410

[28 gauge]

+2 and I have fired a lot of different 28 gauge shotguns from very,very light to way too heavy.LOL

I have some of the Fiocchi 7/8 ounce shells I purchased from Prophet River.Have not as of yet had a chance to try them out.My shell of choice at the present time are the 28 gauge Challenger shells.

Over the years I have tried every kind of 28 gauge shell I could get my hands on.

 

[3macs1]

If you're popping chickens off the trail or out of a tree like most chicken hunters, you don't need to be an expert to shoot .410 so disregard the expertise comments unless you wing shoot. A.410 is perfect for grouse for any person or any size. A new singleshot break action will cost from one to two hundred bucks. It is cheaper if you reload but you can also get a dozen loads per hull and costs less than 15 cents to reload. I have a New England Firearms single that Ive been using since the eighties. Its indestructible.

See there is "chicken hunters" which is not what your describe they are "chicken shooters" and might as well go to a barn yard to me.
Some sport in that. If it is not on the wing it will be before I fire. But Hey to each their own

Also if he ever decides to shoot any of the clay sports and moves up to a 12ga bet he will flinch for years, and cannot understand why see it all the time, recoil is part of the game and the sooner you learn to accept it the better.take care

 

[3macs1]

double post

 

[3macs1]

+2 and I have fired a lot of different 28 gauge shotguns from very,very light to way too heavy.LOL

I have some of the Fiocchi 7/8 ounce shells I purchased from Prophet River.Have not as of yet had a chance to try them out.My shell of choice at the present time are the 28 gauge Challenger shells.

Over the years I have tried every kind of 28 gauge shell I could get my hands on.

Yes as many as I have with respect to guns and shells since we have pretty much followed the same path as far as the 28 ga goes, in fact I think you may have 2 or 3 different guns on me but I am working on that.

 

[fiddler]

See there is "chicken hunters" which is not what your describe they are "chicken shooters" and might as well go to a barn yard to me.
Some sport in that. If it is not on the wing it will be before I fire. But Hey to each their own

Also if he ever decides to shoot any of the clay sports and moves up to a 12ga bet he will flinch for years, and cannot understand why see it all the time, recoil is part of the game and the sooner you learn to accept it the better.take care

I'm pretty sure the OP is looking not looking for your personal interpretation of hunting ethics. He is looking for information on small shotguns to get his children involved in hunting rather than being competitive shotgun sports.

However having that said, I loaded 410 and other shells because I was a trap shooter, not a chicken hunter, but I'd be happy to watch you waste your time to attempt to show me how its done, .410 caliber or any others

 

[JamesM]

I'll admit the little coey 84 single shot 20 I learned to shoot on had and still has surprising recoil, but I'm sure a good recoil pad would have eliminated a lot of it. I've never been impressed by the .410, I feel it has a lot of limitations for a inexperienced shooter/hunter.
The .410 has its place and I have no issue with some one choosing to teach their child to shoot and hunt with it but it lacks an effective pattern for birds on the wing, for rabbit, squirrel and grouse sitting still or walking slowly it works but a young hunter may not have the self control to pass up a grouse that flushes.

 

[jeffcarr88]

See there is "chicken hunters" which is not what your describe they are "chicken shooters" and might as well go to a barn yard to me.
Some sport in that. If it is not on the wing it will be before I fire. But Hey to each their own

Also if he ever decides to shoot any of the clay sports and moves up to a 12ga bet he will flinch for years, and cannot understand why see it all the time, recoil is part of the game and the sooner you learn to accept it the better.take care

Do you also wait for the deer to run before you take a shot? Too keep it sporting and all!

 

[Bowie]

See there is "chicken hunters" which is not what your describe they are "chicken shooters" and might as well go to a barn yard to me.
Some sport in that. If it is not on the wing it will be before I fire. But Hey to each their own

What a pant-load.

 

[3macs1]

I'm pretty sure the OP is looking not looking for your personal interpretation of hunting ethics. He is looking for information on small shotguns to get his children involved in hunting rather than being competitive shotgun sports.

However having that said, I loaded 410 and other shells because I was a trap shooter, not a chicken hunter, but I'd be happy to watch you waste your time to attempt to show me how its done, .410 caliber or any others

I shared what I have experienced using the 410 for almost 40 years with no less than a couple 1000 rounds per year many years more and starting many, many youngsters into the shotgunning game. I gave pretty much the same feedback you would get from a professional shooting instructor on the 410 if you would do a bit of research you would see that and sorry if it goes against your experience.
Guess where many clay shooters come from hunters normally trying to improve their skills so why not start off correctly when young.
You loaded 410 because you were a TRAP shooter man you are one of a kind in fact I am the only one they have ever seen at the club shooting trap with a 28ga (since the 12 kills my shoulder) let alone a 410 you must be a hell of a shot. Since a 410s is patterned at 25 yards and Trap targets are broken at 35-40 yards ,even with a full choke you could toss a cat though the pattern at 40 and not hit it.
I have never tried trap with a 410 nor did probally anyone else in the world other than joking around or maybe a professional fine tuning his game so have no idea what my score is but if you want to do some skeet unless you are a 94/100 shooter or better with the 410 and have a few bucks to put up I am wasting my time and shells.Look me up if you ever get down this way I love a challenge. In fact if you want to do 16 yard trap take your 12 ga and I will use the 28ga and let the fun begin. All in good fun of course. All the best

Been a while since you pulled a 410 handle with this comment . "A dozen loads per hull and costs less than 15 cents to reload. I wish maybe 20 years ago with that pricing and even with the very best AA and STS hulls today 12 reloads I am happy to see 6..

In the end it is his Dad's choice but one thing is for sure once he looks at the price of 410 shells vs the wally mart 20ga packs an old 1100 20ga will look some sweet or something similiar in 20ga especially with 4 youngsters shooting

 

[3macs1]

Do you also wait for the deer to run before you take a shot? Too keep it sporting and all!

Nope would never fire at a running deer but we are talking chickens here. You have your ethics and I have mine when it comes to upland hunting. Respect that as I have in my post. Like I said to each their own. We also hunt with dogs which makes it very dangerous to shoot birds on the ground.

 

[3macs1]

What a pant-load.

Glad your enjoyed it, unfortunately it did nothing for me..
You know I have hunted ducks and geese with outfitters that would remove you from the blind if you ever fired at a bird on the water or on the ground so I am not the only one out there that thinks the same. But again to each their own, if it works for you fill your boots.

 

[Grouse Man]

If you're popping chickens off the trail or out of a tree like most chicken hunters, you don't need to be an expert to shoot .410 so disregard the expertise comments unless you wing shoot. A.410 is perfect for grouse for any person or any size.

Early teens? No reason they can't hit a flying bird. My daughter was shooting trap at 12 with a 20 gauge and doing very well. And that would be my recommendation as well - a 20 gauge gun, in a Youth-sized format, will be a great teacher and will produce outstanding results. It can also be used for ducks and geese.

 

[3macs1]

If you're popping chickens off the trail or out of a tree like most chicken hunters, you don't need to be an expert to shoot .410 so disregard the expertise comments unless you wing shoot. A.410 is perfect for grouse for any person or any size.

Early teens? No reason they can't hit a flying bird. My daughter was shooting trap at 12 with a 20 gauge and doing very well. And that would be my recommendation as well - a 20 gauge gun, in a Youth-sized format, will be a great teacher and will produce outstanding results. It can also be used for ducks and geese.

We shot my daughters hat when she was 13 and change on the skeet field with a 1100 28ga. That is why it kills me that she gave it up after finding BOYS in high school. She will be 22 and funny just last week out of the blue said Dad what ever happened to my 1100 thinking maybe getting back into shooting this summer . Still have it dear but would have to put the original stock back on. YES I thought there is still hope. take care

 

[Bowie]

Glad your enjoyed it, unfortunately it did nothing for me..
You know I have hunted ducks and geese with outfitters that would remove you from the blind if you ever fired at a bird on the water or on the ground so I am not the only one out there that thinks the same. But again to each their own, if it works for you fill your boots.

Good for you. Ethics are a personal thing, and you wading in on the matter when not asked, and talking down to people who happen to view things differently speaks volumes.
I have also hunted birds for over 30 years and have shot trap for 26 of those. I now enjoy hunting with my sons and I happen to think it is far more important that my six year old has a positive experience than being held to a set of standards set by you.

 

[TwoTone]

28 ga with a sharp Kick??? That I have yet to see. In 100,000's of rounds of 28 ga fired and at least 20 different makes of guns shot and currently own 4 makes of the single shots have never witnessed it..My two girls at 12 started with 28ga and 20ga 1100's and not once did I hear them say a word about recoil. I started with a 16 and never noticed Just my experience or someone made up some real hot reloads

Recoil energy 410 7-11 ft. lbs : 28 ga 11- 13 ft.lbs : 16ga 22-24 ft.lbs

All right I will say it. Despite the good intentions of many parents those that shoot them in events know all too well they are an experts gun.
I love the .410 alot and shoot an average of 2000 rounds a year most years but it really is short-changing a beginner.
It doesn't give you anything to get used to for a real shotgun, small tight pattern and can create a lot of frustration.
Youth don't have a very long attention span and they are at a real disadvantage when you start them with one.

Experts seem to agree. From a shotgunning mag when the question was asked

A lot of us here probably started with .410s. The first gun I shot was a single-shot Beretta that my dad had cut down to fit me when I was quite young. I mostly remember shooting stationary paper plates and balloons blowing along the ground with it. For puncturing plates and popping ballons, a .410 is plenty of gun and they have practically no recoil. For anything else, it can be challenging. There’s just not much shot in a .410 cartridge making the pattern core small and the fringes weak. I waited until both my kids were big enough to shoot 20 gauge youth model 1100s (age 11-12) to start them out because I wanted them to think shooting was fun, not frustrating.

.410s are better suited to experts with the skill to shoot the little guns and the maturity to know when not to shoot them.

and chuckie's 2 cents

http://w w w.chuckhawks.com/first_shotguns.htm

I agree, the .410 isn't powerful enough for beginner hunting. I'm not sure it's ethical to even shoot at game with one but they're a great challenge on clays.

I believe I once saw a CGN'r post something to the effect of:

'If somebody ever shot me with a .410, and I found out about it, I would be really mad'.

 

[3macs1]

Good for you. Ethics are a personal thing, and you wading in on the matter when not asked, and talking down to people who happen to view things differently speaks volumes.
I have also hunted birds for over 30 years and have shot trap for 26 of those. I now enjoy hunting with my sons and I happen to think it is far more important that my six year old has a positive experience than being held to a set of standards set by you.

I guess. Where have I talked down to any one??? Have you missed to each their own?????? 10 times??
If it was taken like that I apologize to all since it was not my intention.
But a six year old hunting with a shotgun. Yes sir you and I are definately on a different page and again to each their own. Ethics are indeed a personal thing. All the best

 

[VLT79]

If you're popping chickens off the trail or out of a tree like most chicken hunters, you don't need to be an expert to shoot .410 so disregard the expertise comments unless you wing shoot. A.410 is perfect for grouse for any person or any size. A new singleshot break action will cost from one to two hundred bucks. It is cheaper if you reload but you can also get a dozen loads per hull and costs less than 15 cents to reload. I have a New England Firearms single that Ive been using since the eighties. Its indestructible.

My thoughts are that if you're going to "pop" chickens on the trail get a .22! Scatterguns are for moving target and rifles, bows and x-bows are for stationary targets...although once you master the former knocking things out of the sky with the latter 3 ain't that hard...but that's an entirely different topic to argue about!!!

The OP is obviously on a tighter budget than most of us and the 20 gauge simply makes the most sense in a financial perspective to get 4 new shooters started...despite expert or amateur opinions!

 

[kamlooky]

I tried the .410 on my youngest and the first one being a single shot, the hammer was too stiff for her
to manipulate.........no chit.
The second one I found, the hinge was goll dang tight.......again, no chit.
The third one was juuuuuust about right.
Only thing, no feathers.
So out with the old and in with the new.
Found a sweet deal on a Winchester 120 in 12 gauge.
I'm happy that she's happy.
No excuse now.
Oh, thanks Mac_63......................

And I'm in the market for a short barreled 20 gauge to
replace my .410 sxs.
Feathers around here are scarce as hen teeth so to speak
and they fly up long when and if they are to be seen.

Just my couple of .02's.

 

[Bowie]

My thoughts are that if you're going to "pop" chickens on the trail get a .22! Scatterguns are for moving target and rifles, bows and x-bows are for stationary targets...although once you master the former knocking things out of the sky with the latter 3 ain't that hard...but that's an entirely different topic to argue about!!!

The OP is obviously on a tighter budget than most of us and the 20 gauge simply makes the most sense in a financial perspective to get 4 new shooters started...despite expert or amateur opinions!

One advantage to trail hunting with a .410 over a .22 is 7 1/2 shot doesn't travel nearly as far.
From a monetary perspective, it does make sense to go 20 gauge. .410 shells do cost more.
I wouldn't underestimate how effective a .410 can be though. The last time I shot trap on the Andy Wood Memorial Range, I shot a round with a Winchester 101 in .410 and went 23/25.

 

[gunsaholic]

And I'm in the market for a short barreled 20 gauge to
replace my .410 sxs.

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