Based on my experience with 3 junior shooters over the past 20 years, I wouldn't start an 8 year old with a double shotgun. Too heavy, too much weight forward, too much boom and recoil, even in 28 ga RST's. Don't want to make the little guy flinch and not like the shooting experience. I'd get him a single shot bolt action 22 that weighs about 4 pounds and let him plink targets at the range to his hearts content. Sort of like running your retreiver puppy on 1000 thrown dummies before expecting him to pick up a real bird. My 11 year old now shoots a Parker 16 gauge with aplomb, but had a lot of trouble with a cut down 20 ga Eibar double I bought for him at age 8. I just put it away and brought out the 22 and the Crossman pellet gun until he grew a little. JMHO.
