suitable gun for my daughter

[nugget]

Hi all

Just wondering what age would you consider taking your daughter shooting , I have a 11year old who is keen to come shooting with me , would that be a good age to start if so what calibre gun would be suitable for her?

[la bala]

When my son started at 11, i got him a 20 bore.

[robbiep]

It all depends on her height, strength and (to a lesser extent) her weight. My wife, who is 5'2" and weighs about 8.5 stone, uses a lightweight 20 bore with 21-24g cartridges without any issues. However, she finds a 12 bore very tiring to use.

[DEADLY PLUMBER]

I started my son at 11 on a 410 then on to

a 20 bore. My daughter at nine had a little go

with the 410 with 2" carts. If you start with a

410 & static targets so she can hit the target and

get you st to handling the gun and its bang without

the kick. I would start at that then let her step up

when she is ready. Build her comfidence.

[HDAV]

Clays? 28 bore built on a light action but scarce and not cheap to feed but cracking guns.

[subsonicnat]

20 bore ... Light cartridges.

[HDAV]

20 bore ... Light cartridges.

Is it that simple? Some are as heavy as a 12! Putting. 21g carts through a heavy 20 is just more expensive than putting them through a light 12!

[FinFerNan]

There is no hard and fast rule here. The issue is mostly to do with the weight of gun your Daughter is able/comfortable to use. And of course the recoil she is OK with. These are very much dependent on the fit and balance of the gun and crucially her own characteristics.

 

The recoil can be "adjusted" to suit by altering the weight of the gun in combination with the weight/speed of the load being used. As a general guide, using the same load, the heavier the gun the less it will recoil, but of course a heavier gun is unlikely to suit your child.

 

So for example a 28g load shot through a 7lb 20b will kick like a mule. Whereas a 21g load through a 7.5lb 12 will recoil a lot less.

 

Obviously you can opt for 21g through a 20b, and simply opting for a smaller bore may well be the answer, but of course there are difficulties - availability and cost of guns/ammo. So it becomes a bit of a "Holy Grail" search for the ideal combo to suit her.

 

The ideal situation will be if your Daughter is comfortable with a suitable, possibly lighter and maybe cut down 12 bore, only because these are more readily available and the shells are cheaper. If she can cope with a 12 bore, then try her out with 21g shells (Hull XP are very cheap too!) Some brands do "Junior" versions, must be worth a look?

 

If she really can't cope with the weight of a 12, then a smaller bore or possibly an auto may be the answer.

[100milesaway]

I would try her on a 12 bore with very light cartridges. I personally think 20 bores kick much more than 12's. The lighter the gun the heavier the recoil. When I first started to shoot I weighed in at 7 stone and didn't find a 12 bore a problem.Don't shoot more than 10 cartridges a session that way she will build up confidence.Get her doing some light weights for arm strength, baked bean tins are a good weight, Young lasses arm muscles wont have much strength and will feel very achey unless they prepare. from Auntie.

[Remimax]

after doin the 410 start up i moved my ten and eight year old onto a 20 gauge youth hatsan semi auto ,short ,light and not much recoil.

they luv it .

 

At this age its easy to put em off with a gun thats too heavy or kicks like a mule.

Edited December 30, 2014 by Remimax

[hawkfanz]

I would start at either 28g or 20g,my lanber 20 is 6 pounds in weight and my yildiz 28g is even lighter,you can get very light carts for both,i think in 28g you can get as low as 16gram and upto 25 gram,these small calibers are my favourite these days and don't find them a handicap,,ive been shooting 52 years so not exactly new to the game.

[dougall]

recoil is the dreaded that all kids fear.I would start with a single .410 using 9g cartridges.....I think a 12 g will be too heavy,and a 20g will kick too much for starters......all you can do if not very careful at this stage is put her off and it is recoil which is the enemy.a 410 with 9g shells is just a noisy airgun! Whilst it is difficult to hit clays etc balloons on the floor is the place to start to build confidence...if/when she shows real keeness,say n a yr or so consider 28/20g...would be my steer....clearly it depends upon her physical strength/gumption etc...but i cannot thin of many 11 yr old girls who would like the weight of a 12 or the punch of a 20g at this point. atb.

[figgy]

Seen a small girl shoot a Yildiz junior model 28bore very well at Spennymoor other year she then moved up to a bigger gun later.

[nugget]

Thanks guys for all the info really appreciate it ,

Think I'll give her a go of 410 and see how she goes then hopefully move up to 20 if she enjoys it .

Thanks again

[figgy]

.410 are very hard to shoot well for experienced shots so can be disheartening for novices.

 

Probs why most start on 28 bore or 20 bore junior model guns with low weight cartridges.

[HDAV]

WIll you be shooting at a ground or on your land? .410 with static targets(balloons are good especially if you fill them with some flour or talc.)

 

http://www.guntrader.co.uk/Guns-For-Sale/Franchi_Shotgun_Falconet_For-Sale_141219150744116

[langlands]

I would recommend a .410 or a 28 bore to start with, using very light loads.

While everyone is correct about the recoil in the short term, holding the weight of the gun is the problem that I have found when coaching.

Using a gun that is too heavy will produce a 'lean back' to counter the weight of the weapon.

The student then continues to use this 'lean back' long after they have developed the core strength that would allow them to stand correctly.

You can see people who have trained on a gun that is too heavy at every club shoot. Look at the line of their heads and spine in relation to their hips. It's a nightmare to correct, (and expensive, if you're paying someone to correct it)

I know .410 and 28 bore are expensive to use, however, they shouldn't be on them too long.

Work on the correct posture when coaching them and move them up to 20 or 12 only when they can hold the gun up without any 'lean'.

Dry training in the house is cheap and effective and allows you to watch for problems before they become ingrained.