Youth gun combo?

[LouisianaHunter]

I am looking at the youth gun combos for my seven year old son. I have looked at the Rossi 410/22 combo but wasn't too inpressed with the quality. I see that NEF makes a combo but haven't found one to look at. Which one of these would be the best gun to start a kid out with. He will use it for two years until he grows into a Rem. youth 870.

[WV Hunter]

My nephew has the NEF. It's a nice little setup imo, and a good starter for sure.

[Mikeforelk]

Here's another option for you but its an expensive one. I bought my son an Encore with a 7mm/08 barrel and a 20ga shotgun barrel. That little gun has already acounted for 3 deer, turkey and numerous pheasants. Cant' go wrong with the quality but your in it for about $700. + On the flip side it will last him a life time and he can pass it on to his kids. He took his own money and bought a muzzleloader barrel for it this year.
Good luck shopping.

[LouisianaHunter]

Ouch!! I am staying under $200 for this. After I am sure he will like hunting then I will spend some bucks but for a starter gun it will be either the NEF or the Rossi.

[bigbuck270]

NEF has a great combo 243/20ga. My neice is 11 and she has the 243. It shoots great. If you get a NEF make sure it is a SB2 reciever. W/ that reciever you can get bigger barrels and even a black powder barrel for less than $100.

[bigbuck270]

I forgot to mention NEF is US made. I think Rossi foreign.

[LouisianaHunter]

I like the idea og being US made. He is too small for a 20/243, I am sticking with the 410/22 for a year or two until he can handle the Remington 870 youth 20.

[cgturner7]

Another vote for NEF/H&R. I bought the H&R in .308 for myself, but already have thoughts of adding new barrels so it will be all set when my sons get old enough to hunt. Since NEFs are so inexpensive, I may just go ahead and buy a whole new rifle instead of new barrels. In my opinion, an excellent value with tons of character.

[frizzellr]

LouisianaHunter, if I may make a suggestion here. I know that many people think it is a good idea to start kids off with a 410 shotgun, however a 410 is far from a novice's firearm. As a matter of fact it is better left to an experienced shooter. You have to aim a 410, you point any other shotgun. I started off with a 410 myself and had one heck of a time transitioning to picking up targets quickly. Recoil difference between a 410 and a 20 guage is not that significant since most 410s are lighter. If your child can't handle a 20 guage I would forgo the shotgun all together until such time as they are able to handle one. Start off with a 22 LF and let them learn safety and technique.

[NE Hunter]

I started my son with a .410 and 2 1/2 inch shells soon he was using the 3 inch shells ( same hunting season) The next year he had and has a 20 ga using field loads BTW he's 11. Frizz has given you some sound advice.