MagnumWill
New member
...correction, DO shoot skiers.... If you own a snowboard, you would understand... (lol j/k)
Questions
- Thread starter youngone
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...correction, DO shoot skiers.... If you own a snowboard, you would understand... (lol j/k)
Thanks everybody for welcoming me. Another reason why I wanted to get a 20gauge was so my 11 year old brother can shoot. But I talked to my friend today( He is a big gun nuT) And he said hes going to ask his dad if he can sell me his 4/10 shot gun. Its a single shot. I may go with that first and then when I build up more money then get a 20gauge.
A .410 shotgun is definately NOT a beginners gun when it comes to moving targets. Yes, they have low recoil. However, their tiny shot patterns make hitting the clay very difficult to do with any consistency.
With regards to cost, I think you will find that 12ga ammo is cheaper. Many of the big box retail stores will have shelves full of 12ga target loads that are sold at a (somewhat) reasonable price. On the other hand, you may be lucky to find more than a handful of boxes of 20ga stuff.
For .410, the ammo situation is very bad. What little you will find will be hideously overpriced.
With regards to cost, I think you will find that 12ga ammo is cheaper. Many of the big box retail stores will have shelves full of 12ga target loads that are sold at a (somewhat) reasonable price. On the other hand, you may be lucky to find more than a handful of boxes of 20ga stuff.
For .410, the ammo situation is very bad. What little you will find will be hideously overpriced.
NovemberWhiskey870
New member
I agree, get a 12ga. you will regret the 20ga later. 870 or mossberg 500 pump. Can be had used at a pawn shop for $150-$190 in good condition or new for $250 to $300. If you absolutely insist on getting a 20 ga. you could always get a New England Firearms (NFA) single shot break open gun for ~$100 I believe and have fun with that for a while. That way you would not have invested as much in a 20ga when you realize you ultimately want a 12ga and buy one... The difference in recoil really is not that much, especially with low dram target loads.
NovemberWhiskey870
New member
Also as far as shooting costs go, for 12ga you can get 100 shells for $23 and a box of 90 clays for $7, so $30 for 100 shots (about what you'd shoot in 1 outing by yourself) a very basic but functional thrower is $30 (make sure to mount it on a spare tire not stick it in to the ground), so you're looking at $30 initial investment then $30 every time you want to go after that. I shoot about once a week, but if you only shot once a month, that is a pretty affordable setup for even a HS student. $30/month could hardly buy you 2 dinners out, just have to think about where your priorities are.
S_Constitutionist
New member
I will go along with what everyone else is saying about the .410.
I recently got a pretty decent O/U .410 a few weeks ago for my 21st birthday. Im learning to shoot skeet with it as well and let me tell you, it isnt the gun to start with. I really wish I had a 12ga, but I cant bring myself to trade a gift.
True, the low recoil is nice when shooting at stationary targets with my 100 pound girlfriend but the con's outweigh the benefits IMO. Not only is ammo much more expensive and hard to find, the narrow shot pattern combined with a short barrel/ light weight makes it extremely difficult to hit clays; especially when you are a beginner like myself.
I recently got a pretty decent O/U .410 a few weeks ago for my 21st birthday. Im learning to shoot skeet with it as well and let me tell you, it isnt the gun to start with. I really wish I had a 12ga, but I cant bring myself to trade a gift.
True, the low recoil is nice when shooting at stationary targets with my 100 pound girlfriend but the con's outweigh the benefits IMO. Not only is ammo much more expensive and hard to find, the narrow shot pattern combined with a short barrel/ light weight makes it extremely difficult to hit clays; especially when you are a beginner like myself.
grymster2007
New member
That's a typo for sure Brent.
What's a Maverick? $200 sounds like something my son in law would be interested in.
Grym, I been called much worse... TEE-RUST-MEEE!!!
The Maverick 88 by Mossberg. Same general gun as a 500 with a crossbolt safety rather than the tang safety which saves a step or 2 of machine time as well as labor screwin' the safety parts together.
http://www.maverickarms.com/pages/88field.htm
American made in texas. Sure it has some mexican parts but what affordable product doesn't have foreign parts.
Brent
The Maverick 88 by Mossberg. Same general gun as a 500 with a crossbolt safety rather than the tang safety which saves a step or 2 of machine time as well as labor screwin' the safety parts together.
http://www.maverickarms.com/pages/88field.htm
American made in texas. Sure it has some mexican parts but what affordable product doesn't have foreign parts.
Brent
hey guys,
Thanks guys I took all your guys info. My dad and I went to Dick sporting goods store and they have a lot of shotugns there too. I saw a moosenberg(spelt wrong) 20 gauge and it was $260. But the only thing is my dad needs to get his FID(Fire Arms Identification )card. The law says its supposed to be 30 days. But the system is so backed up that it may take 3 months. But my grandfather has 7 shotguns all 12 guauge. They are from the 1980's but my dad said one of them is his. So he is going to see if theres a way he can just get that one with out doing the system. But idk if thats possible.
And btw I am looking into free shooting ranges in New Jersey. Let me know if anybody lives i new jersey and can reccomend one.
Thanks
Thanks guys I took all your guys info. My dad and I went to Dick sporting goods store and they have a lot of shotugns there too. I saw a moosenberg(spelt wrong) 20 gauge and it was $260. But the only thing is my dad needs to get his FID(Fire Arms Identification )card. The law says its supposed to be 30 days. But the system is so backed up that it may take 3 months. But my grandfather has 7 shotguns all 12 guauge. They are from the 1980's but my dad said one of them is his. So he is going to see if theres a way he can just get that one with out doing the system. But idk if thats possible.
And btw I am looking into free shooting ranges in New Jersey. Let me know if anybody lives i new jersey and can reccomend one.
Thanks
I went out back this afternoon and got some clay time in with the wife and one of my daughters. My wife shot the youth 20g (Charles Daly) and I used the Mossberg 500. My first shotgun. My daughter shot it left handed.
I will tell you that I think the Youth 20g kicks more than my 12g. I just can't shoot the youth model unless I combat it. It is too small for me. My daughter says the Youth 20g kicks straight back while my mossberg kicks back and up a bit.
That I guess would be the difference between 12 and 20.
Wow, I just love the smell of burnt gun powder in the afternoon.
I went with the 12g when I bought my first SG. I bought the Mossberg since it was a good price for me at the time and 12g shells are super easy to find. Also the Mossberg was the combo model and came with the short barrel and the pistol grip. I never used the grip, but have used the 18" barrel.
My point, I don't know, I just wanted to brag about going out in my back yard and shooting up some clays this afternoon.
Be safe and have fun!
Mel
I will tell you that I think the Youth 20g kicks more than my 12g. I just can't shoot the youth model unless I combat it. It is too small for me. My daughter says the Youth 20g kicks straight back while my mossberg kicks back and up a bit.
That I guess would be the difference between 12 and 20.
Wow, I just love the smell of burnt gun powder in the afternoon.
I went with the 12g when I bought my first SG. I bought the Mossberg since it was a good price for me at the time and 12g shells are super easy to find. Also the Mossberg was the combo model and came with the short barrel and the pistol grip. I never used the grip, but have used the 18" barrel.
My point, I don't know, I just wanted to brag about going out in my back yard and shooting up some clays this afternoon.
Be safe and have fun!
Mel
Actually that is a fit and stock configuration affect, not so much the gauge size.
Junior has a single shot 20 that is brutal compared to the 12 gauge Maverick/Mossberg. But my short barrel 20 mossberg is similar in felt recoil to his 12 gauge pump. The 12 actually has a more slow or subdued felt recoil due to a bit more weight and longer barrel with both having the same stock swapped back and forth.
So it is all about the set up.
Brent
Ryan, trust me...
These guys recommending a 12 over a 20-ga know what they are talking about. My very first shotgun purchase was a 20-ga, and believe me, it wasn't long before I was wishing I'd gone with a 12-ga. If you're fearful the 12-ga will have too much kick, don't be... these days 20-ga equivalent loads are available for the 12-ga. You can always load 12-ga on the light side to match a 20-ga, or even a 28-ga; but, you can't load a 20-ga heavy to mach a 12-ga.
A 20-ga makes a good second gun, and here's when you'll want one: After you're an accomplished marksman and you're going to be humping a hunting gun all day, then it might be nice to have the lighter gun and ammo of a 20-ga (or smaller). Or, you start shooting competitively and want to shoot more events (FYI: Tournament skeet includes 12-ga, 20-ga, 28-ga and .410-bore events).
These guys recommending a 12 over a 20-ga know what they are talking about. My very first shotgun purchase was a 20-ga, and believe me, it wasn't long before I was wishing I'd gone with a 12-ga. If you're fearful the 12-ga will have too much kick, don't be... these days 20-ga equivalent loads are available for the 12-ga. You can always load 12-ga on the light side to match a 20-ga, or even a 28-ga; but, you can't load a 20-ga heavy to mach a 12-ga.
A 20-ga makes a good second gun, and here's when you'll want one: After you're an accomplished marksman and you're going to be humping a hunting gun all day, then it might be nice to have the lighter gun and ammo of a 20-ga (or smaller). Or, you start shooting competitively and want to shoot more events (FYI: Tournament skeet includes 12-ga, 20-ga, 28-ga and .410-bore events).
oneounceload
Moderator
Get the 12, get a GOOD recoil pad installed at the proper LOP for you installed, shoot LIGHT target loads and you'll be fine. As you do this more and more, you'll be able to work up to different loads for different applications
NovemberWhiskey870
New member
12 ga guns:
NEW:
NEF single shot -- $100-$125
Maverick 88 -- $200
Mossberg 500 -- $250
Remington 870 Express -- $300
These are all regular prices and not on sale. I ended up going with the 870 because it is the gold standard 12 ga pump gun, but people on here like the Mossberg as well. Can't go wrong with any of the bottom 3, the NEF will be a single shot which is a bit different than a pump (can't hold 5 rounds at a time) but will be just as fun to shoot skeet with.
You can get a 500 / 870 for $150-$190 at a pawn shop, if your dad is willing to go with you and check out which ones look good and which ones don't.
NEW:
NEF single shot -- $100-$125
Maverick 88 -- $200
Mossberg 500 -- $250
Remington 870 Express -- $300
These are all regular prices and not on sale. I ended up going with the 870 because it is the gold standard 12 ga pump gun, but people on here like the Mossberg as well. Can't go wrong with any of the bottom 3, the NEF will be a single shot which is a bit different than a pump (can't hold 5 rounds at a time) but will be just as fun to shoot skeet with.
You can get a 500 / 870 for $150-$190 at a pawn shop, if your dad is willing to go with you and check out which ones look good and which ones don't.
Heres a list of ranges: http://www.funnewjersey.com/upload_user/Different_Outdoor_adventures_NJ/SHOOTING_RANGES_NJ.HTM
Note that includes pistol and rifle ranges also.
For a first gun at your age I would go with a 12 guage, but the 20 is fine I just think you will be wanting to upgrade. I would go with in this order:
Remington 870
Mossberg 500
Maverick 88 Also note that a gently used gun would be alot cheaper than new and any of these will probably outlast you. It is hard to beat Dicks for new guns, but there are probably a few pawn shops in your town that have a few of what you could start with. It isn't like you have plenty of time to shop before you are old enough or your dad gets his permit.
Evan
Note that includes pistol and rifle ranges also.
For a first gun at your age I would go with a 12 guage, but the 20 is fine I just think you will be wanting to upgrade. I would go with in this order:
Remington 870
Mossberg 500
Maverick 88 Also note that a gently used gun would be alot cheaper than new and any of these will probably outlast you. It is hard to beat Dicks for new guns, but there are probably a few pawn shops in your town that have a few of what you could start with. It isn't like you have plenty of time to shop before you are old enough or your dad gets his permit.
Evan