palmer_mike Posted June 2, 2019 Report Share Posted June 2, 2019 My Son is now expressing an interest in shooting a shotgun! He’s doing really well with an air rifle and despite only being 7 he’s pretty big for his age..... what would the general consensus be for a starting out gun, .410 or 20ga? I know .410 may be harder for him to hit clays (tighter pattern etc) but will a 20ga be too much recoil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted June 2, 2019 Report Share Posted June 2, 2019 Will he be able to hold it up steady (and safely) long enough would be my concern. Also a 28bore is in-between the 410 and the 20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmer_mike Posted June 2, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2019 1 minute ago, Lloyd90 said: Will he be able to hold it up steady (and safely) long enough would be my concern. Also a 28bore is in-between the 410 and the 20. Fair point! at first (and for quite some time) he’ll be very closely supervised and only shooting clays with me. We’d be shooting for only a short time in case he gets too tired, If he had any problems holding it steady I’d be on hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted June 2, 2019 Report Share Posted June 2, 2019 Had a pals son shoot with us recently. He was shooting a Kofs 28 bore with 14 gm load and was very competent. That is as good as it gets with a youngster age 11 in my view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted June 2, 2019 Report Share Posted June 2, 2019 Today the minus about 410s no longer holds true with the choice of choking on many shotguns. As said being able to hold the shotgun correctly would be far more important. A number of makers do youth models now with stocks designed for youngsters and I suggest you visit a couple of stores where they have such and let him try mounting one or two. You could also have a stock shortened to fit and keep the piece to add back on a year or so afterwards once he has grown into it. I think the 410 with open chokes initially and #9 shot on some easy peasy clays would work. You often see youth models second hand for sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonepark Posted June 2, 2019 Report Share Posted June 2, 2019 I kicked off age 8 with a 410 sxs hammer (El Chimbo)with 3 inch eley loads and had no problems. Gun mass was 4.5lbs, stock 13.5 inch and weight was easily manageable. At 12 I moved on to my own Baikal sxs 12 of about 6.5lbs, after having borrowed a Browing A5 SA at back end of previous season for geese. I would look for a junior 410, check the patterns with your preferred No 7 or No 7.5 cartridge na dadjust from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted June 2, 2019 Report Share Posted June 2, 2019 My local clay ground has .410", 28 and 20 bore guns which can be hired for £5. All have shortish stocks. I would be inclined to phone around some nearby clay grounds and even consider at least 1 lesson with their Instructor for his first attempt. It really is money well spent, a decent Instructor will ensure he comes away unscathed and will want to go again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckandswing Posted June 2, 2019 Report Share Posted June 2, 2019 I take my lad who’s ten to a friendly ground. He shoots a single shot bolt action .410 and I’m thinking of moving him up to a larger bore towards the end of the year. He’s been shooting shotguns since he was around seven too. The ground he goes too has a rough area where he can shoot static clays on an embankment. He initially started on these. Now he likes a teal and a rabbit presentation and is getting quite nifty with it. No crossers or high pheasants as of yet but the easy ones always put a smile on his face. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoBodyImportant Posted June 3, 2019 Report Share Posted June 3, 2019 (edited) My son started 20g at 7. He does pretty good with it. But he doesn’t shoot clays. It’s all he can do to point it. Edited June 3, 2019 by NoBodyImportant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoBodyImportant Posted June 3, 2019 Report Share Posted June 3, 2019 He is all about suppressed 22lr and 1911s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BinaryB Posted June 3, 2019 Report Share Posted June 3, 2019 My daughter started at 12 with an O/U .410 and she is nearly 16 now and still using it and with success. What has upped the .410’s game in my opinion is the 19 gramme Eley VIP trap load. It’s great for clays and that’s what she uses exclusively. I’ve been considering upping her to a 20 bore or even a 12 but she enjoys using this Yildiz so much as it’s nice and light, I haven’t done anything yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted June 3, 2019 Report Share Posted June 3, 2019 (edited) hello, for what its worth my advice mike, 410 O/U multichoke, junior stock 12.5 inches weight around 5llb, oh theres a nice 410 Yildiz second hand in DB GUNS near Thame Edited June 3, 2019 by oldypigeonpopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted June 3, 2019 Report Share Posted June 3, 2019 I really like the armsan 28g S/A.. light and well balanced with two stocks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted June 3, 2019 Report Share Posted June 3, 2019 Light loads in a short barrel lightweight shotgun like a yildiz would be my choice .410 is hard enough to use in experienced hands never mind a child trying to learn. Some do use a .410 very well but it takes aot of shots to get good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uilleachan Posted June 3, 2019 Report Share Posted June 3, 2019 There are kids, and there are kids. Nothing wrong with a .410 when starting a young kid off, shooting static targets moving to easy moving targets etc. Most important thing is that it should be fun and flinch free. They can move onto something more meaningful when they're good and ready having been introduced to the mechanics and basics. Older kids, 28 20 or 12 gauge, depending on size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted June 6, 2019 Report Share Posted June 6, 2019 My money would be with a .410 . No doubt in my mind . You load 18 grm no 7.5 in it and you will smash clays out to 35 yds . The gun fit will be 100 % better than a heavy 20b for a kid. You have to remember even if you could fire 50 grm of shot at a clay, if its not pointed in the right direction with the right lead etc.you will miss. So the .410 will help get the gun on line .and teach them far far faster than a 20 or 12.b Heck i sometimes take my small single .410 down my local ground and amaze my self and those around me ,at how well it will smash clays out to 30 yds (using no 5 or 6 shot ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumpy22 Posted June 6, 2019 Report Share Posted June 6, 2019 My lads enjoy knocking tins over with a little 9mm garden gun. Lightweight no recoil or noise to put them off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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