Looking for Shotgun advice

[Slam_Bradley]

So...Nate has decided he wants a shotgun for Christmas. The impetus is our plan for the next spring turkey hunt. I thought about just spiffing up my old 20 gauge, but it needs a new firing pin and I think he deserves his own gun. Besides, that would leave me without a gun, unless I can track down my dad's 16 gauge (wonder where that got off too).

I'm leaning toward a double-barrel over-under, even though they're more expensive, because he can use it to shoot trap as well as hunt. And, as my ole pappy used to say, if you can't hit it with two shots, you aught not be shooting.

He wants a 12 gauge, and I know he'll grow into it. But even though he's a big boy I worry that it's too much gun for him right now.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

[Mike Smash!]

I know nothing about guns, really. But as far as shotguns go, I've always had an affinity for the pump action shotgun.

Maybe it's just all the "Doom" I used to play in high school.

[mattx110]

Get the one that comes with the leather jacket and tattoos.

[Mac Danny]

Hold Low and Squeeze.

I really don't know which works best but I imagine the 12 gauge would be good especially if he can grow into it. Guns are expensive so the more life he can get out of the purchase the better I think.

This gun Looks BAD ASS! I got to get this look into a toy line soon.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Benelli_m4_2.jpg


I only really know toy guns though.

[Dreadstar]

If you go 12-gauge, go pump. But *ONLY* if he uses it primarily to hunt. If he sports with it, an over-under *is* a better choice, but a 12-gauge O-U is freakin' heavy. Maybe that might still be the best choice and let him grow into it. It also depends on what he uses it for. Grouse? Quail? I'd go for a smaller gauge (even though I always used a 12). Better in the brush. Rabbit? 16 or 12. Gets you a little range in an open field. Deer on the side? Again, 16 or 12. Good slugs. Squirrel? 20. Maybe 16.

Personally? Maybe you could talk him into the 16 O-U. STILL heavy, but he'll grow to it quicker. On the other hand, if he's SET on a 12, get him a 12. Just be sure to tell him that he has to lug it out and back.

[Slam_Bradley]

If you go 12-gauge, go pump. But *ONLY* if he uses it primarily to hunt. If he sports with it, an over-under *is* a better choice, but a 12-gauge O-U is freakin' heavy. Maybe that might still be the best choice and let him grow into it. It also depends on what he uses it for. Grouse? Quail? I'd go for a smaller gauge (even though I always used a 12). Better in the brush. Rabbit? 16 or 12. Gets you a little range in an open field. Deer on the side? Again, 16 or 12. Good slugs. Squirrel? 20. Maybe 16.

Personally? Maybe you could talk him into the 16 O-U. STILL heavy, but he'll grow to it quicker. On the other hand, if he's SET on a 12, get him a 12. Just be sure to tell him that he has to lug it out and back.


I'm not sure how much hunting he'll really do. Right now he's balls out for turkey hunting, but that's all he's really interested in. He is, however, big on target shooting, so I think sport-shooting will keep him interested. A pump is certainly lighter (and less expensive), but he shoots lefty (like me). I always hated empty shells ejecting past my nose. It's distracting.

Deer aren't an issue as everyone rifle hunts here. The only time I felt underpowered with a 16 was when I was hunting ducks. A 20 is nice for quail, grouse and chuckers but isn't near enough for pheasants or ducks.

Right now I'm leaning toward a 12 gauge over-under. Guess I need to look into models.

[Dreadstar]

I'm not sure how much hunting he'll really do. Right now he's balls out for turkey hunting, but that's all he's really interested in. He is, however, big on target shooting, so I think sport-shooting will keep him interested. A pump is certainly lighter (and less expensive), but he shoots lefty (like me). I always hated empty shells ejecting past my nose. It's distracting.

Deer aren't an issue as everyone rifle hunts here. The only time I felt underpowered with a 16 was when I was hunting ducks. A 20 is nice for quail, grouse and chuckers but isn't near enough for pheasants or ducks.

Right now I'm leaning toward a 12 gauge over-under. Guess I need to look into models.

If he's not going to be lugging it around, I concur. Carrying one of those bastards across 4 miles of field is a pain in the ass.

[Gordon Smith]

I used to own a .22/410 over and under when I was a teenager. I was a thin, light kid, so that was about right for me. I wouldn't go with anything heavier than that. A 12 gauge is way too much gun for a youngster unless he's really darned big and strong.

[StoneGold]

Get him a lever action shotgun, then teach him that cool cocking method Schwartzenegger did in T2. Although I guess he stole it from John Wayne.

Now here's a question. I realize this is airsoft, but why would anyone need a scope on a shotgun?

http://www.airsoftee.com/image_manager/attributes/image/image_1/38587610_8461923.jpg

EDIT: Or a laser, for that matter?

[Dreadstar]

Now here's a question. I realize this is airsoft, but why would anyone need a scope on a shotgun?

EDIT: Or a laser, for that matter?

I don't get scopes on shotguns, either. But I understand why someone might go with when using a rifled deer slug. That's some pretty good range, and it comes down to the "aiming small, hitting small" school of thought.

A laser, on the other hand, I understand completely. Not only would it help with the above philosophy, it could come in handy with shot shells, as well. Except it'd most likely only be advantageous in a darker environment, which tends to imply anti-personnel usage. Given proper training and experience, someone could really pin-point a pattern using a red spot.

[Slam_Bradley]

I don't get scopes on shotguns, either. But I understand why someone might go with when using a rifled deer slug. That's some pretty good range, and it comes down to the "aiming small, hitting small" school of thought.



I've only seen it with folk who are hunting deer and a few who are hunting turkeys. Well..."seen" as in heard tell of. Nobody I know hunts deer with a shotgun.

[Dreadstar]

I've only seen it with folk who are hunting deer and a few who are hunting turkeys. Well..."seen" as in heard tell of. Nobody I know hunts deer with a shotgun.

Used to be up until last decade or so, we'uns wasn't 'llowed to use rifles.

EDIT: Now I use a .45-70 Gov't Special that doesn't just knock the deer down, it picks him up, turns him over, and starts the dressing process all at once.

That hunting down the fucker by blood trail because a .12 slugger couldn't do the job got REAL old.

[BoosterBronze]

It's always important to call "Shotgun" when you're heading back to the car. This is usually immediately followed by 'window' and 'window' leaving the slowest passenger to ride 'bitch.'

[Josh S]

I have a couple questions, if anyone cares to enlighten me. At what age does the average hunter get their first gun? And what does "shoot trap" mean?

[Josh S]

It's always important to call "Shotgun" when you're heading back to the car. This is usually immediately followed by 'window' and 'window' leaving the slowest passenger to ride 'bitch.'

ahaha

Ah the poor sap riding "bitch". Bless his weary soul.

[Gordon Smith]

I have a couple questions, if anyone cares to enlighten me. At what age does the average hunter get their first gun? And what does "shoot trap" mean?

I don't know how it works generally, but I was about twelve when I was first allowed to handle firearms.

[Dreadstar]

I have a couple questions, if anyone cares to enlighten me. At what age does the average hunter get their first gun? And what does "shoot trap" mean?

It depends on the kid.

I mean, at what age do you give a kid a motor bike?

What age do you let a kid graduate from ponies to cutting horses?

What age do you let the kid go off the high dive?

What age do you buy him his first hooker?

Everyone is different.

Shooting Trap is a sport where you use a shotgun to break thrown clay targets for score.

[Slam_Bradley]

I have a couple questions, if anyone cares to enlighten me. At what age does the average hunter get their first gun? And what does "shoot trap" mean?


It's going to vary from state to state. In Idaho we have a youth small-game hunting license that allows for 10-11 year olds to hunt upland game birds, migratory birds, cottontail rabbits, and unprotected and predatory birds and animals, including turkeys and sandhill cranes.

For anything else, including big game you have to be 12. I'm pretty sure that it was 12 for everything when I was a lad. I got my shotgun the Christmas after I turned 12.

[elheffe]

What age do you buy him his first hooker?

Man, my pop never bought me a hooker. What a gyp.

[Josh S]

It's going to vary from state to state. In Idaho we have a youth small-game hunting license that allows for 10-11 year olds to hunt upland game birds, migratory birds, cottontail rabbits, and unprotected and predatory birds and animals, including turkeys and sandhill cranes.

For anything else, including big game you have to be 12. I'm pretty sure that it was 12 for everything when I was a lad. I got my shotgun the Christmas after I turned 12.

I'm an idiot. I wasn't even thinking that there would be laws. I bet the age is like four in Texas. GO LONE STAR STATE!

[Winslow]

We use 16 gauge for the younger kids in Scouts to shoot.

But the older kids prefer the 12 gauges.

For whatever that's worth.

[Dreadstar]

We use 16 gauge for the younger kids in Scouts to shoot.

But the older kids prefer the 12 gauges.

For whatever that's worth.

It's Freudian.


duh...

[Mac Danny]

We use 16 gauge for the younger kids in Scouts to shoot.

But the older kids prefer the 12 gauges.

For whatever that's worth.

I enjoyed shooting .22 rifles in scouts. Go No-Be-Bo-Sco!

[Winslow]

I enjoyed shooting .22 rifles in scouts. Go No-Be-Bo-Sco!

They have skeet shooting now at the scout ranges. It's pretty sweet.

[Naldo]

I got my first shotgun when I was 12.

Slam, what is your price range for an O/U?

That is the first factor in offering advice.

You may actually consider a semi-auto like a Remington 11-87, Browning Gold, etc.

OR if your heart is set on an O/U you may want to think about a Beretta Silver Pigeon II.

I've just mentioned from about $750 to $2200.

I love talking guns, so I'll be happy to point you in the right direction. :)

[Jimmy T. Squirrel]

One huge piece of advice I would like to give is,

Do NOT I repeat NOT use a shotgun to help with any car problems (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7091904.stm)

[Slam_Bradley]

I got my first shotgun when I was 12.

Slam, what is your price range for an O/U?

That is the first factor in offering advice.

You may actually consider a semi-auto like a Remington 11-87, Browning Gold, etc.

OR if your heart is set on an O/U you may want to think about a Beretta Silver Pigeon II.

I've just mentioned from about $750 to $2200.

I love talking guns, so I'll be happy to point you in the right direction. :)


I have no interest at all in a semi-auto. Nobody needs to spray that many shells that quick.

I can't reasonably afford more than $500 at this point. Which is low for a O/U, but I can't justify any more both financially and for a first shotgun.

[Naldo]

A semi-auto has many benefits.

The reason that they are often considered for young shooters is because they have less perceived recoil than any other type of shotgun.

The problem with a new O/U in the sub $500 range is that there is rarely any consistency in quality in that price range.

HOWEVER, probably the MOST consistent in quality is a brand called Baikal, a Russian company that makes shotguns the way the Soviets made tanks. It's not pretty, it's not light but it's built very well and hits what you point at.

Every now and then Dicks Sporting Goods has a sale on these for about $399.

Also, you may want to try the used market and now you've opened up into a much brighter prospects.

www.gunbroker.com
www.gunsamerica.com

(New guns can be found there too)

[Mike Smash!]

I have no interest at all in a semi-auto. Nobody needs to spray that many shells that quick.You'll eat those words when you're surrounded by a horde of zombies.

[Asa]

All this talk of shotguns makes me want to take out the toys and play. It has been a while since I have been to the range. Turkey day coming real soon, and I need to put that bird on my dinner table.:D

[Tadhg Adams]

I had a left-handed Remington 870 that was a great pump-action.

[Serik]

If only street sweepers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armsel_Striker) were legal :D