What is the best .410 Single shot to start a kid with?Lazar Arms?

killswithkimber

killswithkimber

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Hello, I am in the market for a 410 single shot shotgun for my son's birthday. I have seen a few small folding break action single shots and this is the route that I think is best. I am mostly looking for a safe gun , I have seen a few that are made without a trigger guard! I was looking at a Lazar Arms the other day and they looked pretty decent but I was a little gun shy because I was unfamiliar with this brand . I am looking for anything new or used but I don't want to spend more than 300 bucks.

Please let me know your thoughts any info is good info!

THANKS
 
Should be able to find a Cooey 84 or 840 for a decent price, and they're great little guns.
My dad gave me an Iver Johnson Champion, which I still have and love.
 
I would try to fine a Cooey they are built like a tank and most have ejectors not extractors. The folding guns will fold all the way every time you open them,can pinch fingers ask me how I know that. For the price you are talking you can get a really nice Cooey or Win. Just my thoughts.
 
If I was set on a single shot 410 I would look for a gun with an exposed hammer as it's really easy to see when the gun is cocked. My choice would be a used Cooey or Winchester.
 
Bought my boy a pump 410 and he outgrew it in a couple years. My advice would be a 20 gauge as he may have to grow into it for a year or two but 20 gauge will be useful for many years to come. 410 ammo is restrictively expensive and to hit anything flying takes very good shooting skills which can be frustrating for a new shooter. Further a 20 can be used for trap, skeet, 5 stand, etc... If you're still bent on a 410 then thats fine, I bought my son a pump Weatherby 500
 
While a 410 offers light recoil, it is a terrible choice to teach a child to shoot flying targets, and many children lose interest quickly, if they don't hit anything. A member at our club brought his boy out to shoot trap, with a 410 single shot. After one round, and zero hits, the boy was ready to quit and go home. Another member offered the use of a 20 gauge, and after a few broken targets, the boy was excited about shooting again.
 
I just picked up an old made in Canada "Mossberg" 410cal bolt action shotgun to modify for small shooters. Cosmetically it was rough, but I've restored it and shortened the butt stock a few inches: good balance but still a .410. For the small shooters intended, a 28ga would be most ideal as has been pointed out already, .410 is more difficult to land a hit with on moving targets. 20ga is very accomplished wingshooter but brings heavier recoil and noise for the smallest shooters: It's a good size to graduate to as soon as possible... shame that the 28ga is uncommon.

Be careful with the single shots: my first shotgun unfortunately was a single shot Cooey, and even worse in 12ga but none are fitted well being quite punishing to shoot. This is where I developed bad flinch in my life, taking a long time to break in adulthood. I could never bring myself to shortening a Remington Wingmaster to suitable dimensions... 28ga or .410 but a cheaper 870 Express wouldn't bother me, and fitting of a Limbsaver recoil pad is an option.

That Mossberg I have came with a 24" barrel, and LOP is now 12" with Limbsaver: My primary concern after safe use, is ensuring any young shooter I teach is not abused by the caliber/gauge and subsequently afflicted with bad reactions such as that which plagued me for years. Flinch is a bad one... lots of people do it. This is harder to explain away than it is the difficulty in hitting moving targets.
 
Nothing wrong with a .410 for a first shotgun. You don't have to take the poor kid to the trap and skeet championship shoot for the first try. A little Lazar would be okay, but they are tricky to open. They aren't expensive, and you could always sell it.

If you can, take the young one out where there won't be a bunch of experts watching, set up some easy targets, and blast away. There are a great many adults that couldn't hit a flying target at first, and became discouraged after watching others break birds.

Try not to be that "hockey dad" who expects the poor kid to be pro material right off the bat.

Whatever you buy, enjoy your time with your kids. They grow up and move away too quickly.
 
Depending on his size, Get a laser 410 with a wood stock, shorten the stock and do a trigger job. After he masters that, switch to a single 20 gauge, shorten the stock, put on a good recoil pad and that will do him till he's ready for full size.
Or start with the 20 gauge mentioned. With a Good recoil pad these guns are not that bad in recoil.
Without a pad on a 20 single, the recoil is pretty intense.
Also, getting a cheek pad makes a big difference in felt recoil, because for me the cheek piece punches me in the face and that is not pleasant.
It makes all the difference to have these accessories
 
Bought my wife a Lazer Arms 28 gauge with a 20 inch barrel. Nice and light for her, no hammer and comes removable chokes. Nice little gun for the price and since 410 and 28 gauge are both expensive I figure the 28 gives her a better chance on grouse.
 
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kjohn said:
Nothing wrong with a .410 for a first shotgun. You don't have to take the poor kid to the trap and skeet championship shoot for the first try. A little Lazar would be okay, but they are tricky to open. They aren't expensive, and you could always sell it.

If you can, take the young one out where there won't be a bunch of experts watching, set up some easy targets, and blast away. There are a great many adults that couldn't hit a flying target at first, and became discouraged after watching others break birds.

Try not to be that "hockey dad" who expects the poor kid to be pro material right off the bat.

Whatever you buy, enjoy your time with your kids. They grow up and move away too quickly.
Click to expand...

It isn't about anyone else being disappointed it's about making shooting fun for a new shooter. And children seen to have a lot more fun, when they are hitting targets, and they seem to enjoy targets that break, more than paper targets.
 
Stevens 301 in 410. They make 2 models. A standard and a compact
Rossi has the tuffy with a thumbhole style stock
Both i think are above the lazer in terms of quailty. They both offer a visable hammer and a side safety as well. My daughter isnt even 2 yet and im thinking the stevens 301 in 410 will be her first real shotgun. I have a 9mm flobert for her to start and ill move her up to a 28ga then a 20ga
 
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