I have started several youngsters and women, including my own daughters at age 12, with my Remington Model 1100 LT20 with a 26" Skeet barrel, and a youth stock. It only weighs a very few ounces more than my 28 gauge, which has the mahogany stock set, and shells are a LOT easier to find and waaaay cheaper, and it cycles more reliably with light loads. Mine is actually a Magnum, but I have two extra 2-3/4" barrels. My wife, who was 5'-11-1/2" tall and had a wider wingspan than I do also shot it well with the full sized stock on it. A friend bough a Beretta 20 semi with a youth stock and it also worked well. Those gas guns are easy on new and/or small shooters. With the 1100s, you can buy a good used LT 20 2-3/4" 20 gauge gun and pick up a youth stock pretty easy. The BLACK youth models are heavier because of less polishing and expensive for what you get. I know because I got one because my step son had to have a black gun. Even with the shorter barrel it weighed more than my polished blue and walnut gun.