Bought my 8yo a 20ga. Need ammo advice!

[ArmyInfidel]

Hey guys I just picked up an old mossy500 in 20ga. I'm gonna give it to my son when he turns 8yo in two weeks. He's afraid of loud noises and likely won't enjoy recoil. What loads would yall recommend in order to ease him into the sport?


Give me Liberty or give me death!

[w55]

Hey guys I just picked up an old mossy500 in 20ga. I'm gonna give it to my son when he turns 8yo in two weeks. He's afraid of loud noises and likely won't enjoy recoil. What loads would yall recommend in order to ease him into the sport?


Give me Liberty or give me death!

Plugs and muffs. Teach him hold properly to avoid getting slapped by recoil. Use low base loads.

I was about same age but started with .410 and .22

[jeremyy]

For sure low recoil loads. Report back how it goes tho....

I was thinking 410 and 22 for my boy when he's of age.

[11011500a]

Weight & recoil with the 20 I would say trade it for a 410bore. The dozen kids (8-16yrs) I've taking shooting all prefer the 410 over light loads or A5 20ga. 410 shells online are around $7 a box & cabelas has 25rd box of slugs for $9.99

[M1NM]

Buy him one of the little survival guns with 410 & 22 barrels.

http://gundata.org/blog/post/survival-rifles/

[klmmicro]

Been hunting dove and quail with a 20 for a few decades and can say that the Winchester or Federal bulk #8 from Wally World is pretty light in the recoil department. The 20 is pretty quiet when 2-3/4" rounds are used. 8 years old is a good age to start out at.

[naimad]

invest in a good recoil pad

http://www.limbsaver.com/product/precision-fit-recoil-pad/

[Dave.P]

I started my son with these, http://www.midwayusa.com/product/183...-oz-7-1-2-shot

Is it a full size 500? That would be pretty akward for an 8yr old.

[ArmyInfidel]

Yea it's full sized. I'm gonna check out some of the recommended loads. Also I'm planning on letting him pick out youth furniture. Quality recoil pad sounds like a good idea too. Thx gents!


Give me Liberty or give me death!

[cudakidd]

First off, DON"T buy him a 410. That gauge is considered a Experts round a common mistake due to people thinking less recoil will make up for the very small shot pattern. Parent after Parent would show up in my Shotgun classes with Toppers or the like in that Gauge and couldn't figure out why their Kid couldn't hit anything.

22 rifles ARE a great idea, due to the nature of rifle shooting, proper fit and length is not as critical. And with much less noise and no recoil issues should be a great way to start him out. Start with that and then work him up to the 20 Gauge. Make sure the Shotgun is correctly and firmly mounted. Too long a gun fit will increase recoil issues...

Winchester makes a reduced recoil and noise 20 gauge load. With proper hearing protection and proper stance it should work. But 8 IS a little young too start. Our Program started out at 10 and in fact moved it to 12 due to the size and maturity issues for lots of kids.

We had a Grandparent insist his 8 year old Grandson go through our Hunter Safety Program. The Lead Instructor expressed his concerns to no avail.

Long story short, when out on a Pheasant hunt the Kid shot and killed his Grandfather while swinging through to shoot a Bird...

[ArmyInfidel]

Bought my 8yo a 20ga. Need ammo advice!

I have a 22 and several ar variants that we can shoot suppressed. I picked up the mossy500 for $170 so I couldn't pass it up. I was thinking about buying a second barrel and cutting it to 18" so it'd be easier to carry. He's about 80lbs though so I think he'll be alright as long as I find a reduced power load. Yeah he's nowhere near hunting yet though he has been in the field and in the stand several times in armed. I don't think he could pass the academic portion of a hunters safety class yet so I was gonna hold off on that for a couple years.

Another issue is that he's left handed but right eye dominant so shooting doesn't feel natural.


Give me Liberty or give me death!

[cudakidd]

I happen to be left handed and right eyed as well! Since he's new to shooting even though it will take a little more effort, teach him to shoot right handed, do it now while it all is new. It will solve a host of issues that he will run into later trying to fix it AFTER he has built up muscle memory shooting Left handed.

My eyes changed and it was too late for me to comfortably switch, so I tape over the pupil on my Dominant right shooting glasses, pupil only so I don't lose side vision. And for Skeet I keep both eyes open looking for the bird and then close it as I swing to shoot...

What choke and barrel length is in now? If way too long (30") Keep the Mossy for yourself if possible and buy a 870 Express YOUTH. You can buy replacement stocks very cheap as he grows (About $25) Mossberg also makes a youth models with inserts in the buttstock to allow for growth...

[cudakidd]

BTW he sounds like a great kid hunting/shooting with his Dad, enjoy these years with him...

[bigbearbear]

You can buy special loads of training shotgun ammo, like this one from Fiocchi:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/995610/fiocchi-exacta-superior-target-trainer-ammunition-20-gauge-2-3-4-3-4-oz-7-1-2-shot?cm_vc=ProductFinding

It is a little expensive but its going to be very light in recoil and blast. I've never used these exact ones myself but have used plenty of Fiocchi ammo, they are quality stuff.

Load is 3/4oz of shot at 1075fps from the box displayed.

[angelina]

Been hunting dove and quail with a 20 for a few decades and can say that the Winchester or Federal bulk #8 from Wally World is pretty light in the recoil department. The 20 is pretty quiet when 2-3/4" rounds are used. 8 years old is a good age to start out at.

^^^^
this