Kid "patterning"

[BirdNut]

Got two boys, both of which are getting the fever.  In the past I have sighted in and patterned their gun(s), 20 gauge mossberg youth, set up with a Pure Gold choke and Tru-Glo rifle sights.

Thought this year I would get them involved in the patterning, but I have to say the Fed HW #7 20 ga. is a punishing load in a light gun.  Past 2 years I have wound up with a bruised face from repeated firings.  I think this would scare off a kid.  One boy is 13, plays an mean OL and DL in football, and is probably 180 pounds...not too worried about him.  The other boy is 10, maybe 90 pounds, this will be his first time shooting, and he is a little guy size wise, but pretty tough too, but I am thinking I probably need to let him aim at some turkey targets and shoot (like the reactive kind) with bird shot or dove promo loads.  What do you all suggest?  My main goal is to get the youngest on target, cool with the drill, knowing where to aim etc. so when the real deal goes down, he is automatic, even if it happens to be with a howitzer shell.  It wouldn't hurt the 13 year old to cycle a few lighter loads either.

[knightrider]

I never let them shoot turkey loads until they are shooting at turkeys!!! get them used to aiming and working the gun with dove loads and they will be good to go

[30_06]

That's what I do as well. Let them shoot the lighter loads so they know what the basic principles are. When they are shooting at turkey's they won't notice what the real loads feel like.

[surehuntsalot]

another vote for the light loads
you don't want to scare the kids by no means

[bigbird]

X3 for the light loads... My son just moved up this year to a 12 gauge and I patterned his new gun for him again. He's 15 but scrawny, I figured it would be the same.

[BirdNut]

thanks for the opinions folks...definitely will get the young men involved and work through the drill with the light loads.

[gophert]

After the gun is sighted in to POA, I put in light loads and hang a coke can on a stick about turkey neck high at 25 yards.  I put in some light bird loads and let my daughter practice shooting at the "neck" of the turkey.  We work on trigger squeeze and shot placement on the middle of the neck.  It's fun for her and helps simulate a hunting situation.  As of to date, she takes her time and has never missed a turkey. 

[jakesdad]

I had one of the local barbers(avid quail hunter)load me some very,very light loads with #8 shot.Not much more recoill than shooting blanks.I do like gophert and set up cans for him to shoot at,more fun than paper and kids like to see things blow up.He doesnt know the difference when he has shot the heavier 2 3/4" loads I have for him to hunt with.My boy is 7 and pretty thin,so it wouldnt be hard to scare him off shooting with much recoil.We also double up with ear plugs and shooting headphones.Im a firm believer noise is just as much to blame for flinching as is recoil,if not more.

[surehuntsalot]

the noise is very true,I had more of a time with noise than recoil when I was teaching my son to shoot.

[BirdNut]

Thanks for all the good advice...I know they will get a kick out of the coke can.

[snodswinger34]

I agree light loads until its time to shoot a live bird