Best youth shotgun...

[CrowMagnumMan]

Just got my daughter a H&R single shot Pardner 20 gauge (according to the website about 5 1/2 pounds). I bought her some low brass shells to shoot. I wanted to shoot it first to feel what it was going to be like. It kicked the living you know what out of me and I wouldn't let her even shoot it.

She wants to hunt squirrels.

Any suggestions for a shotgun that isn't going to pound her but will fit her?

Thanks!

[Paul L Mohr]

Mossberg bantam or a youth model 870. I was at Gander Mountain yesterday and they had some really cute little 20 ga pumps from remington. $320 dollars though. You can get a mossberg bantam with three chokes for almost 100 bucks less if you look around.

You can add weight to that H&R if you want to though. Just take the recoil pad off and there is a big hole in the back. My Ultra slug gun actually comes with a steel bar installed from the factory.

I almost hate to suggest this, but for squirrels a 410 or 28 ga might work well. The only down side is shells are darn near twice what 12 and 20 ga shells are. And if you get a 410 look for one with screw in chokes. Most 410's with fixed chokes are a full choke and pretty hard to hit with if your not a good shot. But if you can get a IC or modified choke in one I think it would work ok.

I own one of those winchester lever action 410s and it is a hoot to shoot. They don't make them anymore though and they were pretty expensive when they did. You might be able to find a used a 20 ga 1100 in a youth model as well.

How old and how big is your girl? I used to have the same gun you do and I only weighed like 70 lbs and I used to shoot 3 inchers out of it. It kicked but it didn't really hurt unless you shoot a lot.

Have you considered a nice rimfire like a .22 or the newer HM2. Those are awesome squirrel rounds, and it would teach her to shoot better. Depends on where you live though, they have a lot of range if you miss. A lot of squirrels fell to my Marlin model 60 when I was a youngster. I used the 20 ga H&R for garden bunnies most of the time.

Paul

[rem 700]

Youth 870. I agree the single shots for youths are one of theless usefulideas out there. They kick very hard. You might still get some use out of it with a slip on Limbsaver, though.