Suggestions for first auto?

[HES]

What is he shooting Trap, Skeet, Sporting clays? 12ga making him a better shooter I'm not so sure. Hell, I started with an 1100 in 28ga. for skeet. In my experience the only thing 12ga has that 20 dosen't is more recoil and 1/8oz more shot.

As for the recoil mitigation, get him the heaviest gun he can handle and a good recoil pad. Limb saver or kickeez seem to be the best/most popular.

Thanks. Right now he is shooting skeet and a little trap. I don't want to move him to sporting clays until he masters the other two.

[seh]

Thanks. Right now he is shooting skeet and a little trap. I don't want to move him to sporting clays until he masters the other two.

His current 20ga should work great for what he is shooting. use 7/8oz target loads with size 8, 8.5, or 9 shot for skeet. 7/8 or 1oz with 7.5 shot for trap.

It is nice to see younger folks getting into the clay target sports. The average shooter I see at a competition is late 50's and older.

[HES]

His current 20ga should work great for what he is shooting. use 7/8oz target loads with size 8, 8.5, or 9 shot for skeet. 7/8 or 1oz with 7.5 shot for trap.

It is nice to see younger folks getting into the clay target sports. The average shooter I see at a competition is late 50's and older.

He is on a scholastic clay shooting sports team funded in large part by MidwayUSA. there are about 30 kids on his team of varying skill levels and ages. Dana Vizzy was on it and her dad is a coach.

[Hmac]

Horsepuckey. Just because you read something on the internet, doesn't make it true.

There are plenty of shooters that put 10-20x that amount in a single year on an 1100.

If I had money to spend on a brand new semi shotgun I'd go with either a Versamax or Beretta.

Agreed. I've had an 1100 Special Field that I've used for birds for more than 20 years. It's been a great shotgun. Utterly reliable despite relatively ..uh..casual maintenance.

I will say, however, just within the last few weeks I picked up a Benelli M2. Based on a relatively low round count against some trap and some steel knock downs, THAT is a very nice shotgun.

[seh]

He is on a scholastic clay shooting sports team funded in large part by MidwayUSA. there are about 30 kids on his team of varying skill levels and ages. Dana Vizzy was on it and her dad is a coach.

Very cool, I hope he sticks with it. Back in the early 90's I was at the US open in Salem Oregon. Shot my first registered 100 straight in the 12ga, (shooting a Remington 1100) went out for the shootoff and lost to a girl who was a few years younger than me. At the time I was pretty bummed about it her name was Kim Rhode. Don't feel so bad about loosing to a girl anymore.

[loupav]

A friend just picked up a Benelli Montefeltro used for not much more than your price range, and boy is that a fine shooting gun. One of these days I'm gonna get an inertia driven Benelli.

I have that very gun and I've been using it for 2 years on the sporting clay range. 3500+ rds and now that gun can cycle some very light loads. I'm so happy with that gun!

[HKGuns]

If I were in your shoes I would get him a Beretta 391 or one of the Benelli equivalents mentioned above.

You should be able to pick up a slightly used 391 for a reasonable price. With the Beretta model changeovers a lot of folks are selling their 391's and picking up one of the newer models.

[Greenhead308]

Benelli if you want to trust it.

Is say this.

[HES]

If I were in your shoes I would get him a Beretta 391 or one of the Benelli equivalents mentioned above.

You should be able to pick up a slightly used 391 for a reasonable price. With the Beretta model changeovers a lot of folks are selling their 391's and picking up one of the newer models.

Actually I got him a NIB Beretta 3901 instead. I can't wait to see him on Christmas morning. Double bonus points because during that time of the year is when the club (Silver Dollar) is hosting all of its regional and national competitions. That means a ton of custom shops and manufacturers will be there. So I will get his stock fitted to him and hopefully tune it in other ways as best can be done. One thing I do want to find is the extended bolt release.