410 or 20ga

[Coach]

410 is the way to go... Brody is 6 and he shoots a 410 he has to hold the stock under his arm .. He has gotten pretty good he killed his first dove this year,, and last saturday he got his first squirrel... oh yeah weare mounting the squirrel.... good luck on deciding

[duckter]

I was faced with the same dilemma last year. If you're wanting to shoot skeet, doves, squirrels, etc. then a .410 would be fine I guess. The problem with waterfowl hunting presented another issue. I think you can only get .410 non-toxic shells from the Bismith Cartridge Company. A little expensive to say the least. The 20 Ga. offers the steel shot alternative as an economic alternative. You also have the options of 2-3/4 and 3 inch shells for recoil options. I have opted to have my son shoot a 20 ga. 2-3/4" #6 Hevi shot shells and I only give him 1 shell at a time.

Bought him a Nova Youth 20 ga. (around $300). Best option would be a youth 20 auto though for the recoil reduction. However, with sweatshirts and jacket, recoil is not that big an issue when we're duck hunting.

[GulfCoast]

I would strongly suggest you get him a 26" 1100 or BGH, shoot LIGHT loads, cut down the stock, and put a kick-eez or Xcoil on it. Most 410's are pretty whippy, even for a little kid, and lead to "aiming". In my experiance, a child will learn more quickly with a soft shooting 20, and they will have more enthusiasm, since they have a better chance to hit something with the 20. Note: If you shoot heavy loads in the 20, all bets are off.

[puntgun]

Hmmm, just about a split decision. Kinda like asking what breed makes the best retriever (though I know the answer to that, Black Lab ). I can tell the question brought some of yall back to your youth, trudging around in dad's hand me downs which didn't matter as long as you were outside having fun. I do remember some of mine especially the first few times with a 410. It sounded something like this, "bird- blam blam balm then a look at dad and the question- are you sure there was shot in those shells .
Dillin can shoot pretty good with the BBgun. How he does it, i'll never know. From the deck I can set up a can thirty yards out and somehow though the moving of the gun barrel he can lob one striking the can almost everytime. As for his safety that is why he is finally getting a real shotgun. I have been taking him in the blind with me for the last two years, using the BB gun, making sure he is being safe. I quess I will have to wack him on the shoulder a couple of times and ask which felt better, just kidding

[cody's guide]

i think it depends on the kids size. my son cody is a pretty small 7 year old. he has been in the dove field and duck blind for the past 3 years with his BB gun. this summer before dove season i bought the Rossi 20 gauge/ 243. i thought at the time this would be the best bet. the gun fits perfectly, however the single shot kicks the crap out of him. 5 to 10 shots is fine until you start flogging doves or ducks. he shot about a half of box in the dove field and had to put it down for a while. he killed a few and was very happpy. my cousin bought his 9 year old the Charles Dailey youth model/ automatic (fairly cheap) $200 or so and it does not kick nearly as hard as the Rossi. So if i had it to do over i would always go with 20. more versitle and can be used for many years to come. shells are cheaper too. but i would go with 20 gauge auto and buy the shorter stock to make a perfect fit.
my 2 cents

[Dutch Dog]

you don't live in hernando

[cody's guide]

my folks do and i would too if you would sell my house. what is the deal??

[Dutch Dog]

you aint let me list it. Some chicky is listing it ....last you told me. I got 3 listed in OB right now...listing another one next wednesday. Houses ranging from $155,000 to $359,000 including one around $229,000 which is right about the range yours would probably be in (I'm guessing)...needless to say I'm gonna have the buyers...covering all price ranges. It's all good...long as you still gonna let me find ya a place here in Hernando.

[cody's guide]

she was better looking than you... he he bring my a buyer, you will still get your 3%.

[Double R 2]

I would strongly suggest you get him a 26" 1100 or BGH, shoot LIGHT loads, cut down the stock, and put a kick-eez or Xcoil on it. Most 410's are pretty whippy, even for a little kid, and lead to "aiming". In my experiance, a child will learn more quickly with a soft shooting 20, and they will have more enthusiasm, since they have a better chance to hit something with the 20. Note: If you shoot heavy loads in the 20, all bets are off.

I agree completely. that said, my 8 year old shoots 3 inch steel no complaints. He says teh single shot 410 kicks as hard if not harder.

[Deltaduk]

was in the same predicament a few yrs ago.My boy shot a 20 ga. single shot.it kicked the hell out of him.went and bought a browning skeeter tube and he shot it a while.the tube allows a 410 shell to be shot thru a 20 ga. barrel.it was a good starting point for him. he now shoots a nova 20 ga. youth model.and can bust some skeet with it.
you might want to think about this little trick,used to take him out shooting .would have a tank of helium and blow up balloons let them fly off and he would shoot them.kinda taught him how to follow a "line" and he enjoyed the heck out of it.

[SoftCall]

would have a tank of helium and blow up balloons let them fly off and he would shoot them.kinda taught him how to follow a "line" and he enjoyed the heck out of it.

that's a good idea - I'll try that.

[Chocolate Seal]

I would go with the 20, 28 or maybe a 16, I had a Stevens bolt 410 when I was a kid and it KICKS harder than my 12!! SO I would get a great youth 20 proly!!! Auto does not kick as bad as a pump so that should be a factor also for a child!!

[GulfCoast]

Remember, those single shot "Toppers" and stuff you see people teaching kids with are LIGHT, so they KICK like a 12 guage. They are also really whippy. Try shooting a round of skeet with one and see how well you do, and you KNOW how to shoot well. I would say don't get one near your kids. A heavy, softer shooting 2O plugged to hold only the round in the chamber is just as safe, and 100% better learning tool.

[flare_king]

Started my now 8 year old with a .410. Now he won't hardly shoot his 20ga. My six year old, who is about the same size as your boy, was started on a 20ga and doesn't bother him a bit to shoot it. In fact he killed his first deer last year.