NEF 20 Gauge for 10 year old kicks too hard

[Kernel]

Fiocchi 20LITE 20ga Low Recoil #7-1/2

Keep the NEF 20 gauge. That's good starter gun. Use the right ammo and your boy won't have to step back to a .410, or something else.

Go to Ballistic Products' web site and get some Fiocchi Low Recoil 20 gauge ammo. I have my 10-year-old busting clays with his Rossi and it's a pussycat with this ammo. Equivalent to a .410, maybe a tad more (or less, depending on the load).

http://shop2.mailordercentral.com/bpicart/prodinfo.asp?number=36520LITE75

It's also good for hunting rabbits over hounds - where the shots are close and the low power round is enough to drop the bunny but otherwise won't damage the meat.

20ga 2-3/4"
3/4oz
1075fps
7-1/2 lead

 

[Kernel]

Fiocchi 20LITE 20ga Low Recoil #7-1/2

-

 

[oldhammy1]

So far, the remington 1100 sounds like a good option. I will check into it. One post talked about the NE 20 Ga. firing if the hammer is not fully cocked back. I thought it had to be fully cocked before it would strike the firing pin upon release. I will have to check into it. Either way, I think I need to find a new home for the NE'er and look at other options. If anyone else has advice, keep it comin'. Thanks,

Oldhammy1

 

[oldhammy1]

Just read through the thread again, and thanks Kernel for the link to the Fiocchi 20LITE's. I couldn't find any lite loads for the 20 at the local Sportsmans Warehouse, so I will order them and give it a try before I sell it off. I still am looking for anyone who knows if the firing pin is engaged if the hammer is released before becoming fully cocked.

Oldhammy1

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

my H&R topper (unknown age, at least 12 years old) has a rebounding hammer which will not strike the firing pin unless its fully cocked and the trigger is all the way to the rear. my handi rifle (new) has a transfer bar which acts the same.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Often the main issue is gun fit- does this gun fit your child properly? I have a NEF Youth 20ga. (buttplate, no pad) and the LOP is still 13"- could be the stock is too long for this particular kid. And a GOOD recoil pad can help too (LimbSaver etc).

Adding weight to the gun can help, as has been suggested. Lighter loads are a must- have for lightweight guns and beginning shooters, those suggested already are good ones.

You can get a 22" MOD choke 28 ga. barrel fitted to your existing gun for $38 plus shipping. See http://www.hr1871.com/barrelAcc/ . I want a 28 ga. to play with, never had one before, don't have much spare $$$, my NEF receiver will be going off to the factory before long to be fitted with a spare barrel in 28 ga.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do,

lpl/nc

 

[CaCrusin]

A solution for the boy.

I suggest that you purchase a used Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 in 12-gauge. Then buy a Knoxx SpecOps Stock and adjust it to fit the boy. (It goes down to 11.5 inches with the butt pad on.) He will be able to handle any 12-gauge load and the gun will grow with him. The stock extends to 15.5 inches. I know the stock looks "tacti-cool" and all that but it is perfect for solving this kind of problem. I have children from 11 to 26 and this type of set-up works for all of them. My wife shoots my 870 with 15-pellet "00" buck shot for fun and she is 5-3 and modest weight.

CaCrusin

 

[belton-deer-hunter]

i am going to go ahead and say it yes it is the weight i jsut dold my nef topper model in 20 gauge aobut two months ago if that i got me efi brazian single shot and it is a little heavier really cheap to i think i paid like 45 dollars for mine (had a lose forarme) try that

 

[sm]

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=186292

I will not reiterate the Rule of 96's or continue to harp on gun fit - even though I feel so strongly about it. Proper form, stance, correct basic fundamental are that important - no matter age or size - still getting a new shooter started off right is very very important.

I do have (bought for mom) a NEF Youth 20 gauge Single Shot with Mod fixed choke bbl , with factory recoil pad I have had a lot smaller shooters -[ as young as 7 yrs old, and small for their age] shoot with little problems. I did use "light" loads, including popcorn loads.

This gun patterns pellets and groups slugs - incredibly so. To the point many have bought one after shooting mine/ mom's for a truck/ hidey hole/ fun gun. Beats the heck out of whacking up a 12 bore single shot and ruining a bbl / gun/ or illegal because cut too short. Folks want to whack something shorter and stay legal - go buy a pc of conduit and have a field day...

The softest shooting semi-auto is the Winchester Model 1400 - period.
Only problem is, it does not come in a Youth size. It has a nice recoil pad, mag by design is restricted to 3 shells total for the gun, and has Win-Chokes. The Walnut Model is nice wood.

I begged, pleaded, kicked and screamed for US Repeating Arms [Win] to make this gun in 1) youth size, 2) do one in 28 ga - some twenty years ago. Market won't support this offering.

I always believed Beretta should have done their 303 20 ga in a youth model too, and one in 28 ga as well. Still think the newer 390/391 would be great in these options as well.

So I go back to what has always been available. What is proven and works. What I have started w-a-y too many new shooters with back when they were "so high" and "had to dance in the shower to get wet".

Some of these folks are bigger now. Some of these folks have the Adult stock on these guns now, and still taking birds, deer and busting quail. These guns are HUGE sentimental firearms to these folks. Some are having the youth stocks put back on , for thier kids, grandkids, neices, nephews...

Best kept secrets:

1100 in 20 ga.

1100 in 28 ga.

870 in 28 ga.

This is etched in granite. There is some other stuff etched in granite too...but thems for other threads.

 

[oldhammy1]

OK, so heres what I think I will do for now. I like the idea of adding some weight to the stock. I have a friend who is a woodworking nut, and he can hogg out the stock and make some room to add some weight. Maybe 3/4 of a pound or so. Then I am going to order some of the light 20 Ga. loads that Kernel suggested and try that. Several posts asked about the fit of the gun. It fits him like a champ. It is like it was perfectly made for him, which is why I was so dissapointed when it kicked so hard. Thanks for all your advice and if anyone else wants to pipe in, feel free.

Oldhammy1

BTW- I attached a photo of my Christmas kill from last year.

View attachment 30956

 

[Michael Courtney]

Just bought a NEF 20 gauge for my 10 year old. It kicks harder than my 12 Ga. full size. I don't want to go to a 28 Ga. or .410. Any reccomended youth 20 gauges that won't kick his tail. BTW- want to keep the price down so as to not burn bridges with the Wife.

Oldhammy1

I usually add weight to the buttstock. There's a hole in the back just the right size for a standard size of iron pipe (I forget what size). I fill a length of pipe with melted lead and it makes for a much more comfortable shotgun for young shooters.

Michael Courtney

 

[Marshall]

Agree with the Rem 1100 20ga.

 

[JShirley]

oldhammy1,

That's sick.

I had a NEF Topper, Jr. in 20 gauge. Nice, light gun that I took a fair number of squirrel with when I was younger.

I remember getting in an argument about it when I was in first grade- an older kid said I was lying, because it would "knock me on my butt".

Nah...but it did kick. I was scared to death to shoot our 870 or 500, thinking that they, being larger, would kick more. Not so...

Good gun. I like the weighted stock idea.

John

 

[oldhammy1]

Anyone out there used the Fiocchi 20LITE 20ga ammo. I went ahead and ordered some, but just wanted to get a feel for how it compares to a standard 8 shot target load in 20 ga.

Thanks!!

 

[Dave McCracken]

I've used the Fiocchis, or rather new shooters under my tutelage have. Good stuff, creampuffs for kick, but effective out there.

The 12 gauge Fiocchi 7/8 oz load is perhaps the very best to start off some new shooter with a 12.

HTH....

 

[oldhammy1]

I think I am on the right track!

I went ahead and ordered the 20 gauge lites, and Sunday night, I took off the recoil pad, and sure enough (as was mentioned in the thread) there was a hole in the back of the stock about 6 inches deep. I bought three 6 oz decoy weights from Sportsmans Warehouse, inserted them in the hole (I had to trim about an inch off of each one), and filled in the hole with candle wax from one of my Wifes' thousands of candles. Worked like a champ!. I now have added a pound to the stock of the gun. It is just as easy for my Son to hold up, because the weight is in the stock, not in the barrel. Thanks for all the advice, and I will let you know how it goes when we go out.

Oldhammy

 

[mindpilot]

NEF

I have an NEF 12 Gauge and it kicks no harder then any other gun. The are nice litttle guns at WallyWorld for $90.

 

[rs3604]

I got a a NEF 12ga and love it but have found shooting trap that after about 75 to 100 rds that it starts to get uncofortable so i got a slip on recoil pad and solved the problem you could try that with the 20ga and try some of the lighter loads. i have found that the pad does seem to step up muzzle flip a bit so make sure the little one holds tight.