Depends on your preferences...
If you are shooting stout loads (such as waterfowl), those light 20's can have has much recoil as a 12 ga. For kids and women, I would stick with a gas operated gun.
Inertia guns are historically more reliable and easier to clean. They will have more (felt) recoil. Here are my favorites:
Benelli Montefeltro
Benelli M-2
Franchi Affinity
All of the above are great guns. My understanding is that Affinity parts are tough to come by, which is why it is at the bottom of the list... Least expensive gun, but I know of someone who (during COVID) waited over a year for a crucial part.
My preference would be for a gas gun. I am likely going to get my kid a Winchester SX-4. Adjustable length stock from my understanding (so I can comfortably share it with my kids), soft recoil, and a reputation for being reliable. I am in the market for a new field gun myself, and will likely purchase an SX-4 in 12 ga.
Currently my daughter is shooting a Beretta Urika Junior model. She is growing, and I had to switch the barrel from a 24" to a 26" barrel (which is nice, cause that 24" barrel was loud in the duck blind). I also have a Beretta Urika in 20 ga. (which is where I stole the barrel from), and enjoy the gun. It has never jammed, and is a lot easier to carry and swing for upland (such as quail and chuckar).
Here is my list for gas operated guns in order of current preference:
Winchester A-400
Browning Gold
Beretta A300
Heard some decent things about some of the Turkish model guns such as Stoeger... Also heard horror stories... Talking to gun smiths, parts will be an issue.
