One for the shooters, can a 10 year old shoot a 12 bore?

[davido140]

Looking to get a shotgun for my son so he can progress from "trap boy" to actually having a bit of a shoot.

I know I should really be looking at a 20 bore, but I was wondering whether he might be able to cope with a 12 bore semi auto. A I understand it recoil is pretty minimal with a modern semi and they can be very light too (thinking the plastic stocked stuff) but I've never had the chance to have a go with one myself.

He's a big lad for his age about 5ft, maybe a bit more, which is almost the same size as the GF (5' 4") and I thought they could both shoot with the same gun if he could get away with a 12 bore.

Over to you PH!

Cheers

Dave

ETA also if anyone knows of any good shooting forums that aren't mainly populated by this guy



That'd be handy!

Edited by davido140 on Sunday 29th November 23:33

[sleep envy]

He may be able to shoot the gun and handle the recoil but will it fit him and does he have the strength to mount it properly all day?

I started off with a 20 bore single barrel poacher's gun - nice and light so it kept me interested in shooting from dawn until dusk

also bear in mind that if you are going rough shooting you'll no doubt have to carry it for a fair amount of time so the lighter and smaller the better

[davido140]

He already lugs around my Miroku MK38 (which is pretty bloody heavy) so I dont think he'll have any probs carrying it around, and I'd only be taking him for an hour or two at a time to the local clay shooting places.

It's more the recoil knocking him off his feet or hurting him I'm concerned about.

Dunno what the stock options are like with semis, I guess I'd better drag him and the missus along for a fitting to see if we can find something that works for both of them!

Ta.

Edited by davido140 on Sunday 29th November 23:39

[sleep envy]

Fair enough

if he stands correctly he won't get knocked over, besides you can buy low recoil cartridges

[Plotloss]

Things may well have changed but semis always used to use the recoil to get the next load in so were worse than double barrelled guns.

12 bore OU with light loads would be my choice but I'd guess he'd have more issue with the physical weight than the kick.

[elster]

When I started shooting I had to be propped up when shooting a 12 bore.

I was a big kid for my age as well.

[okgo]

elster said:

When I started shooting I had to be propped up when shooting a 12 bore.

I was a big kid for my age as well.

Same as that. Dads 12 bore weighed going on 10 KG!!

[sleep envy]

davido140 said:

Dunno what the stock options are like with semis, I guess I'd better drag him and the missus along for a fitting to see if we can find something that works for both of them!

very unlikely to find a gun which fits them both

[LHD]

I bought a Hatsan Escort Magnum semi-auto a few weeks ago with the synthetic stock.

28" barrel and very light and very cheap (under £400)

Worryingly i'm more accurate with it than my Beretta.

[jeff m]

Assuming you have am o/u.
A semi in 12 or 20 is less well balanced than an o/u.
So holding it is a pain compared to a gun that breaks.
My wife has a 20 Winchester pump,(12.5"pull) much light than a semi, I've shot it a few times messing about at skeet, but a 20 for trap with going away birds means he is going to miss a lot. Well not neccessarily a lot, but you know what I mean.
It's just more difficult with a 20.

Then again I've shot trap with a 410 and got 17, after the owner of the gun got 1.

Can you have pumps in UK if the tube is blocked for two or three cartridges?
'cos I think a pump is better than a semi MHO, well until he starts taking doubles and starts outshooting you.

I'm in the US, so nearly every one has an old youth gun sitting in the cupboard, I've taken mine along to my club for small shooters to borrow, maybe you could ask at your club if anyone has a 20 for him to try.

[tossbag]

12 bore was my first ever (and last) rifle, two barrels as well, I got to use it as a cap gun, so no recoil

[Dick_Phallus]

I don't know how big your son is, but I'd have thought that at 10 he's likely to be too small for a 12Ga. There's nothing really wrong with starting on a 20 or even a .410, it's better that he's shooting those than nothing at all, though I can see why you might not want to buy a gun and then have to get another in a few years.

[Devilstreak]

The first time I ever went shooting. my dad handed me his o/u 12g. About took me off my bloody feet but had he hooked from then on. I was about your lads age.

[caymanred]

i'd start him off with a cheap 4/10....light and the spray is pretty tight meaning he'll perfect his shooting more quickly, so when he comes to the big bores with wide chokes, it should be much easier

[RizzoTheRat]

My sister (fairly small) and our local keepers father (in his late 60's) both used to use 16 bores. Bit meatier than a 20 but not as heavy or as much recoil as a 12. Don't forget if you try going for a lighweight 12 bore it will have more recoul than a heavier one.

[andy400]

tossbag said:

12 bore was my first ever (and last) rifle, two barrels as well, I got to use it as a cap gun, so no recoil

[Morningside]

When I was much younger and the laws were a bit more relaxed.
As a 11yr old, a friend of mine at the time used to drive around in a Riley Elf around the farm and have a 4/10 for shooting.

[andy400]

Morningside said:

When I was much younger and the laws were a bit more relaxed.
As a 11yr old, a friend of mine at the time used to drive around in a Riley Elf around the farm and have a 4/10 for shooting.

Only 4/10? Should have tried harder.....


Or d'ye mean a .410?

[Morningside]

andy400 said:

Morningside said:

When I was much younger and the laws were a bit more relaxed.
As a 11yr old, a friend of mine at the time used to drive around in a Riley Elf around the farm and have a 4/10 for shooting.

Only 4/10? Should have tried harder.....


Or d'ye mean a .410?

.. Actually I think at the age of 12 he was using a 12 bore.

[Andy Zarse]

Really 10 is a bit too young for a 12 bore IMO, they're for 13+. He only needs to catch a good one in the chops from a mismount and it'll be tears before bedtime. It could also start him "flinching", leading to misses and disinterest... not a good thing.

A nice light 20 bore and some lightish loads are what he needs. If he's competing against other kids his age he needs the similar equipment if he's to see where he stands in the true pecking order.