We train our 4-H Field & Stream club pre-teens using Daly and Beretta 303 youth models 20 gauges, with Federal Top Gun target shells. We have several in the 10 - 11 years old, and none have indicated a problem with recoil. We start them off with going away clays on the skeet range (Stn 7), then once they have the hang of those, we next do the incomer from the high house. And all of our kids progress from the skeet range to the dove fields come September.
I have found that response to apparent recoil has a lot to do with the type/style instruction given (we use the 4-H method which is peculiar for youngsters) as well as size/weight of shotgun/ammo so long as the shotgun is a fair fit. In my many years as a shotgun instructor, I have found that poor fit is probably the major reason for discomfort due to recoil.
Jim Haynes
