Chard Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 Anybody got any opinions on the best age to start a lad on shooting (clays). My lad is 12 in September and he's well-built and sturdy. I've only got 12 guage guns, so I might need to look at investing in a 20 guage, but I don't seem to see many kids of that age shooting, most of the younger shooters seem to be in the 13/14 year age range. Any opinions and views would be gratefully received Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john faul Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 i started shooting at 11 with a 12 bore and 24gr shells Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 He'll be fine. I first shot when I was 11 with the BASC. Providing the gun fits him he should be able to handle a 12 bore. I started using a 20 bore regularly when I was 13 using 28g payloads. Now as anyone on here will tell you I'm a small lad but providing the gun is a good fit it doesn't kick too badly. A well fitting 20 bore using 24g maybe 28g would be ideal but he may as well try your 12 bores to see how he gets on with them. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted August 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 i started shooting at 11 with a 12 bore and 24gr shells Thanks for that, John, I could try him on a lighter load. Was your 12 bore adapted in any way, or just an off-the-peg job? He'll be fine. I first shot when I was 11 with the BASC. Providing the gun fits him he should be able to handle a 12 bore. I started using a 20 bore regularly when I was 13 using 28g payloads. Now as anyone on here will tell you I'm a small lad but providing the gun is a good fit it doesn't kick too badly. A well fitting 20 bore using 24g maybe 28g would be ideal but he may as well try your 12 bores to see how he gets on with them. FM And thanks again Ferret Master. Yes, I think I'll let him try one of mine before I lash out on anything new, after all he might not take to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 Biggest problem isn't often the recoil as most think, but the weight of the gun and the length of pull... If he's a big lad might not matter but he will certainly tire quicker with a 12... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john faul Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 my 12 bore was a lincoln game gun it had 26 inch barrels and fitted me well it was light and i found it easy to swing and or carry when i tried heavier loads i found them recoiling more with the light gun i stuck to 24g ang some 28g loads and they were fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted August 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 Biggest problem isn't often the recoil as most think, but the weight of the gun and the length of pull... If he's a big lad might not matter but he will certainly tire quicker with a 12... Cheers Pin He's sturdy enough, but not particularly tall, so I'll have to try him for fit My guns are both long, so that could be the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShaggyRS6 Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 My son was 10. Shoots Clays better than be with his 410 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davo Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 Biggest problem isn't often the recoil as most think, but the weight of the gun and the length of pull... If he's a big lad might not matter but he will certainly tire quicker with a 12... Agreed, mine love shooting but the younger one finds the gun doesn't fit to well so it makes it awkward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatingisbest Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 I think i was about 12 when i used a shotgun for the first time, i started off with a 28b, then straight to 12b from that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 If you have a 12 guage that fits him fairly well buy some guage reducer...Browning Skeeters work extremly well and are very reasonable......this will let him shoot at a reduced guage or four as you will be able to go to 28g, 16ga, 20ga and 410 all in the same 12 guage gun. There is nothing going to put him off faster than getting whalloped everytime he pulls the trigger. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonna Shoot a Wabbit Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 My lad started with a .410 at 10yrs old and by 11 was shooting single barrel baikal, cut down to fit him with choke opened up to cylinder shooting 24gr cartridges. Baikal cost £20, stock cutting down and refit with recoil pad £20 choke re bore £30 total cost £70 (8 yrs ago) No pigeon was safe out to 30yds he shot very well with it til his teens when he moved onto an o/u. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 I started with a single barrel 12 as well, very good from the safety aspect no chance of forgetting the second barrel or discharging accidentally etc. Plus you can pick them up for next to nothing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 Another line could be perhaps a semi auto, handled the right way as safe as anything else and has the benefit of single barrel, lighter as well as reduced recoil..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 This is my 8 year old yesterday.Half hour with a .410 sbs and a great instructor.Her smile says it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 the 9 year old lads just started bought him a cheap 12 bore this year 24 1/4 " barrels 12" stock for £60 use subsonic cartridges through it and he shot over 75 cartridges in a day this year and then pinched some 30 grm of me without a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter-peter Posted August 25, 2007 Report Share Posted August 25, 2007 Anybody got any opinions on the best age to start a lad on shooting (clays). My lad is 12 in September and he's well-built and sturdy. I've only got 12 guage guns, so I might need to look at investing in a 20 guage, but I don't seem to see many kids of that age shooting, most of the younger shooters seem to be in the 13/14 year age range. Any opinions and views would be gratefully received my grand son started at 11 years old shooying 28 gr 12s he is small but doesn't seem to feel recoil I got him a 20 but he didn't like it. try some 24 grams for a start, and don't tell him to pull the gun hard to his shoulder. thats when they feel it most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted August 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2007 Thanks for all your replies - some helpful stuff there Still not sure what to do, as I measured him up with my Mossberg last night It's a long beast and he was clearly struggling with it although it's got what I consider to be a small stock. Everything seemed to fit at the stock end but it was a bit of a stretch for him to reach the fore-end when it was slid to the forward position, and there was just too much barrel floating about out there :P Peter-peter, I was interested by your comment regarding not getting him to tuck the gun tight into his shoulder. I have always thought that the main reason shooters tend to feel battered by recoil is that they are subconsciously pushing the gun out, leaving a gap for the gun to punch back at you. I've always assumed that the best way to avoid recoil problems is to ensure a perfect mount position and push your shoulder hard into the gun (or the gun hard into your shoulder). I've never been troubled by recoil, except my first couple of sessions shooting, when I assume my mount wasn't quite right, so I've probably never really understood the reasons for problems with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter-peter Posted August 25, 2007 Report Share Posted August 25, 2007 Thanks for all your replies - some helpful stuff there Still not sure what to do, as I measured him up with my Mossberg last night It's a long beast and he was clearly struggling with it although it's got what I consider to be a small stock. Everything seemed to fit at the stock end but it was a bit of a stretch for him to reach the fore-end when it was slid to the forward position, and there was just too much barrel floating about out there :P Peter-peter, I was interested by your comment regarding not getting him to tuck the gun tight into his shoulder. I have always thought that the main reason shooters tend to feel battered by recoil is that they are subconsciously pushing the gun out, leaving a gap for the gun to punch back at you. I've always assumed that the best way to avoid recoil problems is to ensure a perfect mount position and push your shoulder hard into the gun (or the gun hard into your shoulder). I've never been troubled by recoil, except my first couple of sessions shooting, when I assume my mount wasn't quite right, so I've probably never really understood the reasons for problems with it. I think the idea of pulling the gun hard against your shoulder came from old type army training, the old lee enfield 303 had a fair wallop. if you think about it, pulling say 60 lb psi.and gun recoil 60 lb psi. that would be 120 psi hitting you. with a shotgun the gun should just brush your shoulder leaving you'r muscles relaxed. still mounting perfect i must add. you'r hit rate will improve or should do. also if the stock is too long for him it will expose his collar bone to the recoil, by reaching for the trigger hope this helps//pete// Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted August 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2007 Thanks for all your replies - some helpful stuff there Still not sure what to do, as I measured him up with my Mossberg last night It's a long beast and he was clearly struggling with it although it's got what I consider to be a small stock. Everything seemed to fit at the stock end but it was a bit of a stretch for him to reach the fore-end when it was slid to the forward position, and there was just too much barrel floating about out there :P Peter-peter, I was interested by your comment regarding not getting him to tuck the gun tight into his shoulder. I have always thought that the main reason shooters tend to feel battered by recoil is that they are subconsciously pushing the gun out, leaving a gap for the gun to punch back at you. I've always assumed that the best way to avoid recoil problems is to ensure a perfect mount position and push your shoulder hard into the gun (or the gun hard into your shoulder). I've never been troubled by recoil, except my first couple of sessions shooting, when I assume my mount wasn't quite right, so I've probably never really understood the reasons for problems with it. I think the idea of pulling the gun hard against your shoulder came from old type army training, the old lee enfield 303 had a fair wallop. if you think about it, pulling say 60 lb psi.and gun recoil 60 lb psi. that would be 120 psi hitting you. with a shotgun the gun should just brush your shoulder leaving you'r muscles relaxed. still mounting perfect i must add. you'r hit rate will improve or should do. also if the stock is too long for him it will expose his collar bone to the recoil, by reaching for the trigger hope this helps//pete// Yes, I can see your point. I think what's been confusing me, is that I think of it like punching somebody on the chin If I put my fist on somebody's chin (touching) and push hard, it'll force his head back but it won't hurt him. If I push just as hard, but with a gap between my fist and his chin, It'll deck him :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter-peter Posted August 25, 2007 Report Share Posted August 25, 2007 Thanks for all your replies - some helpful stuff there Still not sure what to do, as I measured him up with my Mossberg last night It's a long beast and he was clearly struggling with it although it's got what I consider to be a small stock. Everything seemed to fit at the stock end but it was a bit of a stretch for him to reach the fore-end when it was slid to the forward position, and there was just too much barrel floating about out there :P Peter-peter, I was interested by your comment regarding not getting him to tuck the gun tight into his shoulder. I have always thought that the main reason shooters tend to feel battered by recoil is that they are subconsciously pushing the gun out, leaving a gap for the gun to punch back at you. I've always assumed that the best way to avoid recoil problems is to ensure a perfect mount position and push your shoulder hard into the gun (or the gun hard into your shoulder). I've never been troubled by recoil, except my first couple of sessions shooting, when I assume my mount wasn't quite right, so I've probably never really understood the reasons for problems with it. some pictures on sporting pictures show my grand son mounting my old hammer gun its got 32 inch barrells but only 14 inch pull to the front trigger he fires 36 gr no problem he is 14, but a bit on the small side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyrabbit Posted August 27, 2007 Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 hi im 14 y7ears old and i shoot my grandads(peter-peter) gun. it is a 12 bore and i really like using it. a couple of ppl are saying that the gun is not the right size for me but if i enjoy using it then i will cary on using it. also i will grow into it.i think that if you are under 8 years old then you should use a 20 bore but once you get use to the recoil change to a twelve bore they are much more fun and the adults think more of you wen u beat them weith a gun as powerfull as them ok.bye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted August 27, 2007 Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 to PW. I've seen the pics of you in sporting pictures with the 12 bore. FM :( P.S. I'm also 14. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonna Shoot a Wabbit Posted August 27, 2007 Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 nice to hear from you young 'un. if you really want to wind up the adults beat 'em with a smaller gauge gun. HA HA!! Hope you enjoy getting out with grandad, keep us all posted on your sporting adventures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Janaway Posted August 27, 2007 Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 If your shooting clays wat about buying him a 12 bore semi auto, i do belive that they have less kick. Sorry i cant be any more help but im really very new to shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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