My son is 9 shoots a .410 at turkeys and I thought he was too young for a 20 ga until yesterday. We were shooting skeet at my in laws and he talked me into letting him shoot a 20 ga 870 some. We went through the proper form and how to swing and follow through and he hit at least 50% and at times up to 4 in a row. So I'm thinking about getting him a semi auto so he can duck hunt some. I don't like buying junk but also not looking to buy a benelli for him to just grow out of either. Something with a shorter barrel will help him some. A 870 is still in my mind but a gas operated semi should help with recoil. Any suggestions?

Maybe a pawn shop 1100?

I'd get the semi auto for sure. My son was complaining about the recoil
on his youth 870 when shooting Hi-Brass. I thought he was being a pansy
till I shot it. And a Turkey load will knock your glasses off.

I put a Simms recoil pad on the 870 20 gauge that my sons used when they were young. It helped tremendously. Between doves, ducks, and turkeys that little gun took a beating.

Affinity compact

Remington 1100 or an Franchi affinity

Weatherby SA-08 youth compact. Got one for my wife a few years back. Great little gun and the kick doesn’t bother her.

Escort youth semi 20 is a fantastic shotgun

Weatherby sa-08 youth 20 ga

Another good option

I found a good used 1100 for my sons and it worked perfectly. Had a friend that bought a tri star and worked fine for him also.

Stoeger 3020

Does anyone make a 20 semi that either comes with a stock spacer or can change to a full size stock later own? I'm pretty sure a 20. 870 compact can take a full size stock. Can a 1100 do the same? I'm not confident that if I get an import that a replacement stock will be available several years from now.

Remington 870.

The Stoeger has quite a kick for a .20

I don't think the stoeger is gas operated. I believe it is inertia driven.

Mine doesn’t. Lot less than an 870

Whats wrong with the 20 ga 870 he shot yesterday?

Nothing wrong with an 870 and may end up going that route. Just asking suggestions.

Bought my son an 1100LT 20 with youth stocks (synthetic unfortunately). If you find a full size one like it I’ll swap you the wood ones from yours for these.

Downside is it’s heavy compared to his brothers 870 but it won’t kick much at all being that heavy. Good luck



Never hesitate to buy a kid a smaller frame gun. WHEN they grow out of it there is an almost unlimited supply of kids coming along with Dad’s or other family members looking for a gun like it. It’s not like buying a left handed rifle or similar. There’s more kids alive now than when you started this thread. See what I mean?