While I was knocking around at a local gun shop, I found something as rare as a purple unicorn. It was a CZ-USA youth and ladies’ model 28 gauge. Better yet, it was a used one, in really good condition. That fact brought the price down some, but it was still outside my budget. Quite a bit outside, actually.
But it got me thinking there should be more 28 gauges offered by the gun makers. In a time when we’re trying to convince kids to get off the couch, put the video game controllers away, and hang up the smart phones, there should be more 28 gauge shotguns offered with shorter stocks.
Sure, there are a bunch of .410 shotguns out there for kids. But pardon me for saying so, .410s are useless. They still pack a pretty good kick, yet you can’t hit the inside of a barn with the doors closed with them. If the kid’s going to feel the recoil, at least give him a chance to knock a bird down or break a clay pigeon.
I have an old Mossberg youth model 20 gauge, but it’s still a little front heavy for my youngest son. That magazine and slide make it just a bit much for him to handle. An over-and-under 28 gauge would be perfect.
And that CZ was exactly what I’ve been looking for. Unfortunately, the gun shop was asking about $750 more than what I had in my pocket, so I had to pass it up.
If more gun makers would offer youth-model 28 gauges, we could probably get one for less than $800. And I think they’d make a zillion dollars if they’d offer an affordable, short-stocked, lightweight 28 gauge. Better yet, offer one in a recoil-reducing semi-auto model. They’d sell like hotcakes. So Browning, Winchester, Benelli, Ruger, Remington, if you’re listening, what’s the holdup? I’ll start saving my pennies now, and by the time you offer a youth model semi-auto 28 gauge, I’ll be one of your first buyers. I might even buy two.
