[ChuckNorris]

i want to get my son his first shotgun do you think that the rossi 410 is enough gun to do some hunting for squirrl/rabit/birds/possems stuff like that

[dscottw88]

I am looking to maybe purchase my first shotgun too, although i'm no expert, I do know that remington's 870 model is just flawless and has proven itself over and over since it's introduction over 40 years ago. You can also buy it in different gauges such as 20.

[bakert]

If you mean the Rossi .22/410 combo, it's a pretty versatile little gun and I like the idea of single shots for younger shooters. The .410 would probably work fine in most instances if the ranges are 20 yds or so but if your son can handle the bit more recoil, a 20 ga. single barrel shotgun might be a better choice because the much denser patterns at all ranges would give him more of a chance of a clean kill on the game you listed.

[rangerruck]

that is a perfect kids' starting shottie, then only thing i would pick over it is a remmy 410 , semi auto. but those are hard to find, and expensive. that little snake charmer, should be about 100 bucks.

[rangerruck]

actually, i like it in the combo or even a triple, even better, say 22/410, 223 or 243.

[MudPuppy]

I wouldn't get a kid a 410 for their first shotgun. It's harder to make a clean kill and the shotshells are too expensive. I bought my 7 year old the 22/20 gauge combo instead.

You take a 410 out hunting and see how well you do with it. :p

[Regolith]

Mud: I did fairly well with a .410 when I was a kid, actually. :p

[MudPuppy]

I think I probably did better as a kid with one than I would now! lol

[35Rem]

I'd go with a 20, have a Limbsaver recoil pad fitted to the right length of pull. Your kid will have a lot easier time hitting stuff.
Shoot light loads in it to start.

[Okiecruffler]

I would bet that most people on this board started with a .410. I'd also bet that most of them ,if they had it to do over again, would have started with something alittle easier to hit with. In the right hands the .410 can be impressive (you should see my dad shoot) but they take practice. And those 410 shells ain't cheap.

[TX1911fan]

I bought my son the Rossi 22/410 combo. He liked the 22 so much that we now own 2 Ruger 10/22s. He still doesn't like shooting the shotgun, but he's 9 so I'll give him some time. I'm considering a 20 gauge semi auto for my wife and him to shoot.

[MCgunner]

I think I probably did better as a kid with one than I would now! lol

Me, too, LOL. The .410 is a right of passage for a kid. Go for it, much easier for a smaller kid to shoot than a 20. I got my daughter (big for her age) a 20 gauge NEF and it was a mistake, kicked worse than my 12 gauge Winchester autoloader. I didn't even like it.

.410s are plenty for rabbit and squirrel and I've killed a few with one, dove, too. I even shot a teal once with mine on "the creek", 40+ yards high. I remember that one like it was yesterday. :D

[benatilstate]

Dont get a new small shooter a single shot bigger than a .410!

Even a single shot 20ga has more 'felt' recoil than a 12ga pump or autoloader. Autoloaders are softer recoiling if you want to go 20ga. Otherwise, a .410 is great for teaching discipline, technique, etc, and it can be had in a very light package without abusing the shooter.

I learned first-hand that a 16ga single shot (old savage) was NOT a good first gun. It knocked the living **** out of me. It didnt turn me off to the sport, it was not enjoyable though. I think dad spent the night on the couch a couple times after mom saw the damage that thing did to my little shoulder - I think I was 7 or 8.

[Okiecruffler]

Fit is everything. My son started shotgunning with an old western field 20g that had been fitted to him. He was 8 at the time, granted a big 8. Wish I still had that gun for the youngin'.

[Jeff F]

The .410 is just not the right shotgun for a first shotgun. Its more of a specialty for more experienced shooters. I've shot a lot of shotgun rounds,
10's of thousands and I have a hard time with a .410 bore. Go with a 20 ga and light field loads to start out.

[Sistema1927]

I received my own shotgun at age 12. It was a Winchester single shot 12 ga.

My Dad also gave me a box of shotgun shells. They were marked "Max Dram".








Ouch. :eek:







That gun was great for quail, once I bought some low brass loads.

[moojpg2]

Go with the .410, it'll teach him to shoot better and with more discipline(he will learn not to take shots he can't make) because it is more difficult to get good hits with, you can't be sloppy with it like you can get away with with a 20 or 12 gauge. It will also be a lot less recoil, so he will have a lot more fun shooting, which will keep him interested, and when he gets older the .410/22 combo with the nylon bag it comes with makes a great pack gun if your camping. And good .410 shells might be more expensive than cheap target 12's or 20's, but after you start having him pay for his own ammo, it'll encourage him more to take plausible shots and shoot better.

and if you guys that supposedly have thousands of rounds a year through your 12 and 20's with good hits, and can't get good hits with a .410 at reasonable ranges for the .410 shell, you need to take another look at your shooting technique, or range estimation. If your missing a lot with a .410 i bet it's because your taking shots at ranges that are a lot farther than you think they are, or your just missing, which shouldn't be the case if you have relatively good form. The .410 should be a bit of a challenge over the other gauges, but it shouldn't be too hard if you keep it within reasonable ranges for the .410. I shoot all three gauges a lot, but i make darn sure that I limit my ranges to where the respective loads will be effective. You just not going to get many 40yd hits with a .410: i was looking at this thread after a search and forgot it was old, oh well

EDIT: I forgot this was an old thread, was looking at it after a search, my bad.

[AL9426]

they are great guns. my cousin has one and i shot it for about 25 rounds and it was great. they would work fine for small game and birds. and their price is unbeatable. i would say go for it.