Buying a firearm for a youngster deserves all of the research and attention you can muster.
My first shotgun was a Stevens over/under 20-gauge that my father purchased from Sears for my 11th birthday. I still have and use the shotgun, even though it wasn’t a good first shotgun; every rabbit or bird that flushed got an immediate two-shot burst.
Although I eventually overcame the need to pull both triggers, that process took a while. A single shot .410 or 20-gauge would have taught me to take my time and make one shot count.
A first rifle or shotgun should fit the shooter’s smaller frame, a match that will greatly facilitate enjoyment and initial success. Most firearm companies offer a few guns for young shooters. Mossberg features more than 40; take a few minutes to peruse their online catalog.
O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc, throughout the company’s 95-year history, has been a leader in the development and design of firearms for younger and small-statured shooters and promoting responsible gun ownership and safety training for all gun owners. In the recently-launched Mossberg 2014 Youth Catalog, 45 shotguns, rimfire and centerfire rifles feature the company’s innovative EZ-Reach™ forends (pump-action shotguns), Super Bantam™ stock spacer adjustment system (shotguns and rifles) and Mossberg’s ground-breaking FLEX™ TLS™ (Tool-less Locking System). Adding these dimensional design features provides for proper fit and balance for younger shooters or individuals who require more compact firearms with shorter lengths-of-pull (LOP).
Photo (top): A Hunter’s Tales
