410 or 20ga for a first shotgun. - Page 3

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Posted: 3/2/2024 3:09:27 AM EDT

[#1]

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Good luck finding .410 ammo.

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This. I gave my grandson a .410 for Christmas last year. Ammo has been unobtanium since. I had to give his father the few boxes i had ratted away for him to shoot it.

Posted: 3/2/2024 3:16:26 AM EDT

[#2]

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No Walmarts in your area?

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.410 ammo is really hard to source

No Walmarts in your area?

I've not seen .410 in the local WallyWorlds in at least 4 years.

Posted: 3/2/2024 3:18:18 AM EDT

[#3]

.20 guage.

Posted: 3/2/2024 3:23:26 AM EDT

[#4]

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Good luck finding .410 ammo.

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I just checked using AmmoSeek. .410 ammo is readily available starting at $0.56/round.

Link to .410 ammo suppliers using AmmoSeek

Posted: 3/2/2024 4:39:03 AM EDT

[#5]

28 gauge is the superior low-recoil option, especially if you get a gun properly scaled for it (and not just 28ga barrels on a 20ga frame). Lighter than 20ga and will pattern far better than .410.

Stay away from Stoeger coach guns. Too much kick in 20ga to be very fun for a young kid, and made like shit. Mine disassembled itself the first time I shot it, and I sold it after I fixed the abysmal machining mistakes that caused the problem. Look at the Mossberg O/U for budget, or the Cabela's exclusive Rizzini if you don't mind spending more. Both are available in 28ga, as well as .410 and 20ga if you prefer the inferior options.

Posted: 3/2/2024 5:15:36 AM EDT

[#6]

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20 gauge. 410 is an expert's gun and a horrible first choice. The myth that the 410 is a good kid's gun needs to die.

Five is awfully damn young for shotgun.

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This. I've never owned a .410, but have read articles by exhibition shooters and other gun writers about what they recommended.

The consensus was that a .410 was the gun for experienced shooters who wanted a challenge. The payload is small. Hitting a moving target with one requires solid fundamentals.

They recommended a properly fit 20 or 28 gauge, or even a 16 if the person wasn't recoil shy.

Posted: 3/2/2024 7:39:13 AM EDT

[#7]

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Go with 20ga it's my personal favorite and can do anything you need it to

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This. A 410 is not a beginner’s gun. It’s expensive and takes a good shot to consistently hit moving targets with it. Look at skeet scores with 410 vs 20 gauge. And these are great shots.

Posted: 3/2/2024 7:52:47 AM EDT

[#8]

I love the 410, but ammo prices don't match the size. If you can reload they are awesome though. I would use one way more if ammo didn't cost an arm and a leg. A full choked 410 is just plain fun to shoot.

20 gauge is my go too for rabbits and grouse, but my grandpa got it for me and I've used it for a few decades.

Posted: 3/2/2024 7:55:01 AM EDT

[#9]

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This. A 410 is not a beginner’s gun. It’s expensive and takes a good shot to consistently hit moving targets with it. Look at skeet scores with 410 vs 20 gauge. And these are great shots.

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Go with 20ga it's my personal favorite and can do anything you need it to

This. A 410 is not a beginner’s gun. It’s expensive and takes a good shot to consistently hit moving targets with it. Look at skeet scores with 410 vs 20 gauge. And these are great shots.

I think their best role is a squirrel gun, especially with a younger shooter that might not be able to use a .22 lr with much success yet.

Also in areas where using a rifle might not be as safe.

Posted: 3/2/2024 7:59:08 AM EDT

[#10]

I started on .410 when I was young.

Posted: 3/2/2024 8:06:05 AM EDT

[#11]

I think I posted somewhere back there, but all my kids and grandkids started on the same mossberg bantam 20ga. The stock spacers have been added and removed a bunch of times. It now waits for the next grandchild to be big enough.

Posted: 3/2/2024 8:39:17 AM EDT

[#12]

The new 410 tss turkey loads that everyone is using are pretty baller.

Posted: 3/2/2024 9:06:22 AM EDT

[#13]

My first rabbit/squirrel hunts were with a borrowed 410.

Bagged them just fine.

When it was time for my own shotgun at age 12, I got an SKB 20ga pump because grouse and pheasant would be on the menu.

Most of my adult life Ive hunted with 20 and 16.

But I really like 410 for rabbits because it has less shot. Most flush inside 10-15 yards and I don’t want to shred them.

Ymmv

Posted: 3/2/2024 1:24:54 PM EDT

[#14]

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Go with 20ga it's my personal favorite and can do anything you need it to

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This.

Posted: 3/2/2024 1:26:02 PM EDT

[#15]

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.410 ammo is really hard to source

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Somewhat like .28 gauge

Posted: 3/2/2024 1:29:31 PM EDT

[#16]

We're going camping this afternoon. I might bring my nef topper in 20 gauge to see what he thinks of the recoil. I have the youth straight grip stock with recoil pad on it as well.

Posted: 3/2/2024 1:36:44 PM EDT

[#17]

I haven't been a fan of 20 gauges since most manufacturers stopped producing 20 gauge sized actions. Most just build them on a 12 gauge receiver, and the weight and balance penalty doesn't offset the recoil difference for low brass.

Unless you can find an older properly built 20 for a younger shooter, I'd look for a .410 or 28 gauge. The handling and weight will make learning to shoot much easier and pleasant.

Posted: 3/3/2024 6:35:21 PM EDT

[#18]

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We're going camping this afternoon. I might bring my nef topper in 20 gauge to see what he thinks of the recoil. I have the youth straight grip stock with recoil pad on it as well.

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How’d the camping go? Did your boy end up shooting the 20 gauge?

Posted: 3/3/2024 6:40:03 PM EDT

[#19]

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How’d the camping go? Did your boy end up shooting the 20 gauge?

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We're going camping this afternoon. I might bring my nef topper in 20 gauge to see what he thinks of the recoil. I have the youth straight grip stock with recoil pad on it as well.

How’d the camping go? Did your boy end up shooting the 20 gauge?

No, even with the youth stock it's to big.

Camping was great. 35° rain. Vienna sausages and marshmallows

Attached File

Posted: 3/3/2024 7:01:07 PM EDT

[#20]

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No, even with the youth stock it's to big.

Camping was great. 35° rain. Vienna sausages and marshmallows
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/433221/1000000486_jpg-3148405.JPG
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/433221/1000000485_jpg-3148406.JPG

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I’d be lying if I said there weren’t a couple cans of Vienna sausages in my ruck every time I went to the field.

Offer still stands if you wanna try a Stoeger .410 for him.

Posted: 3/3/2024 7:07:07 PM EDT

[#21]

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I’d be lying if I said there weren’t a couple cans of Vienna sausages in my ruck every time I went to the field.

Offer still stands if you wanna try a Stoeger .410 for him.

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Quoted:

No, even with the youth stock it's to big.

Camping was great. 35° rain. Vienna sausages and marshmallows
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/433221/1000000486_jpg-3148405.JPG
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/433221/1000000485_jpg-3148406.JPG

I’d be lying if I said there weren’t a couple cans of Vienna sausages in my ruck every time I went to the field.

Offer still stands if you wanna try a Stoeger .410 for him.

Yeah, bring it if you come to bearcamp. I'll bring some. 410. I'd like to see what he thinks of the recoil.

I had a burrito from 7/11 but I did finish his second can.

Posted: 3/3/2024 7:22:28 PM EDT

[#22]

20ga. .410 to me requires too much initial accuracy out of a rookie. Never had a complaint out of light 7.5 shot 20ga load.

I really struggled to find a Youth model that is really sized for a kid. Most Youth models are teenager sized. I have found shotguns with English stocks are more adaptable to smaller framed people/kids.

Posted: 3/3/2024 7:26:31 PM EDT

[#23]

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Yeah, bring it if you come to bearcamp. I'll bring some. 410. I'd like to see what he thinks of the recoil.

I had a burrito from 7/11 but I did finish his second can.

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I’ll take a look at the bear camp schedule, I’d definitely like to get into shooting matches again.