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My son recently turned eight and I pulled out my old 410, which to his size (49" and 59# at the start of football season) was a tad too big. I pulled out the saw then longingly looked at the gun and could not bring myself to cut the stock down. I have decided Santa may bring him a new one. Any body have younguns around the same size and if so which do ya recomend 20ga or 410.

although the 20 ga may be a little more versatile, and pack a little bit more punch I would go with the 410. Less recoil means easier for him to handle it, and make it something he WANTS to do. No kid wants to go get pulverized by shooting a gun too big for him. He can keep it and give it to his kids...if you just can't bring yourself to cut the stock off. You could see if you can find an aftermarket youth stock for it and put that on there, then move back to the original stock.

410 for sure! My nephews have all started out with one. Had some kids there age this year at the dove field and would not shoot there 20 because it was knocking the crap out of them. Also a youth 410 is very inexpensive.

Franchi among other manufacturers offer a three barrel set for their light O/U

410, 28 ga, and 20 ga

cant remember the price but it didnt seem to bad for three guns

the doc

The main thing is make sure the "Gun Fits" and he can handle it safely. The 410 does have less kick but you have to be a darn good shot to hit with it too... Most kids that want to shoot get used to the 20 ga recoil quickly, those that don't want to shoot yet don't push them. They will come around soon enough.

Take it easy the first few times out and let them shoot easy targets, a can on the ground or clays, thrown slow, and strait away. Make it fun you will have a hunting partner for life.

My son started on the 410 when he was 7, he has killed a few doves and a few ducks with it, but I wanted to wait until he was begging to move up before I did. He can hit pretty good with the 410, but I told him the 20 would be stronger, and he could kill more with it. I have kind of been hinting along about the 20 to him, and now he really wants one bad. I shoot doves with a 20, and he watched me shooting with it, so he thinks it can kill anything. I would do the 410 for a couple of years, and let him get comfortable with shooting a gun, and most importantly safety. You will know when he is ready for the 20. Good Luck, and don't be afraid to yank that gun away from him the first time it gets pointed anywhere near a person. I took it away for a day during dove season when it happened(it will happen) and he is much more careful after that happened.

20 ga. auto...Rem. 1100 would be about right. The biggest problem with the 410 is small shot charge, and expensive shells. The 20 ga. gas auto won't be too hard on him, and will be less discouraging than trying to learn to shoot moving targets with a 410...

Just my 2 cents. I think a 20 ga. would be fine. That is what I started out with at 6 yrs. Mine was a stevenson single barrel 20. Kicked like a small mule especially at 6 yrs. First time I shot it dove hunting, I was crouched down and a bird coming strait at me. I had a bead and was about to pull the trigger and dad tells me to wait. Once he said take him, the dove was strait over me, I shot and BOOM flat on my back. After that, I was a shootin fool ever since. He will get used to a 20 and they are a lot more versitile for hunting different game.

GordonGekko wrote:20 ga. auto...Rem. 1100 would be about right. The biggest problem with the 410 is small shot charge, and expensive shells. The 20 ga. gas auto won't be too hard on him, and will be less discouraging than trying to learn to shoot moving targets with a 410...

Darn good advice right there!

Here is something I heard. a 410 is a very tight pattern, so it is harder to kill game. This may lead to a child getting disappointed. A 20 gauge will help them to kill a few more doves/ducks and will excite the kids. I saw someone at a gun show talking on this.

The ONLY youth model that would fit my wife was the 20 gauge Mossberg Super Bantam, as she is small. It has EZ Reach forearm and a removable 1" piece of the butt stock that reduces the Length Of Pull to 12". You can get a rifled barrel for it, and put a scope on it. Comes with screw in chokes, and, is camo'd. As your son gets bigger, you can put the xtra butt piece back on, or, Model 500 full size stocks will fit as well, so he can grow into it. Its a Mossberg pump, but, something ta think about

Man... I should sell Mossys

My son was 7 last year when I upgraded him to the 20. Best thing I ever did. He killed three mallards on the wing and a few more in the decoys including one huge sprig. 2 3/4 inch #4's are the ticket. As long as they have on their coat, no problems with recoil. I recommed the Rossi single shot youth model. His also came with .243 remington and .22 barrels that are tapped for a scope mount . They also have a .223 barrel.

20G youth model for sure. THe shot string on a .410 isn't so good. To be honest a .410 is better for a expert shot because of that. A kid just wants to pull the trigger, hear boom, watch something fall, and be outside with his old man. If you were willing to spend the $$$ a 28G would be perfect.

I would go with a 410 if he under 10 years, i started hunting doves when i was 10 and used a bolt action 20 gauge, you know you were good when you could shoot a double with that gun. Cant wait to pass it down the line to my son. Its going to be along wait, bout 9 more years,