Need Recommendation for Daughter's First Shotgun

[RonZ]

I recently got my 2 daughters (13 and 17) interested in shooting. So far its been .22 pistol and rifle and a little 38 special. They are both interested in shooting clays. My 12 gauge is a bit too much for them so I am thinking about a Stoeger condor .410 OU with 26" barrel. I am worried that 410 will not be enough to reach out and bust clays.

Any suggestions or recommendations?

[newglockster]

20 ga semi-auto for the win! Less recoil that 12 gauge, semi-auto tames it down even more, and 20 gauge is still plenty to reach out to bust some clays. Get a good recoil pad, and go shoot all day!

[hcbr]

+1 on the 20g

[IPSICK]

20ga and a good recoil pad. You could also try a pump action because it makes it easier to cut down the stock to fit them.

[JagerDog]

20 ga semi-auto for the win! Less recoil that 12 gauge, semi-auto tames it down even more, and 20 gauge is still plenty to reach out to bust some clays. Get a good recoil pad, and go shoot all day!

^^^^this.

I just sold a 20g Montefeltro to a CG'er for his daughter to learn on. A Beretta 3901 would be a good choice too.

The .410 is a specialist's gun or very rudimentary training, small game. Big handicap on commercial clay shooting. They'll hit more birds and have more fun with 20g.

[Iskra]

28 ga is a good choice too. Basically the ballistics of a 20 but the recoil of a .410.

[mdhpper]

28 gauge ammo is too expensive. Stick with the 20.

[axhoaxho]

I agree with the suggestion of a 20ga semi-auto shotgun. Remington makes a nice 11-87 20ga semi-auto compact shotgun for the young(er) folks, and it featured an adjustable length-of-pull stock system. It migth be worth to check it out.




Of if prefer a pump-action, Remington also makes a series of 20ga 870 Compact shotguns (came with black, camo, or even pink camo colors.)







Regards,

http://www.remington.com/product-families/firearms/compacts/compact-shotguns.aspx

[aippi]

Ditto to the post from Axhoax. I got an 11-87 29ga youth in for a client that was getting it for his Nephew and it was a fine weapon. Also, there is a $75 cash rebate on them that just started yesterday and runs through December 31st.

[BigDogatPlay]

Another vote here for a 20 gauge gas operated semi-auto in a "youth" model. It'll be easy on their dispositions to get started with and still have plenty of shot in the pattern to reward good shooting with thoroughly powdered clays.

As above, .410 (and 28 gauge for that matter) requires some skill and practice to be a good scorer in formal (on a range with trap houses) clay games. It's also a must to hand load if you plan to shoot any kind of volume. That said, a .410 for hand thrown birds is a good way to get started and to learn.

[bjl333]

Where are you located? It is a good thing to get them in a clinic to learn the basics. If you're in SoCal I can provide you with the shotguns to try out also.

[JosephP]

+1 for 20Ga.

[Thefeeder]

Where are you located? It is a good thing to get them in a clinic to learn the basics. If you're in SoCal I can provide you with the shotguns to try out also.

This is the correct answer.......a day at the range with an instructor is well spent money.

If money is tight, befriend some good shooters at the local club.

Rent some different shotguns if possible before buying.

[Munk]

if you're buying a semi, just get a decent semi in 12-ga. The recoil is insignificant, especially if they're able to handle a .38sp revolver. So long as they can lift the thing that is ( a full length 12 when fully loaded may be a bit much for the younger one). And the 12 will last them a lifetime of hunting and clays, especially since most modern semi's can handle 3" mag, and if you get the newest of the new 3-1/2" mag.

If they can lift it, and get it into the proper position (mostly a firm shoulder weld and no leaning backwards) the recoil just... goes away. Shooting a beretta semi feels like i'm shooting an FA (apart from all the trigger pulls), it's just rapid all the way across without much knockback.

[not-fishing]

I've taught a number of kids to shoot trap & hunt pheasant.

I started with a couple of different .410's and they all were terrible. 410's are to much an expert shooter's gun.

20's worked perfectly. I use an 870 youth for the kids and new shooters now. 20" barrel is quicker than a most other shotguns. We shoot with either a trap vest or sweatshirt for extra padding. The $ 270.00 price was great and being a pump they had to learn to operate the shotgun.

Now if I can just get it back from my nephew the youngest and I will use it in 3-gun matches.