Northumberland Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 (edited) Thinking of buying my 11 year old son a 28g or 20g shotgun. I am not sure which gun would be more appropriate? Let me know your thoughts? Thanks. Edited February 12, 2011 by Northumberland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 If he's big enough,a 12 bore with wide open chokes.If not,a 20 bore with even wider chokes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triumphant59 Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 At 12 my son had a double 410 which he outgrew by 13 and replaced with a little 20b which by 15 was replaced by a 30" 12b sporter! My advice would be to start with a 20b at least then you should get 3/4 years before upgrading to a 12b. Don't go to a twelve too early , he'll not handle it and loose interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 Depends on his build and what he can handle that's fits him You can get guns in 12, 20, 28 of similar weight, barrel length with m/c etc. 21g loads available in all gauges.... lighter loads available for the smaller bores, but consider sub-sonics for the 12. Maybe a session with a good coach where he can try the various guns and start rite?? ... How do you future proof kids? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maidment78 Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 I had a bolt action .410 when I was small and loved it, made me aim well due to the smaller load but to be honest I was more interested in sneaking up on birds in the woods the the size of the shot, question though, why would you grow out of a 20bore? I used one at the weekend and at 6'2" and 15 stone I love the smaller caliber gun to the point where I am looking to get one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoTshoT-16 Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 depending on size, a 12g/20g Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brimsa bell Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 depending on size, a 12g/20g :good:baikal 20g make nice cheap and chatty gun dont get one with big choke will give big kick and ake him scared of the gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treestalker Posted February 14, 2011 Report Share Posted February 14, 2011 Both my sons learnt with an old Investarm 20 bore. I cut the stock down really short and hacksawed the barrels off to just over 24" before retapping the bead sight. I also added a kick eze cheek piece to bring the comb height up and soften the blow. With all cartridges it shot amazing patterns and with 21g loads they were using it from the age of 6! I only paid £80 for the gun and eventually gave it away to a friend for his son to learn on. With it's 3" chambers my sons shot everything from snipe to canada geese with it. Incidentally my sons are now 14 and 16 and use a synthetic 20 bore Hatsan for pigeons and clays and a 20 bore Browning Medallist for formal driven days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lspencer Posted February 14, 2011 Report Share Posted February 14, 2011 If i had to choose between 28g and 20g, id choose a 20. But have you considered a .410? I have a .410 bakial hushpower and its brilliant! No kick at all and comes in very handy for use around cattle/horses or any area were noise is a concern. Also very cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berties Posted February 14, 2011 Report Share Posted February 14, 2011 All about how big he is and confident he is with a shotgun my 10 year old had lessons on a 28,and now has a 20g with the stock fitted,can shoot 12g but at 10 can shoot around happily but 12 would knock him around to much,get him some lessons a good coach will give you impartial advice to what will suit best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berties Posted February 14, 2011 Report Share Posted February 14, 2011 All about how big he is and confident he is with a shotgun my 10 year old had lessons on a 28,and now has a 20g with the stock fitted,can shoot 12g but at 10 can shoot around happily but 12 would knock him around to much,get him some lessons a good coach will give you impartial advice to what will suit best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted February 14, 2011 Report Share Posted February 14, 2011 (edited) My girls started with goes with my 12 bore and 21gm loads but the youngest who is the keenest is getting a 20 bore for her birthday! I settled on the hatsan youth which has 24 " barrels and an adjustable stock to get the fit right. The 12 bore was just to heavy for her really Edited February 14, 2011 by utectok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomaddy525 Posted February 14, 2011 Report Share Posted February 14, 2011 A 20 with light loads if hes small, when i was 12 i shot 36gram loads from my 20bore but yet again ime 14 now and am 6foot 2 and play blind side flanker in rugby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 Have a read of this post from Sage100 on a similar thread http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/156287-14-year-old-daughter/page__p__1329265#entry1329265 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchester101 Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 I started with a 12g semi auto, as there is alot less recoil and are reasonably cheap just in case he drops it ect. But its your choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 Consider going straight for a light/slim 12 bore. If a boy/woman/girl takes up the sport they most often graduate to a 12g anyway. Get some lessons, get the mount right, and get him to develop some good habits from Day One. Hull Comp X cartridges are fine and the 21 gm have very kind recoil (in fact so do the 28s for that matter), so you might afford to let him use a lighter 12 bore with the 21s such as a gun designed for field use. The experience of shooting can be transformed with the correct equipment. I have fired a few 20 bores in my time using 28gm and been kicked by them far worse than a 12 bore with a 21gm cartridge. Most sporting clay shoots at medium ranges won't offer any disadvantage to 21gm cartridges either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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