My little sister wants to know if she can handle the remington 870 20 gauge

Question

9yr 4 foot 6 and hunting for dove.

Answer 1

Definitely

Answer 2

Let her try it. If its too much for her get her a .410.  

Answer 3

well i dont see why not as long as she holds it right and has a good stance should be just fine but you may want to teach her how to shoot it before she goes hunting so she knows how the guns shoots

Answer 4

She can probably handle the recoil, but a standard 870 is going to be way too long for her.  She's going to struggle with holding it in position, and not hit anything.

Buy her a youth shotgun, something with a short stock and shorter barrel.  Even a single-shot H&R will bring down some doves!

Answer 5

Wait a couple of years. She is a little young for shotguns and dove hunting now... Dont be in a hurry for her to grow up. I suggest she wait intil she is at least 4 feet 11 before she shoots shotguns. Others may disagree but thats what I think.... Why not varmint / rabbit hunt with a .22 or .17 HMR in the mean time?

Answer 6

I'd say no.  It varies by child, but in general I'd not trust a youth that young to be out of immediate arm reach with a firearm, so hunting doves, no, especially with a brother, who never carries quite the same authority as a parent.

Take her out, let her shoot your 22 rifle at charcoal briquettes and pop cans (including some full ones!)  that way she gets some brother time and some gun time.

Wait a few years before pulling out the 20 guage, and when you do, i suggest getting the lightest field loads you can find, as well as pulling off the recoil pad, cutting 2 inches off the stock, drill a 6 inch deep 1 inch wide hole in the stock, pour it full of lead, and replace and refit the recoil pad.  Buy a second stock and do this if you want to keep the gun in best usable condition for people who are 5'6 and over

Answer 7

probably ok, depending upon her maturity, and the fit of the weapon to her-many people try to 'force' a child into a larger weapon, so they can 'grow into it', so cut the stock, make sure the weight in the stock counter balances the barrel, and good luck, be safe. ps, I appreciate the fact that you have not mentioned a 410 as a dove hunting weapon...they as a rule just to not have enough pattern to allow a beginner to have some modicum of success-the twenty is a much better choice...

Answer 8

Tell your "little sister" that "she" will be just fine.  

Answer 9

She should be fine (depending on her determination to hunt and level of experience with firearms) using the lightest 20 gauge loads.  These produce a felt recoil of some twenty pounds so a shoulder pad may be in order for her.  That, or a four-ten.

Good luck.

H

Answer 10

NO, No, no any shotgun but in a 28 gauge for her is the best choice.*