Tristar G2 Viper for gas or Weatherby Element for inertia. Have had no problems with either of mine.

 

I was looking at the Tristar vipers. Seem pretty good priced

 

Beretta A300 Ultima.

 

Browning Silver Field

 

Another vote for the tristar G2 sporting check out this one search Triatar upc 713780242507

 

Remington 1100

 

I have a Girsan MC312 that has been trouble free. Gets good reviews as well. My wood stocked version was under $500 CDN.

 

I'm with Noweil on this one. Check out the Beretta a300 Ultima. I have a 20 gauge and a 12 gauge Outlander Sporting. Basically the same guns and they are flawless in function.
Not that much more than the Tristar and resell price is better on the Beretta. JMO.

 

I don’t know how old or what the stature of your son is but if he is still on the small side he probably needs a gun with youth stock. Gun fit is very important especially with young folks. When he grows up you can switch the youth stock for an adult size one. Whatever you decide on, I would ask about this option. I know that Benelli made then at one time for their 20 ga guns but I don’t know if they still do, and I believe that they were once available for the Rem 1100

 

He is 14 and around 6 ft tall. He has a youth o/u and it is too small for him.

 

Great compact semi for the little shooters. It's also a gas gun, so recoil will be low.. https://www.winchesterguns.com/products/shotguns/super-x4/sx4-compact.html

 

Skeet Only? - 20 gauge.

 

He seems to want a 12 gauge. He shot my 12 gauge the other day and now he thinks he is tough enough to shoot 12 gauge now

 

Well then he is probably ready for an adult stock. 6 feet at age 14!! That’s impressive. While you are at it, get him a basketball!!

 

Yes. He plays basketball and baseball. Throws really hard for a 14 year old

 

Another vote for the Tristar Viper G2. I have one in 20g used as a loaner. Not a ton of rounds through it yet but it's been great. You do need to break it in per the manufactures directions with a couple of boxes of heavier loads.

 

All of the suggestions are good. The Beretta or Tristar are nice new guns that are reasonably priced. I have a couple 1100s and think they are great pointers and very soft shooters but are probably a little heavier than the others. Good luck!!

 

At that height he's gonna need a stock extension

 

winchester sx4 or beretta a300 are both good choices.

 

Yes . The SX4 is also an excellent option and also in the higher priced Viper G2 range.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1067827827

 

I've had good luck with my 2 Tristar Vipers, but also having a Beretta A300, I can say it's is a little more solidly built and doesn't need cleaning as often. If your son is going to shoot every now and then, the Tristar will work fine. If he's going to shoot a lot and get into competitions, then the A300 will probably be more durable. But, heck, if he's going to shoot high volume, you can probably justify a Beretta A400, but that's not the question you asked.

 

before going a300 or a400 i would look at finding a beretta 390 or 391 sporting I just picked up a 2nd 391 Teknys for $1100.00

 

A Beretta A300 would be my choice

 

I would go with the Beretta A300 Ultima. I have a 20 gauge that has been flawless. The SX4 would be my 2nd choice.

 

Whatever you decide try to get something with adjustable length of pull & comb hight. He’s got some growing to do and if he like the gun it can adapt with his future changes.

 

This is easy....
Find a used 1100 on gun broker or your LGS...
28" minimum...
30" preferably

DO NOT GET THE 3" MAGNUM VARIETY.
2 3/4" ONLY

The 1100 can be had reasonably cheap and they're tanks.
Buy some spare gas rings...
Get a shell catcher from Carlson (use 3m body molding tape from advance auto)

Enjoy enjoy enjoy

Clean every 200 rounds...

Shoot it wet..meaning spray the gas tube with rem oil and a spray in the action area and the shotgun will just keep shooting and shooting and shooting.

 

Find a pre owned Beretta 300 or 400 series target gun. Buy once cry once. The Remingtons aren't as reliable as the Beretta. And Beretta doesn't go bankrupt every few years.

 

This is easy....
Find a used 1100 on gun broker or your LGS...

DO NOT GET THE 3" MAGNUM VARIETY.
2 3/4" ONLY

The 1100 can be had reasonably cheap and they're tanks.
Buy some spare gas rings...
Get a shell catcher from Carlson (use 3m body molding tape from advance auto)

Enjoy enjoy enjoy

Clean every 200 rounds...

Shoot it wet..meaning spray the gas tube with rem oil and a spray in the action area and the shotgun will just keep shooting and shooting and shooting u

Find a pre owned Beretta 300 or 400 series target gun. Buy once cry once. The Remingtons aren't as reliable as the Beretta. And Beretta doesn't go bankrupt every few years.

I'd take that reliability challenge.
Rem vs. Beretta
Keep some o rings, oil and a rag in your case and the Remington just keeps on keeping on.

If you're going to suggest buy once cry once theme...which the OP hinted at avoiding...
And you want to throw the reliability word out there...

Then buy a Benelli.

I didn't suggest the very best auto shotgun in Benelli because the OP clearly wants to get something decent but not too expensive yet.
It's for a kid and the OP doesn't know if this will be a fad or a lifelong hobby and investment needed.

 

This is easy....
Find a used 1100 on gun broker or your LGS...

DO NOT GET THE 3" MAGNUM VARIETY.
2 3/4" ONLY

The 1100 can be had reasonably cheap and they're tanks.
Buy some spare gas rings...
Get a shell catcher from Carlson (use 3m body molding tape from advance auto)

Enjoy enjoy enjoy

Clean every 200 rounds...

Shoot it wet..meaning spray the gas tube with rem oil and a spray in the action area and the shotgun will just keep shooting and shooting and shooting u


I'd take that reliability challenge.
Rem vs. Beretta
Keep some o rings, oil and a rag in your case and the Remington just keeps on keeping on.

If you're going to suggest buy once cry once theme...which the OP hinted at avoiding...
And you want to throw the reliability word out there...

Then buy a Benelli.

I didn't suggest the very best auto shotgun in Benelli because the OP clearly wants to get something decent but not too expensive yet.
It's for a kid and the OP doesn't know if this will be a fad or a lifelong hobby and investment needed.

If anyone is getting a benelli, it's going to be me

 

As an entry-level gas SA, I'd look at the CZ 712 G3. You can find a number of positive reviews on it from Gun Dog Magazine, the NRA magazine, Target Focused Life, etc., and Midway sells it for $549 with free shipping to your FFL. My brother has one and says that it has cycled all of the target loads and field loads that he has tried, without one failure.

 

So let me get this straight, with an 1100 I have to clean it 2/3 of the way thru a good day of practice???
And Benelli makes the most reliable semiauto?

Those are some rose colored glasses you're wearing there xcursion.

 

I clean my 1100 maybe once a year. It works perfectly.