Welsh Warrior
Member
I'm trying to find nice .410 gauge for my son and would like to know your choices.Thanksin advance.
What would be best model .410 gauge for 10 year old?
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Labyrinth666
Member
there is a site called www.ocshooters.com/Gen/kidshooting/youth-firearms.htm it has a pretty long list
BHP FAN
Member
.410 Snake Charmer.
Kernel
Member
Forget the .410 and get him a 20 ga Remington 870 Junior. Get a case of Fiocchi Low Recoil 20 ga. It will kick like a .410 (or less) and put up a lot more lead. The 870 is the pump all others are measured by. In 20 ga it could serve your son well for the next 60 years. A .410, well, he's almost too big for that now, but at most, he'll out grow it in a couple of years. Check the price of .410 shells. As a whole, it's the most expensive shotgun ammo on the market. 20 ga is one of the cheapest. Bulk packs at Walmart, etc. There is no cheap .410. Shoot more for the same money. The advantages go on, and on, but I'll stop there.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productnumber=995610
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productnumber=995610
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huntsman
Member
+1 and I don't like single shots for new shooters.
oneounceload
member
In between the 410 and 20 is what many consider one of the finest gauges ever developed - the 28. It can be found in light or heavy guns, it packs 50% more payload than the 410 so there is a greater chance of success, and in something like a 1100, the recoil is minimal.
IF you are dead set on a 410 (a mistake, IMO), a nice pump from the likes of Browning or Remington will feel more comfortable to him than a single shot
IF you are dead set on a 410 (a mistake, IMO), a nice pump from the likes of Browning or Remington will feel more comfortable to him than a single shot
I totally agree with nixing the .410, when my son was old enough my dad asked to buy him his first shotgun and what caliber I thought, .410 I said with out much thought, we took it out along with my .12 ga., my son shot the .410 a few times then asked to shoot the .12, from then on he only wanted to use the .12.
The .410 as sat in the safe with maybe 10 shots trough it, my son is now 28 and I'm sure he keeps the .410 for sentimental reasons and eventually his kids will shoot it. If I had said .20 or .12 I think the gun would have seen more use and still be loved for the reason of who got it for him.
The .410 as sat in the safe with maybe 10 shots trough it, my son is now 28 and I'm sure he keeps the .410 for sentimental reasons and eventually his kids will shoot it. If I had said .20 or .12 I think the gun would have seen more use and still be loved for the reason of who got it for him.
Southern Shooter
Member
From a post on an earlier thread...
I never knew.....
Gee, guys. I never knew there was a concern about the usefulness of the .410. 37 years ago my grandfather handed me a Sear/Stevens, single-shot, bolt action .410 to learn shotgunning. Once I was consistently hitting still targets out to 20-25 yards it was off to shoot snakes at the ponds and birds that kept attacking the garden vegetables.
Once, squirrels came on the menu of hunting it did not seem to be a problem taking them, even on the run. I fared no worse than my cousins wielding 16ga, 20ga and 12ga. Like any gun it has its limitations. But, I was taught when, where, and how to use the .410. And, I was taught how to be patient in the hunt and how to aim more precisely.
The .410 is not a nitch gun anymore than the 12ga would be a nitch gun.
I am 45 years old, now. Guess what I bought this summer...yes...a youth sized .410. A single shot .410 at that. Why???? Nostalgia. Simplicity. Short. Light weight.
And, with the harder cast, approximately 114 grain, solid Benneke slugs and 3" 00 buckshot with 5 pellets, I believe that it makes for a great camp gun for critters here in the southeast U.S.A. Both, 4 legged and 2 legged. Out to 25 yards I can put slugs in a 3" group all day long.
It is a great shotgun with versatility. The problem is not with the .410. The only problem I see with the .410 are the hands that hold it and the brain that controls the hands.
With a .410 you have to aim it like a rifle due to the more narrow shot-column. Which, with patience, makes a person a better marksman. Safety first. Marksmanship second. Hunting third.
I never knew.....
Gee, guys. I never knew there was a concern about the usefulness of the .410. 37 years ago my grandfather handed me a Sear/Stevens, single-shot, bolt action .410 to learn shotgunning. Once I was consistently hitting still targets out to 20-25 yards it was off to shoot snakes at the ponds and birds that kept attacking the garden vegetables.
Once, squirrels came on the menu of hunting it did not seem to be a problem taking them, even on the run. I fared no worse than my cousins wielding 16ga, 20ga and 12ga. Like any gun it has its limitations. But, I was taught when, where, and how to use the .410. And, I was taught how to be patient in the hunt and how to aim more precisely.
The .410 is not a nitch gun anymore than the 12ga would be a nitch gun.
I am 45 years old, now. Guess what I bought this summer...yes...a youth sized .410. A single shot .410 at that. Why???? Nostalgia. Simplicity. Short. Light weight.
And, with the harder cast, approximately 114 grain, solid Benneke slugs and 3" 00 buckshot with 5 pellets, I believe that it makes for a great camp gun for critters here in the southeast U.S.A. Both, 4 legged and 2 legged. Out to 25 yards I can put slugs in a 3" group all day long.
It is a great shotgun with versatility. The problem is not with the .410. The only problem I see with the .410 are the hands that hold it and the brain that controls the hands.
With a .410 you have to aim it like a rifle due to the more narrow shot-column. Which, with patience, makes a person a better marksman. Safety first. Marksmanship second. Hunting third.
Bud Tugly
Member
The .410 loaded with 3" shells and #6 or 7 1/2 shot is a reliable small game getter out to about 25-30 yards. Beyond that, the patterns begin to thin out and that's where the heavier loads from a 20 gauge or larger come into play.
Most .410's unfortunately come with a fixed full choke, which gives a very narrow pattern and is probably the main cause of frustration with this gauge. Modified choke is a much better choice if you can find a gun with it and IC would be even better but nearly impossible to find..
Anyone who finds they can make small game kills with a 20 or 12 at 25 yards or less but can’t hit with a .410 must be catching the edges of the wider pattern most of the time. That likely means they simply aren’t as good a shot as they think they are.
Most .410's unfortunately come with a fixed full choke, which gives a very narrow pattern and is probably the main cause of frustration with this gauge. Modified choke is a much better choice if you can find a gun with it and IC would be even better but nearly impossible to find..
Anyone who finds they can make small game kills with a 20 or 12 at 25 yards or less but can’t hit with a .410 must be catching the edges of the wider pattern most of the time. That likely means they simply aren’t as good a shot as they think they are.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Get a 20 ga. Youth Model pump and 7/8 oz light target loads
Shells cost about half what .410's cost.
Plus the fact .410 ammo has been made out of unobtainum since the Judge revolver came out. It has been a scarce commodity for about a year now around here.
IMO: A .410 is an experts gun.
Kids will get very discouraged with them early on because they are so hard to hit thrown targets and flying or running game with.
And a lot of the single-shot .410's are very light and kick as hard as the bigger 20's.
rc
Shells cost about half what .410's cost.
Plus the fact .410 ammo has been made out of unobtainum since the Judge revolver came out. It has been a scarce commodity for about a year now around here.
IMO: A .410 is an experts gun.
Kids will get very discouraged with them early on because they are so hard to hit thrown targets and flying or running game with.
And a lot of the single-shot .410's are very light and kick as hard as the bigger 20's.
rc
gotgcoalman
Member
Totally agree with the 20ga.
Or even a youth size 12 ga using 21 or 24 gram loads.
Both my sons age 13 and 9 shoot sporting clays with 28 gram loads.
Ok the first time they had the (sore shoulder thing the morning after)
but never hapened again.
It's never put them off shooting 50 "sporting" and if i'm honest
sometimes they get a better score than me.
Or even a youth size 12 ga using 21 or 24 gram loads.
Both my sons age 13 and 9 shoot sporting clays with 28 gram loads.
Ok the first time they had the (sore shoulder thing the morning after)
but never hapened again.
It's never put them off shooting 50 "sporting" and if i'm honest
sometimes they get a better score than me.
If you are set on a 410 id get him the single shot H&R pardner. A little over $100, American made, and simple for a beginner. Provided you drill him on how to safely lower the hammer on a live round. I have one and its pretty fun to plink with. The choke is pretty tight so it would be hard to hit birds or clay targets with, but it makes a good squirrel gun. If he quickly outgrows the 410, at least you are only out of $100. Or you could even send the receiver back to H&R and have a 28, 20 or 12 gauge barrel fitted. But the 20 and 12 gauge models kick pretty damn hard.
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oneounceload
member
I'll STRONGLY disagree with that statement - not that the facts are wrong, but that it is quite possibly, one of the worst guns for a beginner - the stock fit is lousy, the weight makes recoil painful - even in a 410; and as mentioned by RC, the 410 is an expert's gun IF your intent is to actually hit something with it. If all you want is something to plink with, get a good .22 rifle. If your goal is to be successful at clays or hunting, a single shot 410 is better replaced with a pump, semi, or O/U that fits, in 28, 20, 16, or 12
41magsnub
Member
I would suggest starting him like my dad did with me, a 20 ga youth pump of whatever make/model floats your boat.
To make me learn how to shoot right he just plugged the magazine tube all the way out so it was effectively a single shot at first.
To make me learn how to shoot right he just plugged the magazine tube all the way out so it was effectively a single shot at first.
Note that you can't shorten an 1100 all that much. Otherwise, yeah.
If you want to teach marksmanship, get a .22.
Aiming a shotgun like a rifle is NOT a good way to develop shotgunning skills.
Ditto.
H&R shotguns are most useful in the hands of someone who already knows how to shoot a shotgun, and can adapt to the thing.
DeepSouth
Random Guy
plumberroy
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There are thousands , if not hundreds of thousand of us that did just fine with a H&R or stevens or wichester 410 single shots. If it was edible and roamed the hills or flew above the hills of Kanawaha county W.V. in the 70's I have killed it with a 410 single
Roy
chuckusaret
member
Ammo for the .410 is very scarce and is more costly than .20 ga.
I say .20 ga
oneounceload
member
Good for you Roy!.....I would like you to provide a link to the sites that show how many s.s. 410's are used in the winner circle for clays, bird-shooting competitions or anything else for that matter. Just because you and others used them years ago, does not make what you did the best method, the best gauge, or the best type of gun to use
plumberroy
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There is more to shotgunning than competitions or killing every game animal you see. once One out grows the "I have something to prove attitude" , and I had it for years. There are few things more enjoyable than stalking bushytails or following a pair of beagles with a small ga singleshot I have a new lefty 870 less than 100 rounds through it and and old S&W pump that when I get it out something is going to die. The smith hasn't been shot in this century. I sold my auto and doubles I hunt with 410bore , 28 ga or a 20 in a singleshot I am going to get the old smith out and shoot though
Roy
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Doesn't make it wrong, either. I started with a 20g, and it turned me off to shooting shotguns (or much of anything other than .22) for a while. Then grandfather pulled out the old bolt-action .410 and let me go at it. It built up my confidence without hurting or rattling me. I STILL enjoy shooting it, years later. It's FUN. It isn't to be competitive in the slightest. It's a FUN shotgun. Yes, I said it, a FUN TO SHOOT SHOTGUN. The kid doens't need ot lear how ot master clays, skeet, and a million other things, ever consider they're just trying to have FUN while shooting? They're TEN, not twenty.
oneounceload
member
Oh now, that's pretty petty and total crap, but then I'll consider the source. The OP was asking about starting a kid out. IF you want a kid to be a long-term shooter, then success has to be a part of the picture - and for a new kid, the single shot 410 is the worst to achieve that. After you have a kid hooked on shooting and hunting and want to introduce some more challenge, then fine - go for the 410 single shot
else, spare me your contrition and smug insults....
plumberroy
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There were no smug insults intended. I and many others started on a 410 singleshot period In my early 20's before family when A weekly pay check wasn't all that important to me I killed 400 rabbits 400 quail and 100 ringnecks and squirrels a year that was back before the bottom dropped out of fur prices I sold over $18000 in furs one year it was about numbers back then. Age and time changes some peoples priorities. Now I kill just enough rabbits to keep my beagles interested , enough sqirrel for a couple messes of squirrel and gravy
Some times I think we just don't have the time to train youngin's right anymore I was started shooting sqrirrels. then rabbits over slow beagles Dad set up a thrower as slow as it could throw and started me shooting slow straight away clay birds and made it harder only after I was able to hit those I was taught the range limits of a 410 and got my ass kicked if I tried shots too far . I do think a mod choke would be better in a 410 I had one H&R 410 with a modified choke and traded it off
Roy
Some times I think we just don't have the time to train youngin's right anymore I was started shooting sqrirrels. then rabbits over slow beagles Dad set up a thrower as slow as it could throw and started me shooting slow straight away clay birds and made it harder only after I was able to hit those I was taught the range limits of a 410 and got my ass kicked if I tried shots too far . I do think a mod choke would be better in a 410 I had one H&R 410 with a modified choke and traded it off
Roy
oneounceload
member
If no smug intended, then I'll apologize, for it seemed that way to me - no biggie - as I said, not doubting YOUR experience, or the experience of anyone as old as I am who did the same......saying that today, there are much better choices for a young kid to be successful - and since most kids today have the attention span of a gnat, quick success seems necessary in order to keep their interest
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