410 for small birds / youth

Wallenstein

Wallenstein

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For those that have one - which 410 would be good for kids / youth, beginner level skill.

Plan : practice, then Grouse hunt.

Any ammo recommendation.

If there are better options than 410, tell me.
 
struff55 said:
20 ga
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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
 
A gas operated semi auto 20 gauge, is probably the best choice. Recoil is quite mild with target loads, and a new shooter can actually hit things on the wing with a 20 gauge. Use it as a single shot, until the shooter is comfortable with a repeater. A 410 ,on the other hand, will lead to nothing but frustration, for a new shooter, learning to wingshoot.
 
The new sxs CG410F-BLK being imported by North Sylva would be great for a kid using 2 1/2 inch shells. Have an old Belgian one that has served me well since I was 8 ish years old
.
 
My kid is using a lightweight 12 gauge this year
BUT
Loaded up with the Challenger mini shells that are 5/8 oz shot at 1200 fps which is pretty much the standard .410 load right?
Recoil very light.
Seems to pattern better too.

So if you already have a 12 that your child can carry and shoulder, that can be an option.
Of course the shorter shells work best in a break action, will not cycle from a magazine but single load works fine.
 
Redneck Hippy said:
My kid is using a lightweight 12 gauge this year
BUT
Loaded up with the Challenger mini shells that are 5/8 oz shot at 1200 fps which is pretty much the standard .410 load right?
Recoil very light.
Seems to pattern better too.

So if you already have a 12 that your child can carry and shoulder, that can be an option.
Of course the shorter shells work best in a break action, will not cycle from a magazine but single load works fine.
Click to expand...
This is actually the same route I've decided to try with my kids, although we haven't found time to give it a go yet. I have a 12ga single shot, figured rather than buying a 410 I would try the mini shells through that first.

What sort of choke were you using?
 
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
Click to expand...
Lighter frame 12 year old.

I have been thinking 20, but was thinking 410 may be better.

Very confident and good on 22LR, I tried to move to a 243 Win and saw some hesitation, so want to level up slowly.
 
Suther said:
This is actually the same route I've decided to try with my kids, although we haven't found time to give it a go yet. I have a 12ga single shot, figured rather than buying a 410 I would try the mini shells through that first.

What sort of choke were you using?
Click to expand...
Maybe Mini shells are a good alternative.

I want to avoid recoil shyness / reluctance developing.
 
stubblejumper said:
A gas operated semi auto 20 gauge, is probably the best choice. Recoil is quite mild with target loads, and a new shooter can actually hit things on the wing with a 20 gauge. Use it as a single shot, until the shooter is comfortable with a repeater. A 410 ,on the other hand, will lead to nothing but frustration, for a new shooter, learning to wingshoot.
Click to expand...
Also a good point, I was wondering if 410 would be frustrating.

The plan is to make it easy and fun.
 
Suther said:
This is actually the same route I've decided to try with my kids, although we haven't found time to give it a go yet. I have a 12ga single shot, figured rather than buying a 410 I would try the mini shells through that first.

What sort of choke were you using?
Click to expand...
Using M & F in the field right now,
Seems pretty good on birds to 25 m
I had trouble breaking clays though
There’s a few other mini shell or low recoil options, feels like another 100fps would be beneficial
 
There's nothing wrong with a 410, they are extremely fun to shoot, the down side is the cost and availability of ammo but the ammo appears to be somewhat available now
I second the lever action if you want to get the kids involved the lever is more "fun" then a break action
A semi would be all right but they are picky with ammo
might have to start reloading the 410 though to save costs and ensure you have a good ammo supply
When i got into the 410 I did just that
 
I love the 410 for small game and upland. When used correctly it will work well. Most shooters use larger shot like 4s thru a full choke which gives fewer pellets in an often disrupted pattern then they claim the 410 is no good when they fail to hit a bird at 30 yards. Use 7.5s or 8s and the pellet count sky rockets in the lil gauge and the pattern density thickens up drastically and becomes more uniform producing effective kills. #8 shot is effected on grouse and cottontails out to 30 yards. 7.5 shot will take pheasants at 25 yards with ease
 
Deathrawt said:
There's nothing wrong with a 410, they are extremely fun to shoot, the down side is the cost and availability of ammo but the ammo appears to be somewhat available now
I second the lever action if you want to get the kids involved the lever is more "fun" then a break action
A semi would be all right but they are picky with ammo
might have to start reloading the 410 though to save costs and ensure you have a good ammo supply
When i got into the 410 I did just that
Click to expand...
I run a skeet/trap field, when children show up with a 410, they generally don't hit anything, and get frustrated.
 
I’m currently going through this phase with my 10yr old and my 12yr old is into his third season. Both have started with a mossberg 500 in 410 that has been cut down to fit. Although you can get them now with spacer stocks.

My 12yr old has moved up to a 20ga with light handloads of 5/8oz shot. Very mild recoil.

Neither is wingshooting yet and that’s perfectly fine. Ground sluicing chickens and popping them out of trees is just as fun for them. They take hares regularly as well very effectively.

Myself, when bird hunting, it’s pointers and wingshooting. But there’s plenty of time for that with the kids. Would I recommend a 410 for wingshooting upland? No. It’s an experts round in that respect. But full choked and head shooting grouse and rabbits it’s a little boys dream. No recoil, low report and less misses than a 22lr.

Be safe and have fun with it
 
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