My son used a single shot 20 gauge until Christmas this season and when Santa brought him his 870 pump he finish off the season with it. He had to prove to me that he could shoot and shuck the shell and keep the gun pointed down range before I let him take it in the woods. We shot many shells at the range until he was confortable with the pump. My son is a big 8 year old and I think that he was just on the fence for handling the recoil. If I would have let him shoot the buck shot at a target he probably would not have wanted to hunt with it. We shot 7 1/2s at the range except for me checking the pattern with turkey loads and the buck shot. With the Kick's Industry Govlin Thunder he has got a great little turkey gun. I might use it if he lets me. He carries a .22LR for squirels and coyotes. He shoots every Fri. night with the rifle team at our gun club so he is very comfortable with the gun.