This is just a thought......Get your son a youth model Remington 870 Express in 20 gauge and handload some light loads for him until he gets used to the gun and recoil. If you are not currently a handloader, it is fairly inexpensive to purchase the equipment to load shotshells and a good way to pass some time. Or, you may know someone that is experienced and has the manuals to work up some loads for you. I started out with a .410 30 years ago and still have it. But, it wasn' t until I got a 20 ga. that I really started putting meat on the table.