Youth and 12 ga

[WNCTracker]

I know a lot of kids start using a 20 gauge. When I was a kid, I was handed a 12 gauge and that was what I used. I realize that with the ammunition and choke explosion since I have been a kid that a 20 gauge can be just as effective for turkey hunting. But what about an all purpose gun...What I am wondering is what age do you think a kid is ready to start shooting a 12 gauge without becoming gun shy.


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[Blong]

When his arms are long enough to be accurate on the gun. I see dads wanting to live through their kids so bad that they make them shoot the all powerful 12! I would say it is a joint decision, if it fits and he is comfortable, let him shoot it. I have hunted turkey with a 10,12,20 and 410 and been effective with all.  Don't push the kid because you want him or her to shoot the 12.

[1iagobblergetter]

It all depends on the kid. My son's 12 and 5'9. He can handle some recoil,but hes big and I started him shooting at 6 or 7 years old.Is the 12g. a single shot,pump,or autoloader? What shells are you planning on using?

[WNCTracker]

I'm just thinking right now. I don't have a gun for him but I'll be casually looking. I'm just putting it out there for discussion .  I personally wasn't allowed to turkey hunt until I was 12. My oldest son is 8. He comes scouting with me but (I may be in the minority) I don't think he is ready to carry a gun yet.  Just my own personal choice and not judging others for their choice.


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[Greg Massey]

I started my kids and grand kids , just carry with us to the woods a red rider BB gun , not loaded just for them to get the feel of carrying and handling a gun. Then as they got older we shoot the B B guns at cans and such. After that we shot 22, 410 and after they got bigger a 20 gauge, it all depends on the size and weight of the kid and AGE...I'm thinking it was around 11 with 20 gauge and around 14 with the light load 12 gauge shells....just depends on the kid and maturity....

[WNCTracker]

That's a GREAT idea for the BB gun. He's been using it for over a year now. I'm making him hit a soda can 10 times in a row at 10 yards before he can shoot the .22. But I've never thought to let him carry the BB as a gun. Thanks for that.


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[Kevin6Q]

They are ready when they ask to shoot one. My son began shooting when he was 5. We used a youth sized .22 with a cut down stock so it fit. He began using a  20 ga. shotgun at 10 after shooting a few thousand rounds of .22. He asked so we loaded up some easy shooting game loads and he went to town. Now he shoots skeet and reloads his own (not to save $$$ or get the best ammo but to keep him off the computer). We were at the range this past fall and someone had a side by side 12 and asked if Nate wanted a try (after he crushed them on the skeet ). After the 12 this same guy broke out his AR and asked if Nate wanted a go. Nate put 30 downrange with pretty good accuracy.

The point being overdriven is the kid decided when he wanted to shoot bigger and harder kicking guns. He enjoyed the bigger guns but finds he has more fun with the .22 and 20.

I wouldn't rush it and there are many people with youth guns who will lend them to you or give them outright.

[hobbes]

As said by many....it depends on the kid.  If you think he needs to wait, then he probably does. 

My oldest was shooting a 20 when he was 9 or 10.  I added a knoxx recoil reducing stock with adjustable length of pull to an 870 12 ga when he was 11 and he had no problems.

My youngest killed his first at 12 using a 20 ga.  He's never been as interested in shooting as my oldest was.  He hit a big growth spurt the last couple years and packed the same 12 last year at 13 that my oldest has but without the knoxx stock.

I've never had them practice with turkey loads.  Light loads will tell you all you need to know about their shooting.

[Marc]

Both the physical size of the child, as well as the emotional maturity come into play here.

The child has to be physically big enough to both shoulder the gun safely and accurately, taking into account length and weight of the weapon...  And the emotional maturity to do so safely and consistently.

As far as kids (or women or beginning shooters) and shotgun shooting I feel that the following need be taken into account:

LOP and gun fit...  The gun must fit the child, as a long gun will be more difficult to control (unsafe and not accurate) and have more recoil.  For this reason I would look towards a gun with a wood stock, so it can be cut to fit a child.

Recoil...  A gas-operated gun has less recoil than any other type of gun.  Excessive recoil will cause life-long flinching issues in a child that is driven to hunt, and turn away children that are only "a bit interested in hunting."

Gun weight...  The child must be capable of easily lifting and controlling the gun...  And light-weight guns tend to have more recoil (thus the advantage of gas-operated weapon).  Giving a gun to a woman or child in which they struggle with (even a bit) is not conducive to the enjoyment or success of the child, and is simply not safe.

My children will likely start hunting with the same .410 that both myself and my father did...  I killed plenty of birds with that gun, learning the mechanics of shooting as well as instilling the basics of gun safety...

They will likely then move on to my wife's gun, which is a light-weight semi-automatic youth  20 ga., cut as short as possible to fit her small frame.