new .410 for son?

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CPLofMARINES

CPLofMARINES

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I'm planning on buying my 7 year old son his first shotgun for his 8th
birthday. I was thinking about a single shot .410, my question is can you
shoot slugs out of a full choke?

Thank You,

Semper Fi!
 
Physically, yes I think you can. I do believe that it is recommended that you use a improved or modified cylinder though. I would wait for Mr. McCraken to chime in before you took my word. If he agrees, then I am right, if he disagrees... then I learned something new today :)
 
I'm sure you can shoot lead slugs from a full choke, but accuracy won't be very good and the lead build-up at the choke will be a bear to clean. I had a friend do the same thing in a 20 ga full choke, and after that, he bought another barrel for slugs.
 
I can't say for sure but considering most single shot and even pump .410s all have full choke barrels and there is not a shortage of .410 slugs, I don't see a problem with shooting them. I only have 2 .410 shotguns that have anything other than full choke, one is a Mossberg bolt action with adjustable choke and the other is my O/U.
 
Personally, if he hasn't shot anything before, I would start him with a single shot 22 bolt action - learn safety, gun basics, etc.....then progress from there...but I wouldn't worry about going to slugs right away, but use an open choke and let him be successful with some bird shot on some easy targets
 
When I was about that age, dad bought me an H&R youth model single shot .410. Because of that gun, I hated shotguns in general for years. They have a short effective range and a small pattern...IOW, they're hard to hit with.

Buy him a 20 gauge autoloader.
 
You can get an H&R break action in 28ga. It comes in modified choke and shoots 3/4 oz of shot I think. Makes it a lot easier to be successful for a young shooter. I would assume that it would also handle slugs better.

However my boys went from the 28ga to a 12ga auto in one day and the 28 became a wasted purchase.

Broadbill
 
I started shotguns at age 5 with a single shot 28 gauge.

I also had 28 ga slugs just like the adults did, used, and felled deer and other critters with .

See Ballistic Products for one, in regard to 28 ga slugs.
28 ga is .550 which is not far off the mark of .54, which is proven in war and meat hunting.

The highest scores on a tote board are those shot with a 28 ga. The gauge is better that it is supposed to be.

Will Fennell, myself and others will start a new shooter with a 28 ga, including kids.
I /we also use this to instill correct basic fundamentals for defensive shotgun use, and other uses as well.

So I agree with getting a 28 gauge as a first gun. I also suggest investing in a MEC 600 single stage reloader and reloading shells and slugs.
This is a special time for a special young man, and investing in him now will pay huge dividends in the future for not only him, yourself, also RKBA for us all.

A lot of adults do this, and end up getting themselves a 28 ga as well, including a single shot, not another platform.

I have rec'd a lot of PMs from adults and kids having a ball with this quality time due to the 28 ga.
There a number of adults that use single shot adults, including slugs, and have felled all sorts of game this year, including deer.
Some are members of THR.

*yep*
 
Glad others are chiming in on the 28 - I wasn't till I saw them.....an 1100 in 28, IMO, is THE ideal gun to start a kid shooting clay targets - easy on the shoulder, 50% more payload for targets than a 410.......the best of both worlds
 
I encourage people not to get a 410 for a first gun. They have no pattern and are tough to learn with. Wait a while and get 20 or get one now so he can hit what he aims at with a good number of pellets.

I kind of see 410s as the gun of the expert as opposed to a beginner.
 
That little NEF Pardner in 28 would be a good first shotgun, plus it won't break the bank buying it, plus more shot on target = greater hit probability, making it more fun than a .410.;)
 
Instead of a 410 that carries so little shot that the child will get discouraged, get a 20 gauge and some 3/4 oz training loads.

The box stores do not carry these, but gun shops will order them.

Duplicatiing the effective 28 gauge load but with an even shorter shot column (Good Thing), these have little kick even from the super light singles.

Once he/she has gotten basic form issues resolved, they can move up to lighter 7/8 oz loads,then typical 20 gauge loads.

Fiocchi makes these and probably others.

And do the kid another favor and get the gun in Modified choke not Full. Trust me....
 
Thank you, folks for responding. I never considered a 28 ga. Does NEF or
Marlin (I think they bought H&R) make a single shot. I started teaching my
son firearm safety when he was 4-5 yrs. old. Eddie Eagle and all that. So far
he has fired (within the last 2 yrs.) my wifes S&W 642 (with one round in the
chambers), my Marlin Model 60, AR-15, and AK. Of course with close supervision. I did buy him his first air rifle last year, but of course he gets
bored with it, but I do stress marksmanship. He is allowed to shoot with me
at the local indoor range, where they require a youth to be 10 yrs. of age to
fire on the range. Last year our age requirement for small game hunting
in MI was lowered to 10 from 12 yrs. One of the range officers I converse
with has said that my son is a better shot and is overall more aware with
range etiquette and safety, compared to some adults.

Semper Fi
 
Last edited:
Yes ,H&R/NEFdoes make the Pardner.This is from Able's, but I'm shure you can find them cheaper.

New England Pardner Single Shot Shotgun SB1028, 28 Gauge, 26", 2 3/4" Chmbr, Blue Barrel, Mod Choke, Hardwood Stock

Our Low Price: $121.64

Mfg Item Num: SB1028
Category: FIREARMS - SHOTGUNS
Action :Break Open Action (Single Shot)
Gauge :28 GA
Barrel Length :26"
Capacity :1
Chamber :2 3/4"
Length :41"
Weight :6 lbs
Drop :1 1/2" @ Comb & 2" @ Heel
Stock :American hardwood
Finish :Blue

UPC: 010633102804
 

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I got my first Montgomery Wards 410 shotgun when I was 6. That was way back in 1964. I LOVED it and totally wish I still had it. Single shot, beautiful gun. I had it until my first rifle was purchased and I traded it in on a Marlin Golden 22A ( my mom was with me) at the ripe old age of ten I might add! Man, the good old days!
 
Let me urge you to look at the Rossi .410/.22lr combo set they run under $150 bucks and I would gladly had paid more they are GREAT. I bought one for my girlfriend as her first gun and she LOVES it in fact I love it too and made sure to get myself one as well. They also sell one for a littler of 200 that is 20gauge/.22lr and .270

word to the wise the gun is really light so if your going to shoot a lot of .410 a slip on recoil pad does wonders.
 
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