OH NO!!!

[RolinThundr]

My best friends nephew is 9...Grandpa says he's gonna buy him a single shot 20ga from big5 for his bday in august. I said "NOOOOOO!" The kid likes to rack the pump shotgun, just like us big kids sometimes do. And he'd have the same type of gun uncle and I have.

I think its time for an intervention, chippin' in the money and upgrading the kid to a 20ga 870 for his bday. I'm afraid the kid aint gonna want nothing to do with that single shot after an outing or two...

Children like to mimic the people around them, especially the ones they love. My 9 mo old wants to play with our cell phones instead of the toy one we got him, and he wants to hold the menus at restaurants. When reasonable, and done properly, it is ok to indulge them. If he really enjoys the pump action, then perhaps you and his uncle can help Grandpa buy a Rem 870 20ga for him, but let Grandpa have the spotlight- let it be his gift to his Grandson- and you and uncle can quietly be proud of his pride in his new toy.
If it is decided that Grandpa is still going to get him a single-shot 20 ga, then be sure to show excitement about it when he gets it. Read the owners manual with him and whenever you go to the range with him show interest in his gun and ask him if you can shoot it. Showing interest in his single-shot may help him stay interested in it.

[RolinThundr]

Read through some more replies and thought I'd add some more.

My mom and dad would make deals with us- my brothers and I- when it came to large purchases while growing up. Often, the arrangement was that we would pay about half or so, and they would cover the other half. We put in a lot of hard work, but we took care of stuff because we were proud of it and worked hard for it. So having him do chores to earn part of the cost and covering the rest as a b-day gift is a great idea.

An in between solution to the single-shot and pump action dilemma may be a double-barrel shotgun. They are often used for sporting competition, especially the over-under, so it could work better for clays. I like the coach side-by-sides I've seen and it should be a good size for him. Just another thing to consider.