Youth 20 gauge ???

Thanks for replying.

I got the 510 mini .410 for my son and was not impressed. Cheap made gun, safety hard for him to operate. Have since handed it down to BIL for his son.

IMO a 20 gauge pump will ruin a kid for a while because of the recoil. If you're set on a 20 and your 5 yr old is average size, look into a Hatsan Escort 20 auto. That's what mine shoots now, accepts 3" with screw in chokes, and is truly a youth just like the 510. Very light and dependable so far, and they're around $480. JMO

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They come in camo also. Bought his at La. Archery in Pineville.

I still hunt with my Remington 870 express youth model, a new one dont cost much more than the mossberg I think. A 20 gauge seems a bit much for a five year old, get him a .410 or a .22, just my two cents.

I have a six year-old, and recently went through the same process of trying to determine what a good first shotgun would be. I have concluded that she is too young for any shotgun for these reasons:

1. Nearly all stocks -- even on youth guns -- are far too long for her. By a few inches. And my kid is long, lanky, and tall for her age. Even the smallest toy gun at the Cabela's indoor shooting gallery was too big for her, and those things have like a 9-10" length of pull.

2. Kid shotguns are light, and light shotguns kick like a mule.

3. I'm not too keen on starting a kid off with a .410. I have no experience with those, but I just can't imagine that a shell that small will get the job done.

I was in middle school the first time a shot a 20 gauge pump. I remember it well, because it kicked the [expletive] out of me. I can't imagine giving my six year-old a 20 gauge. In summary, I feel your pain because I want to hunt with my kid too, but the reality for me is that six years old is too young to operate an effective shotgun.

Appreciate all replies. Maybe I need to wait for the little guy to age some. Just got excited about the potential of calling. Bird in for him next weekend.

I still hunt with my Winchester Ranger 20 gauge. Fabulous pump shotgun.

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Winchester Ranger 20 gauge

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Same gun I grew up with. Not a spec of rust on it 25 years later. It came with a youth stock and a certificate for a full sized stock. I mailed that in when I hit 15.

I bought a used 12 gauge version of the same gun about 5 years ago on Gunbroker.

The closest thing to it now would be the SXP Compact. $343 at Cheaper Than Dirt

It's now Turkish-made, but still has good features:
inertia-assisted action
dual action bars
bore and chamber are hard-chrome-plated

Bought my son one for dove season (mossy oak color). It's what everybody is saying it is. Not smooth cycling, hard as heck safety, and kicks like a mule. He shoots it well and doesn't complain but I'm going to get him something different next year. He also shot buckshot out of it deer hunting. My boys a skinny 8 year old. If you get it you might look at loading the buttstock with leadshot to give it a little more weight. He used a 410 up until this year for everything.