Which Gun for Interested Offspring

[njb73]

So i have had my eldest out for a few times now ( 12 y.o in August ) and he is very keen to continue. He has been using my Browning Ultra ( Aided) to get used to things on the skeet range and is showing some very good potential. He can only manage about 25 shots before he says no more due to the weight of the gun...He is happy with the recoil and has shown no signs of marks or bruising.

Have tried him with the Browning silver semi auto, which he likes weight wise but is not keen on the moving feel of the gun, which i can understand.

 

Now i know the Ultra is a pretty heavy gun for a youngster, so i am excitedly looking at getting my new shooting buddy his own gun.

 

I have had a feel of the new Yildiz 20b and it is very light and i am sure he could manage that.... but then i noticed there is only about 9oz difference between the 20b and the 12b weight. I would have to get the 12b stock reduced which would shave a bit of weight, but he would gain with the bigger bore and the longer barrel.

 

Yildiz SPZ M JUNIOR 20b....5lb 14oz...26" barrel....13 1/2" stock

 

Yildiz SPZ ME 12b....6lb 7oz....28" barrel....14 3/4" stock

 

Just wondering if anybody else has got experience in getting their kids guns and how they went about it.

[Zetter]

My daughter shoots with me on occasions and she had issues with weight and recoil on a 20 bore.

It all depends on the build of the child (some sprout faster than others) but in the end I managed to bag a nice Lincoln 28 bore O/U for her which is ideal and a fair bit lighter than the 20 bores but having an advantage over say a .410 with more lead in the air and no so tight chokes so they don't get discouraged.

I think Yildiz do one in 28 bore and if you come to move it on as your son moves up in calibre they are really desirable for junior shooters as you don't see as many around.

[welshwarrior]

Try a few as unfortunately kids don't come in standard sizes or strengths. I've taught kids of your sons age that are huge but complain the 410 is a little heavy, but the really weedy kids who shoot the 20 bores well.

 

Whatever you decide don't try to rush him into the next bore it's not a t shirt where room to grow is outstanding, you want a good fit now, the guns sell fine in small bores for other teenagers anyway.

 

If your anywhere near me I'd be happy to let him try my coaching gun and can probably get him handling some Yildiz which are ideal guns for kids IMHO.

[bakerboy]

Get your son into as many shops as you can to let him get the feel of a wide range of guns and weights.

 

Visit a coach who if they are up to the game will have guns of all calibres available, they should also be able to fit the gun to your son as well.

 

Where are you located? I could perhaps recommend a Coach local to you.

 

You could look on the BASC, APSI or CPSA website to find a Coach in your area, it will be money well spent.

[markm]

Bought my (now 13) son a revo 28. Cut an inch off the stock. They done a 20 with a shorter stock but I figured a 28 will be easier to off load. If he want to keep it I will either add the wood back on or stick a thick rubber pad on the end.

 

20 cartridges are a little cheaper but as I shoot a 28 I always have then in.

[Gordon R]

I bought an Escort 20b auto for my grandson, from derekbomag on here. Top bloke by the way.

 

It was too long in the stock, which I shortened by about 3". I picked up a spare stock from a Franchi auto for £5 on Ebay. It took about a minute to get a perfect fit. I now have a full sized matching spare.

 

If I had to do it again, I would have bought a spare stock - plenty about - and chopped the spare down, so that I had the original stock, when I came to sell.

 

This is the chopped down version.

[Oxfordshooter]

My eldest son started shooting clays aged 11 with a Lincoln 20 bore which has a shortened youth stock. It's a very pointable and quick little gun, seems well made too.