Is a 20 ga shotgun too powerful for my 12 year old?

Question

Is a 20 ga shotgun too powerful for my 12 year old?

Answer 1

I wouldnt think so, i got my 20 gauge when i was 10 and it wasnt too powerful. Just buy some padding for it and it should be fine. The most it will do is give your 12 year old a little bruise, but that is unlikly if he holds it right on there  shoulder blade.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templa...

that is to the cabelas web site, it has stuff that will help reduce the amount of recoil your kid will fill.

Answer 2

prabably because i was 14 untill i shot my dads 30-06(with out reduced recoil loads) and it put me on my can prob. cause i was at a bench and i shot my dads 12ga slug gun when i was 15 and that put me almost on my can

but anyway it might be

Answer 3

I actually bought my first gun at 12 years old (with my father's signature) and it was a New England Firearms 20 gauge.  I used that gun for many years shooting trap with my father....I still have the gun and although I haven't fired it much recently still feel that it is an excellent addition to my arsenal.  Bottom line...great starter gun that will take them to the next level, or continue to serve them throughout their life.  

Good luck!

Answer 4

No. Start with a light load, perhaps a #8 shot, then work your way down.

  Alot also depends on the maturity and attention level of your child. Is he/she ready for loud sounds, recoil and able to lift the gun and hold it at a target on his or her own? If you have access to one, try a shooting range that has "leadsleds" for the first few shots. That way they can get used to the sound, what it takes to pull the trigger and what they can expect when the gun is fired.

  My 9 year old son is shooting a 20 gauge and is accurate. We started him with a BB gun, then an air rifle, then 22, then 410, well, you get the idea. Always, always always with responsible adult supervision with any firearm from BB gun on.

  Hope this helps :o)

Answer 5

Not at all.  it is actually the ideal shotgun to start a kid on.  the .410 has much too small of a load of shot to be at all effective except in the hands of an expert.  A 16 ga. might be okay but there is a bit more recoil.  The ubiquitous 12 ga. would likely be too much for him and may serve to discourage him from shooting any shotgun.  The 20 ga. has plenty of shot to give a nice pattern so  that hitting something is not so much of a challange as a .410 would be.  If you can find one at an affordable price, a semi-auto would be great.  the action will absorb a lot of the recoil and make it a pretty sweet shooting gun.  I have a pump 20 ga. that I acquired many years ago and I will still pick it up from time to time to take to the woods to hunt squirrels.

Answer 6

it depends on the size on him or her if he/she is big then it would probably ok but if he/she is small try to go down to a smaller caliber

Answer 7

That depends on the size of your 12 year old. A 20g would have been to big for me at 12, but I was small framed. Be sure to have him wear hearing protection. Maybe try shooting it yourself first and letting him watch. Then let him try with you  getting behind him so he could feel the recoil. They still have a bit of a kick. Is he gun ho, or unsure? If still in doubt, start him with a .410, he could definetly handle one of those. Plus they make a lot of .410's in child size length.

Answer 8

No that should be fine with some lighter target loads in the gun.

Answer 9

no, definitely not. besides, i feel if your 12 year old got anything smaller it would be collecting dust in a year or two. even if he is small for his age, i have an eleven year old cousin thats going to be using my old 20 gauge this september and fall. and when he does grow out of his 20 gauge he can use it to hunt upland game birds.

Answer 10

Depends on the size of the kid and his/her ability to properly hold and use a firearm. I recommend a single shot .410 (full choke), it's what I started with. It has low recoil (so he wont be scared of it) and will make him or her a better shot.

A 30 years old I still love shooting my .410

Answer 11

YES because it will knock him on his can

Answer 12

Your best choice for him is a 28 gauge.* Its perfect for that age.*

Answer 13

is hes 120 pounds get him the 20 if hes 212 pounds get him a 12 have u ur self familiar to a 20 gauge? if so put a gun to his sholder and hit it and show him how much it will kick and see wat he thinks

Answer 14

no, Im 15 now and i took my hunting licence when i was 13 and i got a 12 gauge

Answer 15

The mildest recoiling 20 gauge, the 2.75" with 7/8 oz. load has a recoil index of:  16.1 lbs.  The heaviest 20 gauge load, the 3" with 1 n 1/4 oz load has a recoil index of: 31.0 lbs.

So you see, it really depends on the load you use.

H

Answer 16

I don't think it's too powerfull --- if you get a 410 you'll be wishing you hadn't in a short amount of time. The best thing to do is shoot light lowbrass loads in it until he gets used to shooting it. The single barrel shotguns are the best to learn with but they sure kick.

Answer 17

No, he or she should be able to handle it ok. Remington makes a youth model 870 pump 20 ga. It helps with sighting the gun because it has a shorter stock for an easier fit when the holg the gun to shoot. Remington also offers reduced recoil shotgun shells if you want to make it easy on them at first while they get used to the aspect of firing the gun. Once they realize that a properly position gun will allow them to fire any gun they want without hurting them, they will be fine with the largest loads available. I have taken many deer with a Remington 870 slug gun. I have also shot it enough times to not even feel the small amount of kick the gun provides.

Answer 18

No, not if of normal growth patterns.

I would suggest a NEF (New England Firearms) Pardner in 20 gauge.

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