Youth shotgun recommendations

Clark

Clark

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I'm looking for a youth gas semi-auto shotgun in 20 ga. Needs a very short LOP (Tried his mom's compact with 13" LOP and WAY too long, so I'm thinking 10 to 11" tops).
Anybody make one like this? Thanks!
 
Ok, so it isnt a semi, but I am in love with the mossberg 500 20g. My kids use them to duck hunt, and they are reliable, simple, and relatively cost effective.

caveat: My kids are on the Barney Fife rule...they get one shell loaded at a time.
 
Clark said:
I'm looking for a youth gas semi-auto shotgun in 20 ga. Needs a very short LOP (Tried his mom's compact with 13" LOP and WAY too long, so I'm thinking 10 to 11" tops).
Anybody make one like this? Thanks!
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May I suggest buying an over under in a CZ youth and increase the safety factor and simplicity. Laws forbid over 3 shells. Birds are gone after two shots. You and he will always know there is nothing in a gun once the breach is open.
 
Slimer said:
Remington 1100 LT-20
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You may not be able to shorten some autos that much due to the recoil spring housing extending back into the buttstock. And the taper of the stock may not leave enough meat for the recoil pad.

Eyeball dimensions on the wife's gun that is too long and measure the spot where you think LOP is about right.
Remove pad and look inside to see where the recoil spring assembly ends. You can have custom recoil pads fitted no problem or use slip-ons but can't shorten the internals . . .

Edit here is my LT-20:

73AC88B2-2124-4FDA-B038-4EB7F00A4D65.jpeg
 
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Looking for gas auto specifically to minimize recoil. We will do the Barny Fife one shell thing at first.
This is a 7 year old and a small kid to boot. Just trying to find something he can shoulder.
 
I think mossberg and weatherby both import a youth semi 20 gauge, not sure if it’s a gas gun or not. The other issue you may have with a kid that small is going to be weight. I have a single shot 410 the kid can try if you would like also.
 
Look into the Mossberg 510 In 20 ga. It comes with a very short stock and a discount coupon for an adult stock. Honestly I feel it barely kicks more than a 410 single shot.
 
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dman24 said:
I think mossberg and weatherby both import a youth semi 20 gauge, not sure if it’s a gas gun or not. The other issue you may have with a kid that small is going to be weight. I have a single shot 410 the kid can try if you would like also.
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Thanks for your generous offer!
The Mossberg 510 Mini Bantam has 18.5” barrel, 10.5" LOP and weighs 5 lbs and they offer 410 or 20 ga.
The Mossberg 500 Bantam has 22” barrel, 12.5" LOP and weighs 6.5 lbs and they offer 12, 410 or 20 ga.
Both are pumps, but his dad thinks he may be OK with the recoil. I also have some 20 ga reduced recoil loads he can try.
Thank you for the suggestions.
 
Thanks for the good advice here.
Unfortunately, I was not able to find my original goal of a semi-auto with short enough LOP to fit him.
Ended up with a Mossberg 510 Mini Super Bantam with 18.5” barrel, 10.5" LOP and weighs 5 lbs in 20 ga.
I'm worried about the recoil of such a light gun so I got some reduced recoil loads with 3/4 oz shot so it should shoot like a 28. I hope.
 
Finally got grandson to the range, first time shooting anything other than a BB gun. Started with a 10/22, WAY too big for him to shoulder but he managed to put some holes in the target.
Need to find a very small .22 for him.
Next he shot the Mossberg 510. The 10.5" LOP is still too long but he managed, probably grow into it in another year. I was concerned about the 20 ga recoil. but he was not bothered - did use reduced recoil loads. Put pellets into the target as well.
He left happy (and my wife stocked him with snacks and drinks) so the first trip went very well!
Thanks for the guidance received on CFF!
 
While it's not technically a youth model, check out the 10-22 compact. It's shorter lop barrel and weight. My daughter is able to handle it well. For shotgun she has a Stevens 555 youth in 28 gauge that she can manage well.
 
Clark said:
Finally got grandson to the range, first time shooting anything other than a BB gun. Started with a 10/22, WAY too big for him to shoulder but he managed to put some holes in the target.
Need to find a very small .22 for him.
Next he shot the Mossberg 510. The 10.5" LOP is still too long but he managed, probably grow into it in another year. I was concerned about the 20 ga recoil. but he was not bothered - did use reduced recoil loads. Put pellets into the target as well.
He left happy (and my wife stocked him with snacks and drinks) so the first trip went very well!
Thanks for the guidance received on CFF!
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Usually lots of factory 10/22 stocks for sale since many are replaced to customize these guns. Buy a cheap stock and cut it down or look for dedicated aftermarket youth stock. And as said above there are shorter factory carbine models, I had one for my son.
 
Clark said:
Finally got grandson to the range, first time shooting anything other than a BB gun. Started with a 10/22, WAY too big for him to shoulder but he managed to put some holes in the target.
Need to find a very small .22 for him.
Next he shot the Mossberg 510. The 10.5" LOP is still too long but he managed, probably grow into it in another year. I was concerned about the 20 ga recoil. but he was not bothered - did use reduced recoil loads. Put pellets into the target as well.
He left happy (and my wife stocked him with snacks and drinks) so the first trip went very well!
Thanks for the guidance received on CFF!
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There’s a cricket for sell in the BST, they are small. https://carolinafirearmsforum.com/i...ctical-precision-keystone-22-lr-rifle.131833/
 
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Clark said:
Finally got grandson to the range, first time shooting anything other than a BB gun. Started with a 10/22, WAY too big for him to shoulder but he managed to put some holes in the target.
Need to find a very small .22 for him.
Next he shot the Mossberg 510. The 10.5" LOP is still too long but he managed, probably grow into it in another year. I was concerned about the 20 ga recoil. but he was not bothered - did use reduced recoil loads. Put pellets into the target as well.
He left happy (and my wife stocked him with snacks and drinks) so the first trip went very well!
Thanks for the guidance received on CFF!
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I have a sweet .22 tactical precision style bolt action rifle.
It is made to be a kids first rifle. Really nice rifle. It has a scope and bipod.
All Keystone factory.
 
Jmoser said:
Buy a cheap stock and cut it down
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This is what I'd do. My dad cut down the stock for my side by side 410 when I was a kid. He kept the piece of stock and screwed it back on when I got older. Now it's just a funny story even if it is ugly as sin I'll never part with that gun.
 
I think you will have a hard time finding a factory SA with LOP under 11”. I started both my boys off with a Tristar G2 .410. It was the lightest compact SA I could find… I think it’s 5.5lbs.

They have now stepped up to a Weatherby SA-08 in 20 gauge.
 
QuackSmacker said:
I think you will have a hard time finding a factory SA with LOP under 11”. I started both my boys off with a Tristar G2 .410. It was the lightest compact SA I could find… I think it’s 5.5lbs.

They have now stepped up to a Weatherby SA-08 in 20 gauge.
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yep. I was forced to give up on the SA and got a pump in order to get the required LOP. Very surprised no one has addressed this niche.
 
Beretta A400 if the budget will allow! If the budget won’t allow for an A400 go for the A300. By far 2 of the best auto shotguns you can buy!
 
Check out the Tristar Viper G2 Compact as well as their Raptor offering. A version of the G2 comes with 2 stocks that will allow your kid to grow in to and along with the gun, Other shotgun forums I frequent give the Tristar high praise.
 
Mad Dawg said:
Check out the Tristar Viper G2 Compact as well as their Raptor offering. A version of the G2 comes with 2 stocks that will allow your kid to grow in to and along with the gun, Other shotgun forums I frequent give the Tristar high praise.
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Thanks! LOP on these looks like 13" and I needed something much shorter, like 10". Give him about 3 years and these will be good upgrade options!
 
Clark said:
Thanks! LOP on these looks like 13" and I needed something much shorter, like 10". Give him about 3 years and these will be good upgrade options!
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WOW!! For a length of pull THAT short, you're not going to find anything from any manufacture to meet your needs. How old/small is your child that you need something around/less than 10" LOP?? 13" is about the shortest LOP you will find from any manufacturer and that is fairly difficult/unavailable to find. In your case, maybe try and find the shortest available wood stock there is and have it custom fitted /cut down or even completely custom made to fit your child. But like you said, maybe wait a couple of years. Maybe steer your child towards small bore precision rifle, I bet you can get a custom built stock for a Ruger 10/22 to meet your needs with very little difficulty.
 
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Mad Dawg said:
WOW!! For a length of pull THAT short, you're not going to find anything from any manufacture to meet your needs. How old/small is your child that you need something around/less than 10" LOP?? 13" is about the shortest LOP you will find from any manufacturer and that is fairly difficult/unavailable to find. In your case, maybe try and find the shortest available wood stock there is and have it custom fitted /cut down or even completely custom made to fit your child. But like you said, maybe wait a couple of years. Maybe steer your child towards small bore precision rifle, I bet you can get a custom built stock for a Rem 10/22 to meet your needs with very little difficulty.
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Grandson is 7 yo and he is pretty small. I think by next year he will be stronger.

Bought him a Mossberg 510 Mini Super Bantam, pump gun with 18.5” barrel, 10.5" LOP and weighs 5 lbs in 20 ga. Fits him OK, has spacers to increase LOP as he grows. Little heavy for him but he handles it well enough to shoot off of sticks in a turkey blind. Shooting 20 ga light recoil loads and it does not seem to bother him, will take him back to the skeet range soon.

Also got a collapsible stock for my Ruger 10/22. LOP ranges from 9.75" to 13.5" which means he can grow with it just by extending the stock. He likes shooting that, has a 3x9 scope and he actually groups surprisingly well.

Started my kids on a Rem 1100 light 20 with a youth stock. My son recalls he could not shoulder that gun at first and it bothered him. Did not want to repeat that so focused on finding a stock that fit, or at least he can shoulder the gun.
 
Mossberg SA-28. I believe they also make one with a shorter stock (bantam). But even the regular isnt a big gun.
 
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