Weatherby 28gauge for 10 year old

[ez45]

I'm looking at getting a weatherby SA-08 semi automatic for my son to start with. He's 10 years old. Thought about a 410 but I'm thinking he might outgrow that too quickly. I do plan on reloading for it.

Any thoughts on the shotgun and gauge for a kid?

 

[DanLee]

It's a great gauge for beginners because of the lack of recoil. You'll probably have to shorten the stock. I started my kids at that age on a Remington 1100 in 28 gauge. The stock had a 13" LOP with a recoil pad. They both still use it when they come home, 20 years later. I don't know anything about the SA-08, but you could check into whether there is a youth stock available.

 

[kudu]

The 28 is my favorite gauge, I had my daughters shooting my Rem 1100 28ga when they were 10, not that they were any good at it, but it wasn't because of the recoil. I also load all my 20 gauge shells with 3/4oz payloads of shot, just like the 28, they will function my 20ga 1100 and have the same felt recoil of a 28 if that might be a road you could go down also. If you plan on reloading you can even make the 28 with lighter loads.

I don't have any experience good bad or indifferent with the Weatherby shotguns, I believe they are recoil operated, not gas, and they will probably have a bit more felt recoil than a gas operated gun like the 1100 or some Beretta autos. If you can get to a range that will let you try guns that would be my advice on what to get.