From: ems@michael.apple.com (E. Michael Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: First Shotgun Opinions?
Date: 22 Jan 93 04:02:25 GMT
Organization: Circle 'C' Shellfish Ranch, Shores-of-the-Pacific, California

In article <C15tHI.A19@fc.hp.com> scot@hpfcla.fc.hp.com (Scot Heath) writes:
#The first, thing to be decided is how large the son is and what gauge shotgun 
#to buy.  In my opinion, the only choices are 28ga. or 12ga.  The .410 has
#nearly no pattern and is nothing but frustration on the trap range.  

So far, we agree, other than the ommission of 20 Ga.

#I don't consider the 20ga. because the recoil is so near that of a lightly
#loaded 12ga. that you might as well go ahead and buy the 12, 

Here we part company.  I have a Winchester 1200 (mumble) that I use
for trap in 20 Ga.  My buddy has the same gun in 12 ga.  I'm about
195 lbs.  He is about 175 lbs.  

We have swapped each others guns from time to time.  The difference,
after your second box or so, when shooting trap is Very Noticable.

The other point?  That 12 year old is going to want to do things
like shoot buck shot or slugs at some time or other (at water jugs
or at ?).  When that time comes, he will either have to deal with
the full house 12 ga. rounds from the store, or reload  (and reloading
slugs or buck shot is a royal pain.).  Or... he could get nice to
shoot 20 ga rounds at the store that are still effective.  (UN-like
the .410 or 28 ga.)

Yes, if ALL he will EVER do is shoot trap, the 28 will be a gentle
kick.  It will also be all he can do with the 28.  It will also be
harder for him to be successfull at hitting the clay, since the 
shot loads available are very light.  Or he can shoot the 12 Ga. trap
loads with only modest discomfort after a day of clay, but he can
write off (for a while at least) shooting anything like a magnum
or a slug load or buck shot or even going duck hunting.  

Compare this with the 20 Ga.  He can get very comfortable trap loads.
When, a year or two from now, one of his friends invites the family
to shoot frozen water jugs or go duck hunting, he can load up with
quite competant loads and NOT be dumped on his butt or intimidated
by the gun.  Also, the Remington 20 Ga for youths is just a 
wonderfully proportioned gun.

When I was about 12 I went pheasant hunting for the first time. 
I got to shoot a borrowed 12 Ga. double bbl.  While I came way
from that day with a love of double bbl guns, I also spent much
of the day being worried that the 12 Ga would be too much for me.
I DID get a pheasant (and learned that I HATE pheasant plucking ;-)
but I did it while struggling with a too large gun and too much kick.

#a shotgun that
#eveyone ends up with sooner or later.

I have a 12 ga now too.  I choose to use my 20 ga. for trap...

...
#The availability of barrels and stocks is a big plus because gun fit is
#very important, especially in trap.  A 12 year old will almost certainly
#need to have the length of pull shortened so if the gun will be used later
                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This is far more important than most anything else.  One of the nice
features of the Remington 20 Ga for youths is that is already has
a shortened pull...

Above all else, make sure the gun fits the shooter.  That day in
the field with an adult sized stock put me off shotguns for years...

The fit is more important than the guage, since a poor fit will
mean poor accuracy (and who wants to fail?) and a poor fit will
increase the percieved recoil (and who wants to hurt?).

#Trap, or for that matter any of the shotgun sports are extremely exciting
#and addictive!  Here's hoping your friends son gets hooked for life.

Here we are in complete agreement again.  

-- 

E. Michael Smith  ems@apple.COM

'Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.  Boldness has
 genius, power and magic in it.'  -  Goethe

I am not responsible nor is anyone else.  Everything is disclaimed.