Since the youth pheasant day, my oldest is showing a much great interest in shotgun shooting and bird hunting. Thus, I want to get him his first shotgun. He shoots LH so some of the standard answers as to make/model don't really apply (eg. 20ga 870). He did well enough with my 870 and also liked a couple of the O/U he was able to try.
Which brings me to the question; which do you like for a first shotgun an O/U or a Pump and why?
One of the main reasons I'm leaning towards either of these types is that I find them easier to be taken out of battery and easier for dad (me) to see that he has them out of battery. One thing my research has shown is that when you ask about O/U you get all kinds of suggestions that have a comma in the price tag! That's probably not going to happen. Having never even shot an O/U I have a hard time understanding any benefits/pitfalls of using one. Use, regardless of type, will be some informal clay shooting, upland bird and small game (squirrel and rabbit) hunting.
Since I fully expect this discussion to morph into a list of make/model suggestions I've listed the front runners below, all in 20ga:
O/U:
-Mossberg Silver Reserve II
-CZ Teal Southpaw
Pump:
-Ithaca 37 Featherweight
-Browning BPS
-Mossberg 500
Which brings me to the question; which do you like for a first shotgun an O/U or a Pump and why?
One of the main reasons I'm leaning towards either of these types is that I find them easier to be taken out of battery and easier for dad (me) to see that he has them out of battery. One thing my research has shown is that when you ask about O/U you get all kinds of suggestions that have a comma in the price tag! That's probably not going to happen. Having never even shot an O/U I have a hard time understanding any benefits/pitfalls of using one. Use, regardless of type, will be some informal clay shooting, upland bird and small game (squirrel and rabbit) hunting.
Since I fully expect this discussion to morph into a list of make/model suggestions I've listed the front runners below, all in 20ga:
O/U:
-Mossberg Silver Reserve II
-CZ Teal Southpaw
Pump:
-Ithaca 37 Featherweight
-Browning BPS
-Mossberg 500