Need help on recoil for a 12 y/o skinny boy using a 20 ga SG

My son just turned 12 and wants a 20ga shotgun for Christmas. Now he has brought his grades up and deserves it but he is skinny and weighs 80 lbs. I'm looking at the Remy 870 Express 20ga youth, Mossberg 500 youth, and the Charles Daly youth. The first 2 weigh in at 6-6.5lbs, hard recoil pads and have a LOP(lenght of pull) of 13" while the Daly is about 5.5 lbs, a softter recoil pad and a LOP of 12". The cost is relatively similar with the Daly the cheapest of the 3 but it is made in Turkey. Does anyone here have experience with any of these youth shotguns? I'd appreciate some help...
Happy Holidays,
Racine

BigSig can answer you on this for sure, his daughter is 9 and shoots a Mossberg Youth (pink camo). seems to not be to bad and if you wanted to help it more, you could cut stock off about 2 inches and put a "limbsaver" recoil pad on it.

My kids never liked to shot as they were growing up. I was too much involved with a career and trying to make a good living for them to "culture" the issue - not an excuse, I know. However, my wife has always liked small game hunting (rabbits, squirrels, and such). She is not a big woman but probably has 20 pounds on your son. I first bought her the Mossberg and she didn't really like it. I then sold the Mossberg and bought the Rem. 870 Youth Model. She fell in love with it. Soon after I ran into a sale at Bass Pro on a Hatsan Arms Escort mag. in 20ga. It is an semi-auto and boy does it shoot sweet - very, very low recoil as compared to the pump guns. I gave $288.89, including tax, in November 2007, for it NEW. Also, it is a short stocked gun especially for youth. Still have the Rem. 870 Youth saving it for my grandson.

If I were buy a youth pump it would be the 870; however, the Hatsam Arms Escort can't be beat for recoil, simplicity of use, and price. Just my for what it is worth.

I put a LimbSaver pad on my NEF Pardner 20 break barrel.

REALLY cut down on the recoil

I would say get a 20g auto even though its not on your list. My first shotgun was a rem870 mag 20g and i can remember with 3inch shells that baby would rock me duck hunting. The next year pops bought me a 1100lt 20g and man I didnt put that gun down for almost 16 years.... fyi its still my fav gun over my benelli and over and under lol

I have a boy that started with the 870 express youth 20 ga. at age 8 (about 70-80lbs.) Now my daughter age 8 all 69 lbs. of her use a Mossy 500 youth. She can only shoot it about 5 times off hand then she is too tired to hold the muzzle up, how ever we hunt from shoot houses mostly and she rests it on the window frame. As far as the auto goes I prefer to start them on something that slows them down and makes them aim "smart" to me the auto lets them follow up to quick so they learn to empty the gun then look to see if they got it. Just my opinion. I think your son will do fine with the 20 ga. just take your time and teach safety first then shooting.
Take a look at this post
http://www.msgunowners.com/pictures-in-general-f22/one-of-the-kids-t202.htm

870 express i taught a bunch of kids and women to shoot with it,,teaches first shot counts
very dependable jus my

http://www.msgunowners.com/accessories-f12/got-recoil-issues-t3184.htm

870 express youth 20 Ga

Have him only shoot low brass or AA loads in it until He gets used to it

I recommend looking for a Rem 100 20 ga,. The recoil of this shotgun is much more mild than a pump gun. Never buy a kid a single barreled sotgun. Also, use shells with 3/4 or 7/8 oz of shot.

If you cut down the stock, drill holes in the butt stock with a 1/4" drill, before cutting the stock. That way you can re attach the severed piece and the pieces will line up, when you drive t1/4" wood dowels in the drilled holes

Doug Bowser
NRA and 4H Shotgun Instructor

thats a good idea Doug, thanks for sharing.

If cost is not an issue, you cann't beat a 20 ga benelli m2 with synthetic stock as it has a comfortech stock and inertia action while being lightweight really has light recoil. Second option, I use for my wife who shoots a 2o citori and has had recent shoulder surgery, a greycoil recoil system in the stock. For reloaders, I drop only 3/4 oz of shot and run it 1200 fps, which duplicates 28 ga balistics and cuts down on the recoil and absolutely crushes skeet targets. (when see can hit 'em)

You could add a "Dead Mule" recoil reducer to it.

Kind of pricey, but very effective, so I've heard.

http://www.100straight.com/products/index.htm#top

I did get him the Remy 870 Express Jr with the shorter LOP stock that you can add shims to later as he grows and the R3 recoil pad. Using those lighter loads really helps and I'm hoping to get him shooting clay pigeons with his new toy. Thanks again for all the help.
Racine

racine wrote:I did get him the Remy 870 Express Jr with the shorter LOP stock that you can add shims to later as he grows and the R3 recoil pad. Using those lighter loads really helps and I'm hoping to get him shooting clay pigeons with his new toy. Thanks again for all the help.
Racine

Congratus!! Good choice, IMHO!!

Cheeseburgers.

if that doesnt work, add bacon as necessary

crossedcannons45 wrote:Cheeseburgers.

if that doesnt work, add bacon as necessary

Second on the Knoxx Spec ops stock. If he wants to move up to heavier loads and as he grows it'll grow with him.

Worth every penny. Only about 100-125 bucks.