First question. Has your shotgun barrel been cleaned? If it is not squeaky clean and all you're doing is firing dirty turkey loads through it, you will not get a good representation of what the gun can do. Once the barrel is squeaky clean, make sure it's tight to the receiver. Get the barrel retention nut as tight as you physically can by hand. Secondly, make sure your point of aim matches your point of impact. If not do you have sites or an optic mounted to the shotgun? The Carlson's long beard choke and the federal heavyweight 7 should be a great combination! Also if you're the one doing the patterning is he shooting the gun in practice? If he is have him shoot light loads only on the pattern board and I am positive even at 8 years old you can get away with a full power 3 inch shell when it comes down to the hunt. The full power mag blends are only 1 1/4 ounce loads and should pattern well without scaring him.