410 for small birds / youth

I just did some trap shooting the other week using a mossburg 410 pump and I did better with it then I do with my 12 guage lol
Maybe just dumb luck I don’t know
There are lots of people shooting trap with a 410 and are successful
 
Deathrawt said:
I just did some trap shooting the other week using a mossburg 410 pump and I did better with it then I do with my 12 guage lol
Maybe just dumb luck I don’t know
There are lots of people shooting trap with a 410 and are successful
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It depends what you call successful. Although I shoot a fair number of clean rounds of skeet with a 410, I haven't seen people shooting clean rounds of trap with a 410. And I have yet to see beginners doing well with a 410 at trap or skeet, but some are able to break as many as 70-80% with a 12 or 20 gauge.
What I do notice, is that if a youth breaks some targets, they stay interested, if they don't, many lose interest, and soon stop showing up.
 
stubblejumper said:
It depends what you call successful. Although I shoot a fair number of clean rounds of skeet with a 410, I haven't seen people shooting clean rounds of trap with a 410. And I have yet to see beginners doing well with a 410 at trap or skeet, but some are able to break as many as 70-80% with a 12 or 20 gauge.
What I do notice, is that if a youth breaks some targets, they stay interested, if they don't, many lose interest, and soon stop showing up.
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A 410 in an experts hands works well. Not so good for a beginner
 
When you look at scores from shooters that carry 98% averages with all gauge on a skeet field then there averages drop drop drastically in the 410 class
That should be the end of it
Put a 410 in a shooter with no experience and you have frustration
The real option is a 12ga with 1 oz or 7/8 oz loads
2 3/4” shell 1045-1150 fps low recoil great patterns
The short shells are a marketing trick or if you have a short chambered gun they are ok
AA class trap and skeet shooter 30 years experience
Just saying
 
Wallenstein said:
Also a good point, I was wondering if 410 would be frustrating.

The plan is to make it easy and fun.
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Depends on whether you're trying to get the kiddos wing shooting, or if you're content with ground swatting the grouse. 410 is very effective at kill grouse that are just standing around, much harder to score a good hit once they take flight though.
 
Suther gets it. This is the heart of the post/issue because the two scenarios are completely different. Her in BC it is very common to swat grouse as a hunter is driving spot to spot or just driving all day. Not my favorite way to hunt but for kids it’s very effective to get them into birds and rabbits as well as keep them comfortable. And for this a tight choked 410 is perfect as it’s easier to hit with than a 22 and recoil is non existent.

If the kids enjoy it and want to actually start hunting birds and or wingshooting or breaking clays then 100% a 20 or 12ga with appropriate light loads is the way to go
 
leveractionjunkie said:
Suther gets it. This is the heart of the post/issue because the two scenarios are completely different. Her in BC it is very common to swat grouse as a hunter is driving spot to spot or just driving all day. Not my favorite way to hunt but for kids it’s very effective to get them into birds and rabbits as well as keep them comfortable. And for this a tight choked 410 is perfect as it’s easier to hit with than a 22 and recoil is non existent.

If the kids enjoy it and want to actually start hunting birds and or wingshooting or breaking clays then 100% a 20 or 12ga with appropriate light loads is the way to go
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That is what I have in mind.
 
I'm planning on starting my 6yo out on a 9mm flobert as soon as she can reach the trigger then move her to a 410 and then to a 28ga Beretta semi auto. Figure by spring she'll be good to go. Balloons and pop cans to start.
While the 410 for flying targets is challenging stationary targets are just as easy to hit with a 410 as a 12. Often easier for younger newer shooters who may not be strong enough to hold and shoulder a heavier 12ga whereas they can master the basic shooting stance and proper gun handling with a lighter slimmer 410.
Placing clays on the grass and having girls shoot them at 20 yards that have never used a gun before almost all prefer the 410 over a 12 or 20. The hits are higher percentage with the 410 as well. The muzzles of the 410 aren't circling under the strain of holding the heavier guns
Add in less recoil and a lesser report and the trimmer lighter gun becomes a favorite.

Now for starting skeet I prefer a 20ga auto or break action depending on the strength and reach of the shooter.
It's not a simple answer and there's strong arguments for both sides.
Best thing to do is to try the 410 and see how it works in your situation with the knowledge of moving up to a 28 or 20 if the 410 doesn't work for you
 
I started my kids with an 1100LW in 20 gauge but those are pretty heavy and don’t recoil much but having said that I have had some 20’s that kicked like a mule!
I think the 410 can be frustrating for a lot of shooters, including good shooters! If a 20 is out of the question then I would recommend a 28 gauge, the shells are cheaper and easier to find than 410 shells and they are much easier to shoot.
 
Suther said:
Depending on the size of the kid a 20ga can be a LOT of gun.

OP are you thinking single shot or some sort of repeater? Hard to go wrong with a Mossberg 410 pump gun, they've got some youth models that have stock extensions so they can grow with your kid. If you just want something cheap, any 410 single shot will do, hard to go wrong with a classic like a H&R, old winchester, Cooey, etc.

https://www.mossberg.com/510-mini-super-bantam-all-purpose-field-50358.html
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Suther - A "head's up" - I bought a single shot Winchester Cooey 28 gauge for our Grandson to start - a Model 840 - mostly because I had supplies and could load 28 gauge, but not others. I was surprised to discover that Cooey used same wooden forearm and same receiver for their 28 as for their 12 - so, through the forearm, the 28 gauge barrel is same outside size as their 12 gauge barrel - meaning the barrel walls there are MUCH thicker - meaning their 28 gauge shotgun was MUCH heavier to carry, than the same model in 12 gauge. From parts listings, I see the .410 is all different parts, so I presume that Cooey made the .410 to a smaller scale than the rest?

OP - do not get too tangled up about getting a .410 for your boy - shells are going to cost WAY more than the gun did. You want him to shoot a LOT - want him to fire LOTS of rounds - hundreds, if not thousands, of rounds. A .410 is not appropriate for that these days - few could afford that. You likely want a lighter weight 12 gauge or 20 gauge for him - something that fits and that he thinks is light-ish to carry - then pay attention to what loads that you buy - they are NOT all the same. As posted, some will consider a .410 to be an "Expert's" gun for wing shooting - not for a beginner.
 
Wallenstein said:
Ground swat, up to 25 m away, that would be the goal.
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Short term pain (price of 410 ammo) makes for long term gain with the kids getting involved.
Keeping the kids engaged will keep them out of trouble later on in life.
Buddy grew up shooting ducks with a 410 and when he turned 13 in 1977 he was given an 870 Wingmaster for his birthday .
This is and has always been his go to shotgun for ducks, geese, pheasants and ground swatting grouse. (meat hunter)
No everyone's cup of tea, but it works for him and now his son.
Wallentein it sounds like you know what to do.
Good Hunting to you and the kids and granted later in life gran-kids as well.
Rob
 
I bought my grand kids a mossberg pump in 20ga. Youth model with adjustable trigger pull. Only issue was it is too light (and muzzle heavy) so I filled the but stick with BB’s. Added about 2 pounds to the gun, moved the balance point to just ahead of the trigger guard and eliminated probably 70% of the felt recoil. Kid (9years old) shoots it quite well and can shoot all day long. OTOH, I have a 410 sxs that only weighs 3 pounds 11 oz and the kids say it kicks too much.
 
I just bought a small frame harrison and richardson model 1915 in 410 for my 8 year old son. He plans to use it for grouse and rabbit, if the regs allow maybe even wack an island black tail. It's pretty awesome only weighs 3.8 pounds and is the most recoil he would want to shoot.

We were going to get a 9mm kaltec sub2k for Xmas but that didn't work out, then when the stowaway rifle was restricted, I got the 410,

2.5" no4, no6 and slugs are the most practical ammo. (3" if the gun is chambered for it)
 
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