If you had an extra $600 and wanted to build the best 20 ga turkey gun for that money. What would it be?
Here is what I need it to be. I would like it to be a youth model. My 5 year old son is really picking up an intrest in shooting and hunting with me. So I want it to fit him first and foremost. I can deal with the youth stock for myself.
I wanted it to be a semi, but this isn't a must.
Must have a type of red dot for my son.
As light as possible.
I was thinking about a tristar youth/adult combo, but I haven't heard any reports on these guns. I can get a new one out the door for $450 which would give me $150 for a scope and choke.
Any suggestions? Could possibly come up with $700.
In keeping with your original request for a youth model semi auto.
Weatherby SA08 youth model......$474 from jet guns in Kentucky ( probably end up being 500 to 525 with shipping or transfer fees)
Sumtoy 562-5 choke.......less than $65
Claw sling .......25.00
Your choice of optic. The meuller is probably your best bet to keep the cost around 700 total. To keep it even lower cost, I'd go with a tru glo extreme fiber optic that has the peep ring. Maybe easier for a youngin with that.
I ran a 28 inch barrell version of this gun this year and shot 3 gobblers with it. I love it. It has a skinny grip and forearm which would be very comfortable for a youth, very light weight, has a very forgiving gas recoil system( based on the beretta system). It patterns awesome.
I went the 870 route for my daughter.
Del is spot on with the Weatherby (wish I knew about it before I ponied up)..
Hell of a great little gun - and he isn't exaggerating about the patterns. WICKED!!
Sumtoy makes a great choke.
Mossberg Super Bantam. 5.25lbs, camo dipped, expandable stock, pre-drilled and tapped for optics. $325.00. Sumtoy .5675 or Pure Gold .555 or .570 depending on loads. Best value for the dollar. It's my turkey gun of choice.
If I had 600 to work with I would probably buy the REM 1187 in full camo in 20GA., pair it with a REM SF choke that will shoot Hevi-Shot and Lead and shoot Fed Heavyweight 7's.
Perfect match with my 870 youth :you_rock:
Another mossberg 500 for 250 and some good sights for 30 bucks add a 570 pure gold for 60 bucks.
And put the rest in some number 9s tss.
Quote from: n2deer on May 23, 2012, 09:23:07 AM
And put the rest in some number 9s tss.
Best advice given, the part about TSS9s. IMO, I would rather have a $250 Mossy 500 20 gauge with a $1000 stockpile of TSS9s than own a $1200 M2 in 20 gauge shooting off the shelf loads . Of course, lethality isn't everything, but neither are looks and gun costs.
Weatherby SA08 or the Mossberg SA20
I like'm all. This last winter I bought a 11-87 youth and I'm very please with it.
Thanks for all the replies. Keep them coming if there are any other suggestions.
Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't the Tristars, Weatherby SA-08 and Mossberg SA20's all made in the same factory?
Slicky - do you know what that gun weighs set up like that? Does that Knoxx adjust down to the size of what the youth stock was?
Quote from: Skeeter41 on May 23, 2012, 09:49:43 PM
Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't the Tristars, Weatherby SA-08 and Mossberg SA20's all made in the same factory?
Not sure. There is plenty of stuff out there about the weatherbys on the net and their website.I also had a 20 gauge 870. I shot 4 with it this year. It was bought for my six year old, but it still doesn't fit him.
One thing to think about with an auto vs pump isn't just the recoil, but rather how far a child has to extend their arm out. They are gonna be extended out with a pump, with an auto they will be able to hold it closer due to the long solid forearm. My son says he likes the weatherby better than the 870.
Funny stuff one of the hardest I've been hit with recoil was by a moss berg 500, 20 ga.
I guided a young man at Hunt For a Cure who was running a tristar 20 ga semi with a truglo red dot.
He and his father shoot ducks and turkeys with it. They said they havent had any mechanical issues and have been very pleased with it.
Quote from: savduck on May 23, 2012, 10:20:00 PM
Funny stuff one of the hardest I've been hit with recoil was by a moss berg 500, 20 ga.
:TooFunny:
Aint shot much have you?
Quote from: n2deer on May 27, 2012, 10:20:08 PM
Quote from: savduck on May 23, 2012, 10:20:00 PM
Funny stuff one of the hardest I've been hit with recoil was by a moss berg 500, 20 ga.
:TooFunny:
Aint shot much have you?
Been shooting for over 30 years, at least 1000 rounds a year. The day I shot that mossberg 500, I had patterned an entire box of 3.5 inch winchester HV #5s. That little 20 ga hit harder than anything Ive ever shot including my 458 rifle. It had a youth model stock. Maybe I didnt have it against my shoulder right. All I know is it thumped the piss out of me.
my youngest brother has a 20ga 500 that will knock your socks off
my uncle had a 16ga that I only shot ONCE,and that was it
My little 20 870 kicks as bad as any 30-06 I have ever shot. That is why I don't understand the ultralight trend here recently. A 6 lb 12 gauge with 3" much less 3.5" magnums would be too brutal to stand for me.
Quote from: Daman on May 29, 2012, 03:00:25 PM
My little 20 870 kicks as bad as any 30-06 I have ever shot. That is why I don't understand the ultralight trend here recently. A 6 lb 12 gauge with 3" much less 3.5" magnums would be too brutal to stand for me.
In my turkey hunting career I've carried 10 gauges weighing as much as 12+lbs loaded. Now, weight is a consideration as I get older.
I don't pretend to be a tough guy about recoil. I have shot 3" and 3.5" out of my 835 and SBE. Both outweigh my Super Bantam 20 gauge by 2.25 lbs and 1.5 lbs. respectfully. They aren't pleasant to shoot. I shoot 1 5/8 oz. out of my lightweight 20 gauge Super Bantam without noticing severe or heavy recoil which doesn't seem possible. However, on the Super Bantam, I have stacked on top of the factory pad a slip on Uncle Mike's pad. I did this to create longer LOP, but lucked out with the added benefit of better recoil absorption. I prefer this trick to the added weight of the Knoxx Spec Ops stock. Have you tried a Limbsaver pad on your 20 gauge?
No I have not tried the Limbsaver. I am going to leave it completely as is - my wife says it is a pussycat to shoot. It just sends my thumb into my nose every time I pull the trigger. Now with the new Vinci, I won't be shooting the 870 much so I am going to leave it the way she likes it.
Quote from: Daman on May 29, 2012, 04:40:19 PM
No I have not tried the Limbsaver. I am going to leave it completely as is - my wife says it is a pussycat to shoot. It just sends my thumb into my nose every time I pull the trigger. Now with the new Vinci, I won't be shooting the 870 much so I am going to leave it the way she likes it.
Sounds like the LOP is too short for you. Use a slip-on recoil pad over what is there already. This will move your head back and nose out of the way unless your name is Pinocchio. Limbsaver makes a slip-on pad, but an Uncle Mike's will do the trick nicely. Slip it off when your wife shoots it.
My 20ga Youth is light as a feather and with turkey loads kicks like a mule.
I used to shoot a 30-06 for deer and it womps worse than the 06.
My REM Shur Shot stock has a descent recoil pad on it, but you still know you have shot turkey load when you pattern that bad boy.
That is another reason why I want the 11-87 is for the less recoil. That will be helpfull on the dove field.
That 20 is lite.
OH SNAP! Slicky done hit you boys up with some math.
All I know is 4 out of 3 American don't understand math!!!!!! :toothy9:
What I am describing has nothing to do with recoil calculations. Cause Slicky's numbers are right. It all has to do with gun fit. Take a 300 mag that fits you well and it won't beat you up as bad as a poorly fitting 20 gauge.
My shoulder does not suffer the 20, it is my face that it hurts!
The answer is perceived recoil.
When you shoot a gun that is a inch or two too short it tends to jump around a little more and smack things like faces.
Thanks slicky, I knew I was right. LOL
You know, come to think about it, really the part that gets the beating the most when i shoot is my check. I wonder if i were to put a longer barrel on that gun if it would tame the recoil a bit by bringing more balance and weight........
Would that make sense?
Quote from: TeocTom on May 31, 2012, 02:11:58 PM
You know, come to think about it, really the part that gets the beating the most when i shoot is my check. I wonder if i were to put a longer barrel on that gun if it would tame the recoil a bit by bringing more balance and weight........
Would that make sense?
Yep. I think it would jump less. Though I can't say for sure why, but I don't think the weight is the reason for the cheek slap.
Quote from: TeocTom on May 31, 2012, 02:11:58 PM
You know, come to think about it, really the part that gets the beating the most when i shoot is my check. I wonder if i were to put a longer barrel on that gun if it would tame the recoil a bit by bringing more balance and weight........
Would that make sense?
I think it has more to do with the cheek weld, how it fits your cheek and length of pull. I have a very lieght o/u youth 20 I hunted with and it will slap the crap out of my face. It will water my eye almost everytime I shoot it.
It doesnt kick as hard as my 3.5 12gs, but its rough on my face.
I aint hurting much.
soooo...my question is....along the same lines,how do you get the RIGHT
fit for sure and a not, I THINK IT FITS ME GOOD guess ?????
lookn at a gun for my wife, she is 5'1, about 125lbs.....every youth gun she
picks up i get the it feels good....you guys are sayn that the 870 youth and 1187
compact are hard to the cheek, as well as others have said the same about
mossberg both have 21in and 22in barrels,benelli nova has 24in...
i cant put her in a gun that will possibly make her a little gun shy or not want
to shoot it at all......she wants a scope too,like her crossbow....
will the short barrels do less cheek bashn if i drop to 2 3/4 shells and keep the
range to 30 yds and under because of the shell choice ?????
any help and direction will be greatly appreciated....thanks russ