Youth Model Shotguns Eliminate Misfits & Misses
By Taylor Wilson
If I concentrate hard enough, I can remember back to a time when I was a kid in my grandfather´s dusty recently-harvested cornfield.
Mourning doves swarmed that field like bees to a hive.
I remember a shotgun, too. It was a time before youth-model anything and that gun was too big for me and kicked like a mad mule. But at the time, I wanted so badly to shoot that I took the recoil/suffering in stride.
And oh yeah, I also missed—a lot. In fact, my grandfather referred to me as, "a professional noisemaker."
"That Taylor is not much on marksmanship, not yet, anyway. But he´s really good at making that old gun go, ´BOOM!´" he would tease me and laugh.
Of course, he was supplying the gun and the shotshells, so I laughed with him. And I´ll also admit at that time just having a gun and making noise with it was more important than actually being able to shoot anything with it. But I now know better. I would have bagged more birds and acquired more confidence in my shooting sooner if the scattergun hadn´t been so big and me so small. As I got older, I learned the importance of having a shotgun that matched my body size. There´s no doubt having one that fits can make a positive difference.
Who is not familiar with the fairy tale of Goldilocks And The Three Bears? In short, the age-old story is about comfort. It´s about having things (be it a bed, a chair or a bowl of porridge) be just right.
Of course, this "Goldilocks principle" applies to shotguns, too. And it´s especially true of those belonging to young sportsmen, who, in a growth spurt, may have a shotgun that fits in spring turkey season, suddenly seem small by the following fall when they begin hunting ducks.
Now having any firearm fit/match you is important. But personally, I think it is even more important with shotguns. Generally, shooting a shotgun involves action and reaction. You see a target and you shoot fast. Yes, there´s often quick movement involved and this motion to shoot needs to be smooth, otherwise there is a loss of comfort and accuracy.
Think of having a shotgun that doesn´t fit just as you would a hunting jacket that is too big or too small. Sure, it might look great, have the coolest camo pattern on the market, be made of the latest hightech material, and heck, you might even be able to wear it—but if it doesn´t fit, it can make you miserable.
And miserable is what long-term missing makes most shooters (even me, and I am used to it, see my old shotgun story, above). So yes, inaccuracy is what you suffer with a shotgun that does not fit, not to mention discomfort. Have you ever shot a shotgun that was not firmly against your shoulder? Don´t do it; it hurts. This can happen when your gun stock is too short.
An off-shoulder, ill-fitting shotgun is also awkward. And awkward shooting can be a safety factor. Safety and firearms should ALWAYS go hand in hand. When a shotgun does not fit properly, you sacrifice control. And loss of control, even to a small degree, forces you to enter into a danger zone that neither you nor your shooting companions belong in. So remember, a shotgun that fits you, provides better control, for safety´s sake as well as shooting accuracy.
A fitted shotgun comes to shoulder very easily and there is no problem putting your head down on the stock so that you can sight down the barrel. Basically, the perfect fit allows you to point the shotgun correctly every time you shoulder it.
The problem is a lot of shotguns do not fit the body size of many adults right out of the box; so you can imagine the dilemmas created when obtaining a shotgun for a youngster.
You want one that matches your body. And as a kid or a smaller shooter, you need to try out youth-model shotguns.
Mossberg has long been a pioneer in the development of products and technologies aimed at improving the safety and comfort of young marksmen and hunters.
The company´s Bantam™ line contains 18 pump-action configurations for young sportsmen in .410-, 20- and 12 gauges. Of course, this covers a variety of game in most while some specialty models help you target deer or turkey.
Among the many youthgeared features on Bantam Series shotguns is an EZ-Reach™ forearm, allowing shorter arms to more easily cycle another round. There are also shortened pistol grips and reduced length of pull (LOP) while shorter barrels improve balance.
Mossberg´s Super Bantam models have innovative adjustable stocks that allow inserts/recoil pads to "grow" with the young gunner. This is certainly an added value and function for parents that must aim for balancing a family budget while their kids remain on target, too.
510 Mini™ Super Bantam™ New for 2010 (pictured above, top)
One reason many kids do not begin shooting shotguns earlier is simply because there have not been shotguns that fit their small frames. Mossberg has again gone the extra mile to introduce a new generation to the sports of shooting and hunting. They recently introduced two 510 Mini Super Bantam shotguns—the smallest, most compact pump-action designs in company history. Available in .410- and 20-gauge models, these light-weights tip the scales at a mere 5 pounds, which is good for any shooter small in stature.
Categories: Shotguns
