410 or 20 guage for my daughter?

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newfie bullet

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Hi folks,
My daughter just recieved her firearms licence minors permit , she is sixteen and is all ready to go small game hunting with me . she will use my 9422 or my marlin 22 texan . I know this is not the best small game gun , but I don't have a small shot gun , but I was going to buy one , a 410 or 20 guage ? what would you sugest ? I know she can handle the 410 with no problem , she is a very good shot with the 22's, practice with me a lot .
Question is how much recoil do a 20 guage single shot have ? Do you think with light field loads she can handle it , with out it discourageing her from shooting, I would probably lean towards the 20 guage , it can be used for ducks , and is legal here for coyotes and big game here in nfld , where the 410 is only a grouse gun or rabbits only? I wish there were a buddy here with a 20 guage to try but there isn't , recoil is my biggest concern . Any one out there have kids that use the 20 guage ?
Alan
 
My suggest is the 410, let her shoot as light a recoiling gun as often as you can. I've seen far to many grown men flinch shooting a simple 30-06 because the old man shoved to big a gun in their hands to early! It's far to easy to develop a flinch, & WAY hard to get rid of one. Let her shoot the 22s & a 410 till she's absolutely comfortable with the noise & lack of recoil.
 
The 20 is an infinitely better game-taker than the .410. If all you're doing is shooting stationary animals, the .410 is fine. But a novice shooter wingshooting with it, or at running rabbits? Forget it. You can use the 20 for ducks and geese, not so the .410. You can get light target loads for the 20, which shouldn't produce much kick even in a single shot gun.
 
I chose 20 ga. for my daughter. She was 11 at the time.

I, too, felt that a single shot was the way to go (safety reasons). So, I bought an NEF Pardner. It was less than $200 brand new w/warranty, taxes included.

The short stock is suitable for children or folks who are diminutive in stature. As others have said, light target loads (7/8 oz of shot) are commonly available.

I tried the gun myself at the range, just to see if it hits where it points (It was hard to tell. At first, she wasn't hitting many.). I shot 4 out of 5 with it the first time ever shooting it. I actually hunt with the gun once in a while - even though it doesn't even come close to fitting me. I like it because it's so light. (Having said that, I guess I should take the first shotgun I ever bought out once in a while, too. I bet it's been over 30 years since I've shot that 16 ga. Cooey.)
 
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Expert's use .410's and 20 gauges... beginners are much better off with an open choked 12 gauge using light target loads, preferably in a semi-auto that reduces recoil... you don't have to load more than one shell in the chamber if there are concerns about the semi-auto part.
 
first stay away form the single shot gun. they kick to hard because there so light 410 like other has said are hard enough for a person thats been shooting for while id go for nice 20ga semi with light loads
 
20 guage gives more options. My 10 year old boy (4'9" 80pounds)has shoot both 410 &20 at stationary pratice ,trap & grouse and likes light 20 loads better than 3' 410 and for hunting purposes the 410 2.5" is really limited (18 yards max my opinion) also price of 410 ammo at least double of light 20 loads gas guns less recoil the 11-87 20 guage youth 21" tubed barrel has worked well light and easy shooting.
 
Getting her comfortable and confident I found is very important. I really wanted to start my son off when he was 12. He's a skinny kid. Tried a cheap 410 single and it was pushing him around. He didn't like the recoil. Went to a 20 gauge semi and it was a bit better but he still didn't like the recoil. Did I have a suck for a son ? I decided to wait a while so as not to turn him off shooting. Bit the bullet and got a 28 gauge semi (Remington 1100) Took him to the skeet range on his 14th birthday. Recoil was next to nothing. Gun fit ok and then he started really breaking some clays. He was feeling so good he wanted to try some doubles and actually broke a few pairs. He shot 50 rounds that day when I cut him off. I guess what I am trying to say is get her a gun that she will really enjoy shooting. Don't be surprised if she doesn't like the one you got because if you push her you'll lose her as a hunting partner. In your case I would go for a semi first and see how she take to it. Good luck
 
Get a 28 gauge.Recoils like a .410 and hits like a 20.The 28 gauge is available in three auto loaders and two pumps.Any of which would make a good shotgun for a first timer or an old timer.:)

The auto loaders are the Franchi 48 AL(my favourite),Remington 1100 and the Charles Daly.Pumps are the Remington 870 and Browning BPS.

H and R makes a single shot if you do not want to jump into the expense of an auto or pump.
 
You already have a .410. Get her a 20. She can easily grow into it after shooting .410. There isn't that much difference. As mentionned above, a good recoil pad makes all the difference.
 
28 gauge said:
Get a 28 gauge.Recoils like a .410 and hits like a 20.The 28 gauge is available in three auto loaders and two pumps.Any of which would make a good shotgun for a first timer or an old timer.:)
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As much as I like the 28 gauge I don't agree that it's a good choice here. The 28 for all its admirable qualities has a narrow range of application. Shells are hard to get and when you do find them they are usually in shot suitable for small upland birds and clays.

Even the .410 is more versatile than the 28 gauge although not nearly as capable a gauge.

Get a 20 gauge. Make sure the gun fits and only use light target loads to start with.
 
Id get the 20ga and start her off with some 7/8oz loads at 1210 fps recoil should be low in pumps or autos. winchester also makes some low recoil round for the 20ga they shoot at like 980fps
 
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mossberg has introduced a 20 ga. model 500 bantam for about $320.00. 20" barrel, vent rib, 3 screw in chokes , a restricter in the mag to make it a single shot that can be removed and a shortened stock. a voucher comes with it to get a longer stock at a reduced price when the youngster grows. i think it even has a gold trigger. not a bad unit for a beginner for the money.
 
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