Ttfjlc Posted October 20, 2013 Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 Evening all I was reading the shooting times today and there was an article on what age for young kids to start shooting, this set me thinking about my eldest son who will be 9 in January. To say he has inherited the shooting gene from me is an understatement, this coming season is already his 4th season beating! He loves shooting an air rifle and has mentioned a shotgun from time to time but when I mention about going for a lesson he says he's not to fussed at the moment. Whilst I'll never rush him into anything this has puzzled me until today when I was talking about this article and he said he wanted my father and I to teach him so this leads me to the question of which shotgun? I've shot for many years now and talked to a lot of people and it seems a 28 bore would suit? Most people say a .410 is like trying to shoot something with a shot pattern the diameter of a pencil! Just wondered if anybody has been through this situation and what they experienced, many thanks. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted October 20, 2013 Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 Evening all I was reading the shooting times today and there was an article on what age for young kids to start shooting, this set me thinking about my eldest son who will be 9 in January. To say he has inherited the shooting gene from me is an understatement, this coming season is already his 4th season beating! He loves shooting an air rifle and has mentioned a shotgun from time to time but when I mention about going for a lesson he says he's not to fussed at the moment. Whilst I'll never rush him into anything this has puzzled me until today when I was talking about this article and he said he wanted my father and I to teach him so this leads me to the question of which shotgun? I've shot for many years now and talked to a lot of people and it seems a 28 bore would suit? Most people say a .410 is like trying to shoot something with a shot pattern the diameter of a pencil! Just wondered if anybody has been through this situation and what they experienced, many thanks. J 28 bore isn't much louder than the .410 and recoil isn't much different either but it is a more effective cartridge. I actually started with a .410 but my daughter will be using a 28 bore when she starts as they are so much better and easier to progress onto a 20 bore later on. I loved my little .410 when I was younger and it does teach you a lot about range and accuracy etc but it does have it's limitations. My father has actually gone down from a 20 bore to a 28 bore mainly due to health reasons but he's still dropping rabbits at good ranges with it and he recons it's what I should have had all those years ago when I first started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttfjlc Posted October 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Thanks for the reply, I must admit I'm leaning towards the 28 especially as I've found out that you can get a 14 gram starter cartridge which to me seems ideal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 The gauge is not the most important thing here, as has been said before, it is the fit. If a 28g is too heavy, he will start with bad habits, stance, mount etc. If you can get the lad to hit targets with a .410, as he progresses through 28g to 20g to 12g they are all more forgiving. If your son can easily accept the weight of a 28g then go ahead but be very careful, if he leans back in a "Banana shape stance" the gun is too heavy for him. Where are you based? if we knew that you may get the offer of some help from the many very helpful PW membership. If you are anywhere near to Borehamwood in Hertfordshire I would be happy to let your son try out .410's, 28g and 20g guns. Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 The gauge is not the most important thing here, as has been said before, it is the fit. If a 28g is too heavy, he will start with bad habits, stance, mount etc. If you can get the lad to hit targets with a .410, as he progresses through 28g to 20g to 12g they are all more forgiving. If your son can easily accept the weight of a 28g then go ahead but be very careful, if he leans back in a "Banana shape stance" the gun is too heavy for him. Where are you based? if we knew that you may get the offer of some help from the many very helpful PW membership. If you are anywhere near to Borehamwood in Hertfordshire I would be happy to let your son try out .410's, 28g and 20g guns. Terry Terry Has hit the nail on the head an open choke on a 410 helps teach anyone with a full choked gun is a bad idea most 410s are full or extra full. If your near Bisley he can also try my 410 28 or 20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttfjlc Posted October 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Thank you for your advice and offers I live in South Lincolnshire 10 miles north of Bourne, I don't mind the idea of a .410, if we were to go down that route then I would use the shooting balloons idea I found in here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 A gentle going away target and or a gentle incoming target "BASC style" will be great to get him under way. Look for a BASC young shots day, always a good way to get started, CPSA do young shots days as well. You can find out the details on their websites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttfjlc Posted October 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Thanks I'll look into it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 I like a little going away bird then a slow decoy get there confidence up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttfjlc Posted October 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Well I'm going to go in a few gun shops when I get the chance to see what suits him, if he finds something he likes then he'll have plenty of opportunity to try different targets! I'm probably more excited than he is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oops Missed Again Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Go for a 28 don't worry about the fit as you can get the gun fitted to him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Go for a 28 don't worry about the fit as you can get the gun fitted to him He is not 9 yet is he strong enough to hold a 28g? The newer ones are reasonably light but the older ones are not. The ability to hold (manage the weight) and mount a gun correctly comes under gun fit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Hatsan do a junior semi 20g-might be worth a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 (edited) My grandson is 7 and has a 20 gauge Hatsan auto. Edited October 21, 2013 by Gordon R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttfjlc Posted October 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 I admit that I thought about a hatsan youth 20 but thought the weight might be an issue, I'll have to see if someone has one for my son to try, I'm going to the new gun shop in sleaford this weekend so I'll check out what he has Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 (edited) Thank you for your advice and offers I live in South Lincolnshire 10 miles north of Bourne, I don't mind the idea of a .410, if we were to go down that route then I would use the shooting balloons idea I found in here There are some half term intro sessions coming up check the CPSA site for a link https://www.cpsa.co.uk/news/general/2013/10/08/young-shots-days--autumn-half-term Edited October 21, 2013 by HDAV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttfjlc Posted October 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Appreciate that HDAV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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