I always had my son practice with light loads. Only when we hunt do I slip in the 3" turkey loads. Last year he saw me pick up the empty shell and that was the first he ever knew he had been shooting his turkeys with 3" shells. Save the big shells for you to pattern the gun and for your son's hunting. My experience with youth pump guns is that they have quite a kick anyway. You might try a sims recoil pad also.