Youth Shot Gun

[Buckmaster]

I do like your 20 ga. 1100 Mike. I need to find me one of those along with a .410 1100.

 

["J"]

I’d buy the gun, and let him use it. It belongs too you and you allow his use of it. That’s what you tell him. Then if he does enjoy it and sticks with it, give it to him at a later date.... If not, you’ve got it and can do what you want....

 

["J"]

I do like your 20 ga. 1100 Mike. I need to find me one of those along with a .410 1100.

Break out that checkbook buddy.... They’re not many around and expensive....

 

[Stump]

Sounds like I'm alone here, but I have two sons that are now 16 and 18 and neither owned their own youth gun. During bird/rabbit season they used a 20 gauge 1100 semi and a 20 gauge pump or single shot. They used those from the time they could go with me (around 9 or 10) until now. Knowing they shot smooth I never had to worry about scaring them with something lighter that may kick too bad.
For deer, they always used a muzzy because they shoot so smooth with zero kick. By the age of 12, they also used a 12 gauge 1100 for deer.

If you have a gun that your grandson can handle well enough, I'd let him use that and someday pass it down to him. Just my opinion. If he shows enough interest that he will actually walk around alot hunting bunnies or birds, then maybe I'd get him something he can call his own that is lighter to carry.

Nothing will drive more crazy than if you buy him a gun and then he never wants to get out and use it. Have you tested the waters with him yet?

I'm with you 100% on getting them something just to get it. He's been hunting with me, sitting in the blind as well as scouting and checking out the woods, filling feeders and checking cams. The kid has been on this for a couple years. There isn't a time that he doesn't want to go to the cabin with me to hunt. I do have guns that he will eventually get and look forward to him getting to the point where he can handle them. He shoots his Genesis bow and wants to hunt with that, I've had to explain it's not quite up to speed and he's got to get a bit bigger to pull a "legal" bow. This isn't a purchase just for me to be able to say I bought my grand kid a gun.

 

[Wildlife]

My 95 12g 3" chamber Remington Express Magnum w/ a 22" rifle barrel using 3" 1-1/4 oz. sabot.

My 15 yr. old son at the time that got the job done & made it look easy.

Good luck! Hope you find what you're looking for.

 

[giles]

How about getting him a 22 and letting him pick squirrels out of trees to start? Give him the basics and work from that.

That’s how I started my kids, they all had 10/22’s before B.B. guns. Maybe that’s another reason the auto loaders don’t worry me at all.

 

[brock ratcliff]

I'm with you 100% on getting them something just to get it. He's been hunting with me, sitting in the blind as well as scouting and checking out the woods, filling feeders and checking cams. The kid has been on this for a couple years. There isn't a time that he doesn't want to go to the cabin with me to hunt. I do have guns that he will eventually get and look forward to him getting to the point where he can handle them. He shoots his Genesis bow and wants to hunt with that, I've had to explain it's not quite up to speed and he's got to get a bit bigger to pull a "legal" bow. This isn't a purchase just for me to be able to say I bought my grand kid a gun.

Stump, I think I've still got a scaled down crossbow out in the barn if you want to use it this fall. Mason shot a few deer with it back in the day. I'm not 100% that I still have it but you're welcome to get that kid shootin deers if I do.

 

[Chass]

I have an amazing story of how I got my first shotgun, Mossberg 500. Christmas Eve or soon before my father took me out squirrel hunting, I think it was my first year and had been using my grandma's single shot 410 which was super stiff to open, had to bust er open over your knee it was extremely old. Anyways, we went out to a friend who was also a gun Smith and stopped in before heading out. He asked if I was still using the 410 which I replied YUP! He then told me something about working on a new shotgun and wanted me to take it out, it's a 20 gauge so it'll be a little easier hitting the squirrels too. Of course I was all about it and he handed it over and we went hunting. It was a great hunt, hit all the squirrels I was after that day. On our way out we went right to the truck and left, I asked my father aren't we giving this back? He told me that they had left for the evening so we were gonna give it back next hunt.
Well Christmas rolled around. Presents we're opened in the morning and the day had gone by. We were sitting in the living room when my father said OH, I FORGOT there's something in the kitchen for ya. It's in the corner by the fridge. And as I walked out wondering what he was even talking about he followed me out to see my reaction. In the corner was what looked like some wrapped up stick. As soon as I picked it up I knew it was a gun so ripped it open and was blown away to find it to be the gun I was just killing squirrels with the other day. I looked over at him shocked and confused and was like mine?! He told me yes and explained how it was all planned.

 

["J"]

I have an amazing story of how I got my first shotgun, Mossberg 500. Christmas Eve or soon before my father took me out squirrel hunting, I think it was my first year and had been using my grandma's single shot 410 which was super stiff to open, had to bust er open over your knee it was extremely old. Anyways, we went out to a friend who was also a gun Smith and stopped in before heading out. He asked if I was still using the 410 which I replied YUP! He then told me something about working on a new shotgun and wanted me to take it out, it's a 20 gauge so it'll be a little easier hitting the squirrels too. Of course I was all about it and he handed it over and we went hunting. It was a great hunt, hit all the squirrels I was after that day. On our way out we went right to the truck and left, I asked my father aren't we giving this back? He told me that they had left for the evening so we were gonna give it back next hunt.
Well Christmas rolled around. Presents we're opened in the morning and the day had gone by. We were sitting in the living room when my father said OH, I FORGOT there's something in the kitchen for ya. It's in the corner by the fridge. And as I walked out wondering what he was even talking about he followed me out to see my reaction. In the corner was what looked like some wrapped up stick. As soon as I picked it up I knew it was a gun so ripped it open and was blown away to find it to be the gun I was just killing squirrels with the other day. I looked over at him shocked and confused and was like mine?! He told me yes and explained how it was all planned.

Got something in my eye while reading this... Awesome story Chas’s.... Thanks for sharing and bringing a smile too my face while reading....

 

[Lundy]

Where do you hunt for deer, open, wooded, ? What method do you use, stand hunting or walking? What types of shots do you anticipate under or over 50 yds? Open sights or optics?

 

[cspot]

Only suggestion I have is get a gun that fits him. A gun the he can properly shoulder solves alot of the issues. The Mossberg Pump, Rem 870, Rem 11-87 etc are all good choices for a shotgun. When shooting at home, I would just use low brass shells as the kick is alot less. You can use high brass when hunting squirrels and stuff. For deer I would get him a Ruger 450 Bushmaster. Good ballistics and light recoil since they have a muzzle break factory installed on them. A muzzleloader is also a good option too for deer.

 

[Stump]

Stump, I think I've still got a scaled down crossbow out in the barn if you want to use it this fall. Mason shot a few deer with it back in the day. I'm not 100% that I still have it but you're welcome to get that kid shootin deers if I do.

Thanks for the offer Brock, I may take you up on that if you still have it.

 

[Wildlife]

Something to consider if your grandson never harvested a Whitetail,,,

My son's first & only compound bow now that I built for him about eight years ago. He's yet to harvest any deer with it because he’s never hunted with it. He's currently in college and I doubt that he'll ever be using it again. I've kept it around because I teach youths how to hunt Whitetail from time to time. I try to take one every season to introduce them to the sport of bow hunting.

If you wish to get your grandson into any kind of bow hunting, or even try see if he would be interested in it at all, you're more than welcome to PM me and we can start from there.

I'd consider taking the both of you out at my place early in the deer season at no cost. I've done this with other youths with guardians/parent in my past. I've even filmed the hunt for them. It would have to be early bow season though, so keep that in mind. You're also more than welcome to use whatever type bow, however there's always the option of using my son's compound if it fits the hunter.

• Mathews Solo-Cam New String & Tuned @50# w/ a 28" Draw
• Toxonics 5 .19 pin Wind/Yardage Adjustable Sight
• Trophy Ridge Wicker Biscuit Rest
• 3 Arrow Alpine Loc Camo Quiver
• ST Epic Easton N-FUSED Carbon 500 7.3 gpi Arrows
• Fixed 3 Blade 100 grain Thinderhead Broadheads
• T.R.U. BALL wrist release

Below is a 16-year-old Missouri youth at the time that never hunted Whitetail Deer before. He lost his father (police officer) in the line of duty the year before. I ended up taking him out along with an adult guardian in 2016. I'm proud to inform you that he's now a Whitetail Deer Bowhunter for life after he successful harvested his first deer on his last day at my place in a four-day hunt. He got to see deer everyday at each setup I put him in and missed out on two opportunities on two different mature bucks. I filmed his entire experience, so he can relive it for the rest of his days. That following Christmas, he got himself his first compound bow because he absolutely fell in love with mine. The following season, he harvested a real nice 10 point with a rifle in his home state. I couldn't be prouder of him!