he goes more than I do)
Our bird hunting is a shell of what it was just a few yrs ago, thanks to mismanagement, the bunny humpers and tree huggers infiltrated our DFG department, and they are trying to kill hunting and fishing in this F'd up state.

I missed that his boy was 16 yrs old, buy the kid a 3'' 12 GA don't worry about 3 1/2 they aren't worth the recoil. In all honesty, if you can't kill'um with 2 3/4'' #4 or #5 steel shot, you're shooting too far. I don't slug hunt, but my friend that do all use 20ga slug guns, so there must be something to the ballistics of the 20ga, or they all wouldn't be using them.

 

[luvcatchingbass]

I just skimmed everything and I would say that at 16yr 12ga probably isn't an issue, just pick your loads for what you want to do and like said earlier if he ever want's to shoot 3.5in magnum loads he can. I can't complain about my Benelli Super Nova but I don't always shoot it great but there are more problems like my lack of practice and it probably doesn't fit me quite right for every shooting situation.
I would suggest taking a good look at the Weatherby Elements or Sorix or the Franchi Affinity for Semi Auto options in 12 or 20. The Element for the money really interests me. I haven't got one yet but am heavily considering one or the other. I'm looking for a 20ga for the 13yr old daughter beings she is a light framed, tall and lanky. I think others mentions the Winchester SX4, I know a few people who have used the heck out of theirs with no complaints either. One thing to remember is that a Semi Auto will soak up recoil over a pump especially if it is a gas system vs an inertia. Maybe hit YouTube and look up Target Focused Life if you get a list of guns you want to see good reviews on. He also has video's explaining other facets of shotgun shooting such as ammo and chokes (he is a big Carlson fan so those might be biased, I think he is sponsored as well)

Weatherby Sorix (5mo Old)


Weatherby Element (4yrs old)


Franchi Waterfowl Elite (4yrs old)


I will say that the only thing that takes the Weatherby out for my daughter is that they are a 28in barrel and that is a little much for her at this point, myself I prefer a longer barrel but I bet if I get her an Affinity 3 20ga and if she isn't with me bird hunting I will likely be taking it myself sometimes over the 12ga.

 

[Hijack73]

The "buy a 12" has been covered here so I'll just say that IMO Mossberg makes a really good pump if you want to get out the door for around 500. But he'd be better off with a semi for the pterodactyls.

But if I was going to buy a 'nice' one I think I'd spring for a Beretta A300. Under a grand. A 28" is better suited for birds but a 24" is still very capable and is a better deer gun (at least in areas I've hunted - a 28" can be a royal bitch depending on what your terrain is like).