.410 shotguns for newbies

1shotdown

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
What's your opinion on youngsters having a .410 shotguns for their first shotgun ?

On another hunting forum (yahoo answers) that I check out, a question always comes up : What size shotgun should I get my young child for his or her first shotgun ? Myself and some other Canadians I know on the site always recommend a good .410 for a youngster.

Me personally I try and point out that a gun that you are scared to shot is a useless gun so they should start them off small, with a .410 and let them learn how to properly handle and shoot a gun and then step up to another level when their comfortable enough.

Then you got people saying get your 12 year old a 12 gauge or a 20 gauge (I don't see nothing wrong with ether if the kid can handle the recoil) and these same people e-mail me and say .410 are for the more advanced shooter (it leaves me scratching my head).

What's your thoughts on this ? Am I wrong, was my dad wrong in thinking
.410's are/was a great first shotgun for kids ?
 
The Cooey model 840 is plentiful as a used shotgun and rather cheap to boot. A 20 ga. doesn't recoil all that hard either and a beginner will be more successful than with a .410. The .410 is good to start someone for the first time they ever fired a shotgun, but i think i'd move them up to a 20 ga.ASAP.
 
I absolutely love a .410 and think they are just graet for youngsters. If your starting a kid out on shooting still targets, grouse or te like that are walking about, go for it. Once it comes time to get good at the wing shots, move up with confidence.
 
what makes any shooter happy is results! A 410 is great for slower targets ie; rabbits grouse in trees & gophers. When they want to do wing shooting, move up. A 20 with light loads is just fine. Again as with the others, this is only 1 persons opinion. Keep those kids shooting AJ
 
Many of our American friends like the big gun. A 410 is a fine youth gun as it makes a very short and light rig. Good for rabbits and Spruce Grouse to 25 yards but not as good for taking flying game. Patterns are a bit thin.

I have an M6 and I still hunt quite a bit with it. IMO The 410 is useful for training kids from 8-11 or there abouts until they can handle a nice light 20.
 
The .410 in my opinion is a poor choice for a first shotgun when the 28 gauge can be had.The 28 gauge has a much better pattern than a .410 and also has low recoil.
 
The .410 in my opinion is a poor choice for a first shotgun when the 28 gauge can be had.The 28 gauge has a much better pattern than a .410 and also has low recoil.

I disagree
In my opinion a .410 is a great first shotgun, my first gun was a Baikal single shot .410 and I believe that .410 made me the shot that I am today.

I grow up hunting grouse and rabbit in the forest behind my house, I had a
.410 and my older brother had a .22 rifle. Both of us always brought home a bird or rabbit.
Any shotgun or rifle can be a great first hunting tool, it just takes a good mentore and the physical ability to use it ! :shotgun::ar15:
 
Last edited:
A younger cousin's of mine first shotgun was a .410 and he has no problems taking rabbit with it. I think it's a good choice.
 
Last edited:
My dad bought me my first shotgun when I was nine years old. Can remember when he brought it home like it was yesterday. It was a 410 and I hunted with it for years. It was a great way to start. It didn't beat you up. It wasn't too heavy and you could learn everything that you had to learn with it. Fred
 
The double action SPR100 (Baikal) single shot in either 20ga or .410 ...the youth models have shorter LOP and come equipped with 24 inch bbls. IMHO, nice starter shotguns that are very well built.
 
The double action SPR100 (Baikal) single shot in either 20ga or .410 ...the youth models have shorter LOP and come equipped with 24 inch bbls. IMHO, nice starter shotguns that are very well built.

Agree completely. The 20 ga. is better for moving targets and don't forget the Mossberg 20 ga.model 500 bantam. Short stock and 22" barrel. They even give a coupon for the full length stock at 50% off that increases the LOP as the kid grows up.
 
Well I like the .410 as a beginner shotgun, I already purchased my son one.

Now I just need him to grow up (he's only 6) a little more.
 
i bought a 410 for grouse and love it its a fun little pump action the only complaint i have is that 410 shells r expensive compared to a 12 or 20 gauge
 
There are no correct answer, a good recoil pad make the kick of a 20 gauge equal to a 410. I do perfer a single shot over the other action type. My daughter has no problem with the single shot while hunt and of cause a 410 is so cute for a girl.

Trigun
 
Back
Top Bottom