starter shotgun for a 12yr old?

[hrminer92]

My sons and I are starting to get into trap shooting (nothing competitive..just for fun) and I was wondering what would be a good shotgun for a 12yr old.

The 16yr old can handle my 12ga pump just fine, but the  younger one says it kicks too hard, even with the  "winlite" subsonic rounds.  Some of it could be that the gun is too big and he's not holding it right, but I do know I'd like to get him something that he finds fun to use  I don't want him to be scared to shoot it.

I've kind of narrowed it down to:

12ga w/ youth stock & low recoil ammo
20ga youth pump or autoloader
20ga single shot

Many  sites seem to advocate starting out with a single shot to learn the basics, but others say that's a bad choice to learn with due to  weight & recoil.  If anyone could relay their equipment experiences with youngsters & shotgun sports, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

(I had  used a .410 when I was a kid, but I also remember not being able to hit a damn thing with it that was moving .  )

[DeerMeadowFarm]

12 gage autoloader, youth stock, Sim's R3 recoil pad, low recoil loads. If that's still too much then you can look at magna porting the barrel and lengthening the forcing cone (which will not only reduce felt recoil but should make the gun pattern better due to less deformation of the shot).

The problem with 20's and clay bird shooting is you do handicap yourself somewhat. If he isn't breaking birds much he'll lose interest as quick as if the gun kicks too much IMHO....

Good luck!

[Graybeard]

I think most shooters kid themselves into thinking more is always better but it really isn't. I started my oldest son off with a Remington 870 light weight 20 ga and cut the stock to fit him. I started him shooting trap standing on top of the trap house at our skeet/trap range and then graduated him to skeet when I felt he was ready. He went on to become the sub junior state champion in his first year of competition.

The 20 is plenty for 16 yard trap shooting.

I see so many folks handicapping themselves using too much gun all the time. I watch folks missing target after target on the skeet range using 12 gauge guns that are pounding them and think they need still more to compensate for the misses. All the time I keep on using the little .410 and just keep on mashing those targets and leaving smoked target dust hanging in the air after half or more of my shots with it. They just shake their heads and still think they need more. You don't need more you just need to learn to point it correctly. Less recoil helps in that.

[D.C.]

My first gun was a single shot folding breech  savage it was a 22 barrel over a 20 ga.  All of my Clay  shooting was done with my dad and brothers. it was a lot of fun. I did better than my brother most of the time he had an H&R single shot 12 ga. My gun did not kick too hard, His however packed quite a punch. I think that is why I out shot him more often than not. my savage was a bit heavier than his gun too.  IT was a great gun to start out on. I still have it too. I tend to go with the line of thinking that not being afraid to pull the trigger leads to better form, and a lot more fun too. I don't know if that helps any but it is my 2 cents worth.
                                                                                                                       good Shooting to you.     D.C.

[lucky guy]

I think most shooters kid themselves into thinking more is always better but it really isn't. I started my oldest son off with a Remington 870 light weight 20 ga and cut the stock to fit him. ...

The 20 is plenty for 16 yard trap shooting. ...

You don't need more you just need to learn to point it correctly. Less recoil helps in that.

I think Graybeard nailed it!  A 20 ga is more than enough.  I just went through this process with my daughter who is not a rough and tumble kid but wanted to start shooting with me.  I decided on a 20 ga auto.  I found a Remington 58 semi auto (predecessor to the 1100) in great shape for $200, cut the stock to fit her and put choke tubes in it.  She now has a soft shooting gun to learn on that will also last her a lifetime of hunting and casual clay sports.