Youth 20 Gauge Shotgun

[Georgeanna Abson]

Isthe Remington youth 20-gauge shotgun the best youth option out there? It may have been at one time. However, with manufacturing changes, the end of production due to bankruptcy, and the rise of other competitive brands, I am cautious about claiming such a title for the Remington. To answer the question about which shotgun is the best youth 20-gauge, I explored some of the most popular and best models on the market today with Dave Sheley, who has seen the industry change over time and outfitted countless customers with youth shotguns.

Right in the center of the grouse country of Minnesota is Backus Corner Store and Gun Shop. Owner Dave Sheley started selling guns here 24 years ago. Before that, he worked for over a decade at the iconic Reeds Family Outdoor Outfitter. All together, Sheley has been selling youth model shotguns for almost 40 years.

In recent years I have found myself gravitating to the 28-gauge, but the popularity is still not as high as other gauges. As Sheley points out, the availability of 28-gauge loads, the cost of said loads, and the shotguns built for that gauge limit selection.

Even though the 16-gauge is his personal favorite, it barely got a mention in our conversation and I can only attribute that to a combination of recoil, scarcity in ammunition, and not a wide selection in shotgun models to go with it.

Sheley says that most people are buying youth model shotguns in his store at the last minute, perhaps ahead of a hunting trip or a holiday. Customers often rely on the store to help guide them through the process, because very little research is usually done ahead of time.

The 870 Youth Model is a pump shotgun originally came in the Express platform, which removes part of the bluing process but is mechanically the same shotgun as the Wingmaster. The matte finish barrels reduce the price, but also give it a great look. It has a 13-inch length of pull and a 21-inch barrel with interchangeable chokes. It weighs in at 6.25 pounds and can take 2 3/4-inch and 3-inch shells.

The new Remington Fieldmaster has many of the same features of the original Express. However the Jr. Compact introduces a 12-inch length of pull option to the mix. The current MSRP is $610 for the new Remighting Youth Model 20-Gauge shotguns. With some shopping you can find them for around $480.00.

Coming in with an MSRP of $1,649, you would be lucky to find one on the used market. With a 13-inch length of pull, 24-inch barrels with three interchangeable chokes, a 3-inch chamber, and coming in at 6 pounds, 2 ounces, I am sure no kid would be disappointed to end up with one of these.

The Browning Silver Field Micro Midas 20-gauge is available in 24-inch or 26-inch barrels with a length of pull of 13 inches, a 3-inch chamber, and weighing 6 pounds and 6 pounds 2 ounces, respectively.

If you are looking for an option that is less expensive while still being a reliable semiautomatic youth shotgun, then Weatherby has you covered with the Weatherby SA-08 Compact Youth shotgun. The gas-operated action reduces recoil, giving youth a better experience. It can also increase accuracy for young hunters. Most importantly, Weatherby prides itself on the dual-piston system, which can be adjusted for heavy or light loads.

He also took the time to remind me that the resale value on any of these purchases should be part of the calculation when making the investment. It can open better options and ultimately create a more rewarding experience for the youth involved in the field.

A.J. DeRosa founded Project Upland in 2014 as an excuse to go hunting more often (and it worked). A New England native, he grew up hunting and has spent over 35 years in pursuit of big and small game species across three continents. He has a passion for side-by-side shotguns, inspiring him to travel the world to meet the people and places from which they come. Looking to turn his passion into inspiration for others, AJ was first published in 2004 and went on to write his first book The Urban Deer Complex in 2014. He soon discovered a love for filmmaking, particularly the challenge of capturing ruffed grouse with a camera, which led to the award-winning Project Upland film series. AJ's love for all things wild has caused him to advocate on the federal and state levels to promote and expand conservation policy, habitat funding, and upland game bird awareness. He currently serves as the Strafford County New Hampshire Fish & Game Commissioner in order to give back to his community and to further the mission of the agency. When those hunting excuses are in play, you can find him wandering behind his Wirehaired Pointing Griffon in the mountains of New England and anywhere else the birds take them.

The Mossberg Bantam in 20g kicks like a mule! A 12g Auto with light loads shoot will shoot significantly softer (perceived recoil) than a 20g pump shooting a standard load. I started my older son with a Bantam and it was a mistake, especially when he started shooting in the clay target league in 7th grade. Bought him a new shotgun within a week. I would throw a recommendation for the Beretta A300 synthetic in 12g. Tried and true action, it has spacers to adjust lenght of pull, and is something that they can grow with and use for many years. It sells for $699 or less at most retailers. The Bantam has been relegated to home defense.

Gauges available in youth model shotguns range from .410 bore to 12-gauge. There are more 20-gauge models offered in youth and/or compact models and it is much easier to find 20-gauge upland loads in retail stores than, say, the more niche .410 bore and 28-gauge shells. A 20-gauge is a great choice to get a youth started as it offers less recoil while giving young shooters a solid option for anything from clays on the range to late-season rooster pheasants and even wild turkey.

Thank you for reading my article and thank you for sharing the information about the Charles Daly 101 single shot. That model would make an excellent shotgun on which to start a young hunter/shooter. Thank you, again, I appreciate you adding another solid option to the list!

Great article. I remember I was scared of shot guns cause I was given a light weight adult sized 20 gauge single shot. Thing hit like a mule and i regretted pulling the trigger every time. Took a while to get over flinching after that gun. I think the proper weight and proper load would have made the beginning more fun. I personally got my kids the Mossberg 500 youth its a little heavy for a 20 ga but love being able to see the safety from a distance and the pump seems to help them line up and take a better second shot. And I stick to 7/8 loads in the 1200s. They love shooting it.

Thank you for reading my article and sharing your story. There is something magical about watching the light bulb turn on when kids have the opportunity for a successful introduction to shooting/hunting. Have a great season with your kids this fall/winter!

There are many barriers to entry with hunting. One I have encountered recently is the dearth of shotgun options for young people who shoot left-handed for under $2K. Ten percent of the population is left-handed and eighteen percent is cross dominant. Are we really going to write these potential shooters and hunters off or consign them to using a shotgun that does not fit?

Availability of the CZ was the next hurtle. Until this week, when a shipment apparently arrived, I had no luck finding one anywhere in the US. Even CZ USA could not help me locate one. Ours will arrive next week and have a since seen three or so listed on GunBroker and the larger online dealers.

The Scout Compact by CVA has a 3-inch chamber, and this single-shot .410 is the ideal youth model shotgun. It weighs only 6 pounds and comes with a blued steel barrel, JEBS X-Full Turkey Choke, 100% ambidextrous stock, DuraSight scope rail, reversible cocking spur, lifetime warranty and more.

The SA-08 Synthetic Compact features a 3-inch chamber, durable injection molded synthetic stock, a fully ventilated barrel, sling swivel studs, and a 24-inch barrel. It even has a chrome-plated bolt, chrome-lined bore, etc.

The 301 Turkey Obsession, paired with HeavyWeight TSS turkey loads, is a great single-shot, break-action gobbler gun. It sports a 3-inch chamber, 26-inch barrel, and patterns well. Get it in .410 with a synthetic stock and fore-end. It weighs 5.07 pounds.

The Winchester SXP Youth Field shotgun is a short length-of-pull option that comes with a satin-finished stock, back-bored barrel, 3-inch chamber, Invector-Plus choke system and more. It has an inertia-assisted action, vent rib with brass bead.

Growing up in Ohio, most of my friends received a single-shot 20-gauge as their first shotgun. Single-shots were deemed safer for kids (they are certainly less complicated to operate than auto-loaders or pumps). Most came with shorter stocks, and were shorter in overall length, so they fit young hunters better. Single-shots were relatively inexpensive guns (and still are), so it was an easier point of entry for parents trying to raise a family on a modest income.

The problem with many of those guns was they were built with rock-hard plastic recoil plates. Loaded with magnum slugs (one of the only options for hunting deer in Ohio at the time) the recoil from those guns punched your shoulder harder than any playground bully. It was an ideal scenario to develop bad habits, like flinching. In some cases the recoil could be so brutal that a new hunter might give up altogether.

Gauge is determined by bore diameter. A 12-gauge shotgun has a bore of .729 inches and 12 lead balls of this diameter would weigh one pound. The 20 gauge .615 bore would require 20 balls to weigh one pound. That is how gauge is measured. The payload of the larger bore is heavier.

The weight of the shotgun itself is lighter in most 20-gauge shotguns. The Remington 870 Express Youth Model is a very fast-handling shotgun. While 12-gauge riot guns with 18 to 20-inch barrels handle quickly, they also kick hard due to their light weight. A 20-gauge pump with a 21-inch barrel is well-balanced and offers excellent hit probability. The H&R Pardner full-size sporting shotgun is docile.

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