Hey guys, I was wondering do you think a 20 gauge shotgun is too big for a 14 year old? I am 5'5 and weigh 127 lbs. I have shot a 410 shotgun and it doesnt heart but its really small. I am just curious because if I buy a 20 gauge I dont wont to get home and find out its to big for me. Thanks,nc.hunter.[/align]

no, my nephew has been using on since he was 12, he is 15 going on 16 now, he switch to a muzzleloaders just this past season.

20 should be perfect. I have a 20 gauge H&R slug gun and it has very minimal kick compared to my 12 gauge. Can't wait to get out there and harvest my first animal with it.

It all depends on you. We couldn't tell you over the internet if you are ready, or capable of handling a gun.

I was shooting a 12 gauge when I was 10 (and I was real small for my age). My brothers fiance' is all of 5'1" 104lbs, and she shoots a 12 gauge with the best of 'em.

some 20's will hurt alot worse than a 12 with managed recoil loads. i had an H and R single shot 20 that was plain painfull to shoot.

a good auto 12 (SBE, SBE2, remington) will eat lighter loads and not hurt a bit.

a bit more versatility in the 12's too.

just stuff to think about.

moose

x2

I was started young (6)with a lightweight Ithaca SxS 20 gauge. Kicked the snot out of me. I voiced a complaint, so my Dad picked up a 20ga LT-1100 that I can rapid fire with one hand now 20 years later.... but at the age of 7 that gun was a God send. Its a bit heavier, but its gas operated. I was a skinny wiry little kid, so I was built to handle recoil because rather than soaking it up, I just moved backwards with the gun. At age 11 I started shooting a 12ga 870 Wingmaster... been shooting it a a few others ever since. Only time in my life I was ever really really recoil shy was right after I shot my first deer when I was 6... how often have you shot at or shot something game wise and felt recoil???? Thats the only time I can recall it happening to me!

I started my son off with a 20 ga pump at age 12. He nevercomplained about recoil and would pump out shells by the hundreds.

20 ga should be fine. I started shooting one when I was 10, but I was a big kid.

My first shotgun was a H&R 20 ga. I think I weighed maybe 80 lbs and I shot 3 inch magnums out of it most of the time. I was shooting a 30-06 when I weighed under 100 lbs as well. I was little growing up, I weighed under 100 lbs when I graduated high school.

Paul

As long as you don't go around imagining that it is too big, it won't be! Recoil is determined by the weight of the shot and powder charge. There's not that much difference between a 3/4 oz load in the .410 and a 7/8 oz load in a 20. In addition, most 20-gauge guns are a little heavier than the .410's.The extra weight will help tame recoil.

Get a 3" 20, and use 7/8 oz 2-3/4" shells in it. Once you've become proficient with the lighter loads, you can switch up to the 3" loads for pheasant, ducks, geese & turkey. You will love the 20. I once used a 12, but switched to the 3" 20-ga. many years ago. I like it better than the 12!