Recommend for an 11 year old?

[Bull Elk]

If you want your son to continue to enjoy shooting with you forget the 12 and go with a 20 ga.

[fairfaxjim]

I started with a Stevens 20 ga. side by side double at about 10 years old. I still have and use it with fond memories from time to time, 55 years later!

[jrpowell3]

I started with a Stevens 20 ga. side by side double at about 10 years old. I still have and use it with fond memories from time to time, 55 years later!

I still have the 16ga Stevens SxS I learned to shoot skeet on, too!

[Jjwisled]

Ask the kid. I got a win. Ranger 12 gauge for Christmas when I was 12 and shot the hell out of it no problem. If he can handle it and wants one then go for it. Let him shoot a 20 and ask what he thinks.
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[eightmd]

Like most said a 20 ga is a very good alternative to a 12. If he ends up dove or quail hunting it is certainly a good gun for that also. I bought a very old Rem 11/48 28ga for dove hunting. Its lighter a little less pellets but adequate for hunting also. Luckily I hunt where I can use lead.

Couple of things though. The kid is going to grow so this gun may be just for 5 or 6 years. They might look for a used gun. If hunting is in the picture you want to make sure to get a gun that has chokes and can use non-lead ammo, but you know that.