Grandsons' first gun. Advice welcomed.

[Bobba]

My grandson is 10 yrs of age; about the right height for his age (compared with rugby team mates); and slight in frame.

 

Surprisingly my son offered no objections when I suggested I would take my grandson shooting. I already have a single barrel bolt action .410 which he can use to become accustomed to guns, use, disciplines etc. But my thoughts are turning to what next? I was thinking about an OU lightweight 28 bore.

 

Before committing expenditure I would welcome your thoughts on options available in terms of guns and cartridge loads.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Gordon R]

My grandson is 7 - nearly 8 and has a 20 semi auto. Bit heavy for him, but he can shoot with it. A lot cheaper than a 28 gauge - gun and shells.

Edited December 23, 2013 by Gordon R

[neillfrbs]

got my boy a 28 gauge he is just 12 years old ,I would say built more like a 13 year old biggest in his football team .I had 6 boxes of gamebore pure gold 28g and he handles it quite nicely .will get 24g when they run out though they do still pack a little punch.a slight 10yr old might find it a bit much. the 410 route might be better.

just noticed that you are from Bristol ,if you ever get over the mendip shooting ground or swineford shoot ,be more than happy to let him have a go see how he gets on.

Edited December 23, 2013 by neillfrbs

[welshwarrior]

Don't go 410 go 28 bore it will last longer 28 bore with 18g cartridges will not kick to much.

 

If you can find a lt 20 may last better in his mind, I still use a 28 bore at 33 but I'm a big kid.

 

410 are fine on a selective targets open choke for novices if they are to small for larger guns.

[demonwolf444]

My opinion would be to go for a 12 bore and this is why.

 

To much recoil?

You can get some very light 12 loads, i think imperial game do a load that's 24 gram 6's which i have used with my younger sister who is stick thin aged 12 and shot with a gun with no recoil pad for all intents and purposes such a load has no recoil, or at least she shot through half a box of cartridges and did not complain of anything.

 

Before breaking the bank, have a look in the local gun shop i've picked up single shot 12 bore guns for 20 -40 pounds. These appeal because...

Kids have a lot of passing fancies and buying all the kit then them not really being all that interested is a waste.

If he decides to take it up when he is older and the gun sits in your cabinet after a period of little use, it takes up very little space, and also a 12 bore gun will not limit him as he gets older. They are also very cheap and have little collectors value so you don't feel like you are destroying the gun if you cut down the stock for him, and add it on at a later date.

Single shot guns are simple and effective and similar to their double barrel counter parts with regards to operation and safety stuff.

Also single shot teaches him to value his shots, when me and a friend were first being taught to shoot we were taught with a double barrel .410 hammer gun, but we were only given one cartridge at a time, sure made those tin cans dance.

 

Make it plenty fun for the lad. Tin cans, full cans of coke and that horrible cheap fizzy pop would make great targets along with clays.

[Fatcatsplat]

Don't go 410 go 28 bore it will last longer 28 bore with 18g cartridges will not kick to much.

 

If you can find a lt 20 may last better in his mind, I still use a 28 bore at 33 but I'm a big kid.

 

410 are fine on a selective targets open choke for novices if they are to small for larger guns.

As the man says - 410 is a nice idea but not a great way to learn

[WGD]

I got my 10 year old son a 28g Yildiz O&U in the summer. He handles it fine and I would describe his build pretty much the way you describe your grandson.

 

It wasn't cheap at around the £500 mark (new) and the cartridges were about £70 for 250. But it will last him a long time if he chooses to stick at it, and if he doesn't they are pretty hard to get hold of, moreso second hand, so I expect I could sell it for very near what I paid for it.

[welshwarrior]

If your near me he's welcome to try my 28 bore or 20.

[Gunnerbob]

Interesting thread, I will be in the same boat come spring with my 10 yr. old grandson, feel I may go down the 20 bore route....

[JohnfromUK]

I was started on a 28 - and I think its a good choice - especially with light loads. I have a small double .410 - and even now with over 40 years of practice - its a hard gun to kill (clays) with! The 28 (which was borrowed from a friend of my father's) gave me a much greater confidence. I see a .410 as a garden/vermin gun - but a 28 as a valid (small person's) game gun.

[OddJob]

For the students I coach from 11 years upwards (secondary school) it is the front end weight and not the recoil that is the struggle. We start on 20g with a Beretta being the lightest handling gun but a Franchi being a very useful tool due to it being shortened.

The Hull 21g Comp X has very little recoil in the 12g.

Don't go 410 as the cost and frustration for him will be a stumbling block. A cheap 20g (if there is such a thing) is what you want.

[Bobba]

Thank you chaps for your contributions. Something to mull over during Xmas. Thank you too to neillfrbs for the mendip shooting ground idea. Sadly all my tracks are north of Bristol but will bear it in mind. And to welsh warrior for his ofer but farnborough is a tad of the beaten track for me. Seasons greetings. Bob.

[shaun4860]

markm has bought his son a 28 bore

 

Started off with a 410 O/U but until he comes on and see's this thread then I can't remember what age he started and then swapped

 

[Alycidon]

To get them interested they need to be able to hit things, a 410 is a very hard gun to shoot well, to be effective you need to be very close.

 

A 20 bore, probably an o/u with a short stock will do him for maybe three or four years and its far easier to kill things with it at reasonable distances. If you use a semi ration him to one cartridge at a time.

 

A

[Shooting2]

I would be in two minds between 20 or 12. The first and only ever gun I have shot is a 12 from being 13yr old. So if you are after a larger gun now I would say 20 but why not wait a year or two whilst letting him shoot the 410 and just get a 12. It comes down to personal preference, do what you thinks right.

[soother223]

 

interesting...

my daughter coming up to 9.. been nagging for her own shooter for the last 18months! wouldn't mind starting her on some clays.. been thinking of 4.10 but thinking a little different now...

think i will try an get her something in next 6-8 months.....

[fortune]

 

For the students I coach from 11 years upwards (secondary school) it is the front end weight and not the recoil that is the struggle.

The Hull 21g Comp X has very little recoil in the 12g.

Don't go 410 as the cost and frustration for him will be a stumbling block.

 

My opinion would be to go for a 12 bore and this is why.

 

To much recoil?

You can get some very light 12 loads, i think imperial game do a load that's 24 gram 6's which i have used with my younger sister who is stick thin aged 12 and shot with a gun with no recoil pad for all intents and purposes such a load has no recoil, or at least she shot through half a box of cartridges and did not complain of anything.

 

Before breaking the bank, have a look in the local gun shop i've picked up single shot 12 bore guns for 20 -40 pounds. These appeal because...

Kids have a lot of passing fancies and buying all the kit then them not really being all that interested is a waste.

If he decides to take it up when he is older and the gun sits in your cabinet after a period of little use, it takes up very little space, and also a 12 bore gun will not limit him as he gets older. They are also very cheap and have little collectors value so you don't feel like you are destroying the gun if you cut down the stock for him, and add it on at a later date.

Single shot guns are simple and effective and similar to their double barrel counter parts with regards to operation and safety stuff.

Also single shot teaches him to value his shots, when me and a friend were first being taught to shoot we were taught with a double barrel .410 hammer gun, but we were only given one cartridge at a time, sure made those tin cans dance.

 

Make it plenty fun for the lad. Tin cans, full cans of coke and that horrible cheap fizzy pop would make great targets along with clays.

As above. the cartridges are cheaper and you get a better pattern out of the wider shot column with the 12 especially with open chokes and smaller shot size. I shoot all bore sizes and have no preference as to which one I go to so there is no bias in my opinion.

[Westley]

I have been going through this same dilemma. Which calibre ? I have been looking at some Turkish 28/20 bores as I am not a lover of the .410. With all of the cheaper guns that I have seen so far, it appears that the 28 bore is simply the same model 20 bore action and barrels, just bored out smaller. This means that there is a lot of metal in the barrels, therefore making the gun front end heavy. As has already been said and with which I agree, youngsters suffer more with the front end heavy bit more than recoil. I am reluctant to spend Beretta/Browning money and then start hacking the stock. I have bought a Yildiz 20 bore, which weighs in just under the Beretta weight at 6lbs. 1oz. I can also lose aprox. 1" off the stock just by removal of the rather 'sticky' recoil pad. Seems like a nice little gun, firing 21 gram with very little recoil.

[welshwarrior]

I have been going through this same dilemma. Which calibre ? I have been looking at some Turkish 28/20 bores as I am not a lover of the .410. With all of the cheaper guns that I have seen so far, it appears that the 28 bore is simply the same model 20 bore action and barrels, just bored out smaller. This means that there is a lot of metal in the barrels, therefore making the gun front end heavy. As has already been said and with which I agree, youngsters suffer more with the front end heavy bit more than recoil. I am reluctant to spend Beretta/Browning money and then start hacking the stock. I have bought a Yildiz 20 bore, which weighs in just under the Beretta weight at 6lbs. 1oz. I can also lose aprox. 1" off the stock just by removal of the rather 'sticky' recoil pad. Seems like a nice little gun, firing 21 gram with very little recoil.

A lot of older cheap 20 bores suffered the same issue using 12 bore actions. You need a true scales action.

 

The youngster will struggle with a front heavy gun balance is key to us all but more so with smaller weaker people like children and ladies.

[Sharpshooter.123]

I first shot at 8yo with a 10 bore..... Ouch! I didn't shoot again until I hit 14 because the 10 bore hurt! Moral of the story dont start him on to much. 410 is a waste of time, go 28 or light 20.

[Paulywauly]

Im in the same boat. Started our fella off with an Investarm .410 O/U which was good to get his confidence in pulling the trigger but very limited in actual shooting terms. After a bit of experimenting, we reckon a lightweight 20 is the best option. He can shoot 50 21grm shells in sucession with no detriment, use heavier loads for the field, where he will probably shoot less than 10 shots in a session and can easily carry/mount it. I would have loved to go for a 12 but the weight of the gun itself was the issue. Was briefly dazzled by the Benelli Woodcock (maybe more for me than him!) but its well outside my budget. Also like the slight safety advantage of an O/U...