doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com somewhat OT: Good kid guns for upland hunting?

I'd like to start him on a break-action gun for all the usual reasons, and a side by side would be great but....he's a typical 13-year old. Anything good or even interesting is going to get used pretty hard. I'd hate to do that because I won't be able to ignore it and I want this to be fun for him. O/Us are clearly more available and accordingly cheaper, but...is there a downside to starting with a single trigger O/U? After much consideration, I thinking 20-gauge (I know 12s are more available and cheaper) because this is for purely upland use. Any ideas from this wise & venerable crowd?

Oh....my default position is a pumpgun.

M12

You mentioned he's getting bigger, I'd go with a twelve. He can become a discriminating sportsman later, for now maybe he'd like what he thinks is a grown up gun better. I wouldn't stick him with a pump action unless he wants to use it because he'll be looking around at what others are carrying, and you can decide what shells he stuffs in it. I vote, if you're thinking about buying anyway, take him looking and steer him towards choosing 'his' O/U gun.

Single shot shotgun. There are enough of them to be found (Winchester Model 37, Savage, Stevens, H&R, etc.). It is what I learned when my dad was teaching me back in the early 60s. I learned the value of my shots. I graduated to a side by when I got older, but I never forgot how much I learned shooting that used Stevens. I had to pull the hammer back every time I loaded a new shell.

A used Citori in whatever gauge, good guns that don't break the bank.

I would suggest a SKB 20 ga. with IC/Mod chokes. An inexpensive gun that will last his life time.

New England single shot, Stevens or a model B

Lloyd,
DO NOT set him up with the little "Youth" version of the Mossberg 500, the one with two stocks and an 18" barrel.
I have one here, and can report that I believe the gun was designed by activist PETA members, in hopes of discouraging youth from pursuing hunting.
The smaller of the two stocks is a torture device, that fits no-one. The 18" barrel lets a whole bunch of "Real Loud" out the end at the shot, and if shooting near dawn or dust, about a foot of flame.
I have one, that I put the longer of the two stocks on, and found a used 26" non vent rib barrel for, from a much older 500 20 gauge. The lug needs to be relocated, and when that has been done, I will have an actual "Youth" Mossberg that will be a far better first time gun.
CB posted a fine gun, but, I believe the Remington model 17 to be a superior choice to a model 12, in any kid catagory one might think of-size, weight, cost, anything.
Should I bring my model 17 and tell him you had one just like it, and that it would have been dandy for him, but, HIS DAD SOLD IT?

Not even I am that big a dink.

Good luck, in any case.

Best,
Ted

How about a Spanish SXS? Many are light, and the field grade boxlocks are incredibly cheap right now. You have a huge choice on the Simpson web site now, you can find one for around $200 easy.

I grew up with a Model 17, my grandfathers gun. It had no vent rib, full choke, and layers of leather for a recoil pad. I murdered game with it when I was 10 years old, full choke, no rib (I'm 59 mow, so 49 years ago). Good guns, but now, there are better, by far....and no more expensive. A 17 is pretty old fashioned....can't see where a kid would be enthralled! Browning Citori for a kid is my bet!