Trapshooters Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

New Shotgun for Youth Trap

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 29 Posts
A

ALAN1415

· Registered
Joined
·
1 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
My son will be almost 13 years old when trap season starts this year. He is an experienced hunter and has a youth mossberg 500. I realized he could use this for his first trap season and I expect he will be involved with trap shooting at least through high school. We told him we would get him a new shotgun gor trap season but i'm a little bit torn on which direction to go.

He is left handed and left I dominant. He is a good sized kid but at the same time, I know during traps season, he'll be shooting plenty of rounds. So I am not certain if we should start him with twelve gauge now, or if keeping him in twenty gauge would be better because it'll beat him up less. I know if we go the semi-auto route that would help with recoil management. However, I also know that a gas recoil system is going to require more cleaning and maintenance. If we go with an inertia gun, cleaning won't be as much of an issue, but it will also will not reduce felt recoil as much.

Lastly, there is a part of me that would like to just go with a double barrel trap gun that has adjustable buttpad and and comb. I think this is the type of gun. He's ultimately going to want, but again, there's the question of twelve gauge versus twenty gauge.

Any help you guys can provide thinking through.This would be much appreciated.
 
#2 ·
ALAN1415 said:
My son will be almost 13 years old when trap season starts this year. He is an experienced hunter and has a youth mossberg 500. I realized he could use this for his first trap season and I expect he will be involved with trap shooting at least through high school. We told him we would get him a new shotgun gor trap season but i'm a little bit torn on which direction to go.

He is left handed and left I dominant. He is a good sized kid but at the same time, I know during traps season, he'll be shooting plenty of rounds. So I am not certain if we should start him with twelve gauge now, or if keeping him in twenty gauge would be better because it'll beat him up less. I know if we go the semi-auto route that would help with recoil management. However, I also know that a gas recoil system is going to require more cleaning and maintenance. If we go with an inertia gun, cleaning won't be as much of an issue, but it will also will not reduce felt recoil as much.

Lastly, there is a part of me that would like to just go with a double barrel trap gun that has adjustable buttpad and and comb. I think this is the type of gun. He's ultimately going to want, but again, there's the question of twelve gauge versus twenty gauge.

Any help you guys can provide thinking through.This would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...
I started off with a 12 g A400 semiauto and moved to a BT99. Quickly moved to a Citori CXT for which I can shoot doubles 'cause woman's prerogative to change her mind only after she buys a BT99. Stupid me! I HATED the A400 due to using a shell deflector that did funky things to the shell and I ended up spending 5 minutes on the line digging the da** thing out.

Anyways I am also LH and eye dominant and CXTs are neutral cast. I had a gunsmith add a buttplate due to canting issues. I also use 8 shot 1 oz and feel very little recoil.
 
#3 · (Edited)
ALAN1415 said:
My son will be almost 13 years old when trap season starts this year. He is an experienced hunter and has a youth mossberg 500. I realized he could use this for his first trap season and I expect he will be involved with trap shooting at least through high school. We told him we would get him a new shotgun gor trap season but i'm a little bit torn on which direction to go.

He is left handed and left I dominant. He is a good sized kid but at the same time, I know during traps season, he'll be shooting plenty of rounds. So I am not certain if we should start him with twelve gauge now, or if keeping him in twenty gauge would be better because it'll beat him up less. I know if we go the semi-auto route that would help with recoil management. However, I also know that a gas recoil system is going to require more cleaning and maintenance. If we go with an inertia gun, cleaning won't be as much of an issue, but it will also will not reduce felt recoil as much.

A 1 oz shot shell load with 1180 FPS at the muzzle will produce 19.43

Lastly, there is a part of me that would like to just go with a double barrel trap gun that has adjustable buttpad and and comb. I think this is the type of gun. He's ultimately going to want, but again, there's the question of twelve gauge versus twenty gauge.

Any help you guys can provide thinking through.This would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...
It is a myth that a 20:guage will punish less than a 12. There are no 20 ga trap guns I know of so you will have to buy a field gun with a drop in the stock that prevents the shooter from using a high shooting gun that most trap shooter use. Trap guns will have little or no pitch at the pad whereas field guns have the incorrect pitch which can cause a face slap. People use a 20ga field gun when hunting shooting just a couple rounds and think it is no big deal, but a poor fitting gun be fired 200-300 rounds a day will weaken the strongest man.

The 20 gauge field gun is lighter than a 12 ga trap gun and this adds to the problem of felt recoil. Buy a 12 and use either one ounce or 7/8 oz shells, which is the same a a 20. A 6 pound gun shooting a 20 ga shot shell with 1 oz of shot at a velocity of 1180 FPS will generate 19.43 pounds of recoil energy. A 12 ga gun weighing 8 pounds shooting 1 oz of shot at a velocity of 1180 FPS will generate 14.57 lbs of recoil energy. That reduction of 25% of recoil energy when shooting the 12 ga over the 20ga.



Most important is to buy a gun with a neutral (straight) stock or one with a cast for a left handed person. This is known as “cast on” in a left handed stock.
 
#4 ·
For the money, I would look at a Browning 725 Citori Trap or maybe even the Combo. Get the Gracoil stock and that should fit him all the way through high school.

Keep the original stock for when he is full grown. Then, he would likely only have to add spacers.

Depends on your budget. You could get any good trap O/U and/or combo with a TSK, Gracoil or similar adjustable stock system.

GUNS UNLIMITED
 
#7 ·
My daughter was 13 years old and started with a Browning BT-99, 30" - 12 gauge shotgun for Singles & Handicap. She shot a Browning Citori XT, O/U (30") - 12 gauge for Doubles. I loaded the shot shells at 1100 fps (1 1/8 oz) to reduce the recoil. I switched the shells to 1145 fps a few months later. She was used to shooting. She is 26 years old and still uses both shotguns.
 
#10 ·
My 12 year (13 in a couple of weeks) old is shooting 1 1/8 oz. shells from a single barrel trap gun. He just started this summer. It's heavy enough and the stock can be adjusted to fit.

He started on my gas operated gun and after about 5 or 6 rounds, it was slapping a bruise on his face.

The new single barrel gun, adjusted to fit him, is no problem. He can shoot all day.

Obviously, doubles will be a challenge.
 
#11 ·
The skb 400t is a great gun, is fully adjustable out of the box and comes in a true left hand variant. Another option I like for youth is a bt99 adjustable b&c but then get a briley sidekick 20ga insert for it. The big problem with a 20ga for lower recoil is most 20ga guns are lighter. Use a 20ga insert in a bt99 until they can step up to a 1oz then a 1-1/8oz load. You get the lower recoil of a 20 and the setup can grow with them.
 
#12 · (Edited)
Another vote here for a 12 gauge. Most boys between 13 and 15 experience a major growth spurt. It you buy the 20 gauge he may outgrow it by the next season. Buy a reasonably priced adjustable 12 gauge that he can shoot for some time to come.
 
#13 ·
Here is my take. At 13, hes not full grown yet. I would go with a cheaper SKB or something similar that is very adjustable. Run that until he stops growing so much and then get a "forever" gun that he can take with him into his adult life. Unless you have money, then just buy guns 😅 I say 12 gauge. Gracoil or a falcon strike pad will help. As will good technique
 
#14 ·
#16 ·
An 870 with a parallel trap comb, monte carlo or otherwise, will be a little easier to use compared to the field stock on your mossberg. You can get such a stock from numrich now for 100 dollars, and put it on a fieldmaster synthetic another 450-500 dollars, and be good to go for little money and a platform that can become anything.

If he succeeds and is hungry for trap, a bt-99 down the road, or better might be in order.
 
#17 ·
You didn't state what your wallet would allow. If cost is not an issue, forget the Browning, and buy him a gun only one time, a Beretta DT-11. It will last many lifetimes and would become a prized family heirloom to be cherished. If money and cost is an issue, settle for the Browning. If it's still too much, you could get away short term with a Turkish TriStar (I'm sure I'll catch hell for that last recommendation).
You stated: "He is a good sized kid", then with either gun, no 20ga., absolutely go with the 12 ga. He should also be able to shot 1 1/8 oz. shells.
Always remember, all posts here are opinions, including mine. Good luck in your search ---
 
#18 ·
Buy once, cry once. First question is easy. 12 gauge
Get the 12 ga O/U with the fully adjustable butt pad and adjustable comb. When I say fully adjustable butt pad I am saying a Gracoil with adjustable butt pad. The one that goes up and down and twists. It should also be adjustable for length of pull also.
Image

As for a specific gun, Guns Unlimited "Citori Universal High Post", 30" barrels, can be ordered with the hardware shown. $2.644 fully loaded. You won't need another gun for anything the youth teams compete in. Get a full set of chokes and your are done with the hardware for a very long time. Best value in a gun for youth sports.
The 30" barrels are better for younger, smaller shooters and will work well when he gets bigger. no real need for 32" barrels.
Several our our kids on the team have had great experiences with this model of gun

Good Luck
 
1 - 20 of 29 Posts
About this Discussion
28 Replies
29 Participants
Last post:
Duckperry
Trapshooters Forum
posts
4.3M
members
93K
Since
2005
A forum community dedicated to Trap shooting enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about targets, clays, hunting, gunsmithing, gear reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Shooting Related Discussions For Sale Reloading Want to Buy/Trade Threads Gunsmithing