RC45 Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 I'm thinking of getting a gun that the kids can use for clay shooting. What calibre would you suggest. I have been told a .410 can give more recoil than a 28. what do you think. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulos Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 How old are kids? Any of them should be fine so long as you use a small shot load. My 10 year old nephew used his .410 without any problems whatsoever and has recently been using a 12b with 21g shells and hasn't suffered with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC45 Posted January 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 How old are kids? Any of them should be fine so long as you use a small shot load. My 10 year old nephew used his .410 without any problems whatsoever and has recently been using a 12b with 21g shells and hasn't suffered with it. Hi, the kids (girls) are 7 and 9, they might be too you at the moment. Cheers Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 my 12 yr old daughter started with a 12bore and 21gm carts less recoil than 20gms of lead through a 20 bore IMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC45 Posted January 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 my 12 yr old daughter started with a 12bore and 21gm carts less recoil than 20gms of lead through a 20 bore IMHO Thats interesting thanks.. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC45 Posted January 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 Also, are there any rules or guidelines on what age is best for kids to get started. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 Start them as soon as they can hold the gun, and start them with a 28 bore as a minimum. A .410 just doesn't have the shot load or pattern for them to be successful and if they don't smash a few up they will get bored and not want to do it anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 A light 12 bore would do I think although a twenty bore is traditionally the starter gun round here expensive carts though! I got both y girls going with my 12 bore and light carts fired. At clays coming directly overhead. Might be better ways but it worked fir me! Cheers will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter De La Mare Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 Plus .410 carts are more costly than you might realise.....very expensive indeed. A 20gauge semi should do it, or a short barrelled 12gauge Urika semi with 21g carts. I personally can't detect any recoil at all with that combination, as long as slide is clean on it, I've seen them rusted solid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 I had that dilema with my boy in deciding what gun to get for him to use. He started (aged 12) with my 12b, using hushpowers, hes a better shot than me! no trouble with it at all. He does get a little tired with the weight of the gun after 50 shots, but then getting a lighter gun would increase the felt recoil etc All the advice I have been given around the gun shops seems to be stick with the 12, as others have said the recoil can be worse with a smaller bore gun / same load Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveH Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 Recoil is just one factor to consider. The weight of the gun is another - you need something that your girls can actually pick up and point, and a .410 or 28 bore might have advantages in this respect. My daughter (12) uses a 20 bore semi-auto for clays partly because of the lower recoil but also because when she tried a 20b O/U she found it too barrel-heavy to use comfortably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MMM Posted January 8, 2010 Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 I voted 410, you would be supprised about the effective range of a 410. 11 or 14 gram 7.5's should do fine for sporting clays up to 40 yards and would be very low recoil. I think a double barrel o/u would make it more fun for them, but a single barrel would cost alot less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigG Posted January 8, 2010 Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 Weight of the gun is the most important part recoil can be overcome with the cartridge load, brand. Well done for starting them young this is what the sport needs. All the best G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayman Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 (edited) Recoil has nothing to do with the calibre. Its a combination of: The shells pressure profile - ie slow burning or fast powders? Is the shot detonated out of the barrel or accelerated out? Progressive powders in better shells have lower recoil. The amount of lead - the more lead in the shell the more powder needed to shove it out The weight of the gun - in the equation of action and reaction, the heavier the gun the more energy it absorbs. With all other factored equal in the shot load wt and the powder type, the heavier the gun the less recoil, but there are heavy 410s and light 20's. And these observations are for measured recoil, not perceived recoil. Perceived recoil with one gun can be much greater than another because factors like stance, stock length, comb height and mount will influence the perceived recoil far more than anything else. If, the gun fits, the mount is good, the user can support the forward wt ( ie not leaning back to counterlever the barrel wt), the the actual gauge does not really matter. The most important factor for a kid will be the guns balance point, and their ability to hold and control it properly. A 12g with a short balance pointy is far better than a 410 being held with the action at arms length Edited January 9, 2010 by clayman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC45 Posted January 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lasbrisas Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 My 11 year old who is very small for his age has a 20g with a shortened stock and he uses 28 gram no 8s no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COACH Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 (edited) I`m with Clayman, every inch of the way. It really depends on the ability of the child to stand straight and be able to swing the gun without loosing balance etc, which ever gun you/they have. Then use light loads. Edited January 13, 2010 by COACH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 I didn't vote because I feel that the results could be misleading. Both the .410 and 28 bores recoil very lightly with a light load, the .410 is a tough one to shoot well though. I'd go for a 20 bore myself. Not an auto, but an o/u of some sort. The small bores are very expensive to shoot. Gun weight matters a lot for someone that young so get them something quite light and small. With a light gun you need light loads though or it will recoil sharply. I don't remember my 28 bore Beretta being any lighter than a mates 20 of the same model. The bonus with a 20 is that most gun clubs will sell ammo for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 Hi, It's not so much when to start but more important is when to stop. Assuming that you've found a gun that they can mount and hold (20 bore self loading, we used to use a Breda) and they start shooting, they won't want to stop until after the damage is done. Stand behind and gently place your hand at the top middle of their back. Before you see any sign of fatigue, you'll feel it; muscle tension and shake. STOP NOW. It's OK to carry on after a good break and you'll prevent all sorts of problems which if they do enjoy it they don't really need. Good luck. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Don't get a light gun. The worst recoil I've suffered - and it was really quite nasty - was from a side by side weighing only 5lbs 12 oz. I never have a problem with a Browning at near 8lbs or another o/u which weighs half a pound less but has a Kick Eez pad on it. Also consider 21 or 24 gram cartridges as well as a semi-auto. I would stick to a 12 gauge - fewer pellets in the air from a 20 gauge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC45 Posted January 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 So many people differ in opinion. I think I might take them to a club and try a selection of club guns. Thanks for the replies Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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