I'm going to be taking my little boy next year on his first turkey hunt....and kinda considering this year for the youth hunt in VA. I'm thinking about starting him with a 410 ga. I don't have alot of experience with a 410 so I'm looking for recommendations for a good 410 to start him out on for turkeys. Any suggestions and information is greatly appreciated!!
God Bless
I did when my youngest was 6,regretted it. My double you can miss, a pop can width pattern at 20 yards. he blew a bunch of feathers off back of lower neck, bird ran off.
A 20 with a field load 7 1/2 shot would be better i think. It was the next spring for him .
Recoil a problem , just remember heavy gun kick less, Red dots are great for kids. you can see most dots a long way back on stocks. Soft recoil pads are great too.
A .410 in an experienced hand would be OK.I don't think its a good choice for a youth though.I'd go with a 20 .
Yep, 20 with a load of low brass 7/1/2s. Get them inside 25 and it'll give you enough energy plus a wide enough pattern for a little wiggle room.
yep... get a 20ga... start out with low brass. He will have much more room to grow down the road.
Thank you all for the advice!! I was actually thanking 20ga at first but talked myself right out of it. I will start looking for a 20ga.
God Bless
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Thought about the .410 for my boy.Went with the 20 in the Mossberg mini-bantam.Fits him very well,but a little on the light side.Equipped with a limbsaver pad and problem solved.Used standard full with 2 3/4 field load of 7 1/2.Wont let him pull the trigger past 20 yds,gun does very well with wide enough pattern to compensate for the shakes inside that distance.
A 20 with field loads and as mentioned don't let him shoot until he's 20yds or less. I might make some mad but I don't think turkey hunting and .410 should even be mentioned in the same sentence.
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Seen the 410 make them reader than a door nail but needs to be done in the right situations and distances.
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As others have said, go with a 20 gauge. I do have one suggestion in contrast some of the replies. Let him practice and pattern the gun with light loads. However, when you are actually turkey hunting, use a #6 turkey load. He will not know the difference in the excitement of the moment.
Quote from: catdaddy on January 06, 2014, 12:31:17 PM
As others have said, go with a 20 gauge. I do have one suggestion in contrast some of the replies. Let him practice and pattern the gun with light loads. However, when you are actually turkey hunting, use a #6 turkey load. He will not know the difference in the excitement of the moment.
catdaddy thank you for the advice! I can remember my dad doing this to me....using the light loads then after pulling the trigger in the woods he showed me what he had done....I didn't feel a thing. Much like today shooting 3 1/2 I never feel it in the woods.
God bless
Quote from: catdaddy on January 06, 2014, 12:31:17 PM
As others have said, go with a 20 gauge. I do have one suggestion in contrast some of the replies. Let him practice and pattern the gun with light loads. However, when you are actually turkey hunting, use a #6 turkey load. He will not know the difference in the excitement of the moment.
I've done that with a couple kids and that was using my 3" 12ga, not a 20ga, and they still didn't notice. If I'd had a 20ga set up for turkey at the time I would have used it though, a lighter weight gun is definitely easier for young kids to hold steady and control.
I have to agree with most of the others use at least a 20g a if the young man can handle a 12g a let him use that. I had two youth hunters last year they used my 12ga both got birds and they never even remember shooting.
Quote from: catdaddy on January 06, 2014, 12:31:17 PM
As others have said, go with a 20 gauge. I do have one suggestion in contrast some of the replies. Let him practice and pattern the gun with light loads. However, when you are actually turkey hunting, use a #6 turkey load. He will not know the difference in the excitement of the moment.
That's what we did with the kid I took last year. Slipped a 3in #6 hevi shot shell in and he didn't notice.
I used a 20ga auto for my granddaughty. Had to use a support so she could hold it up. Son was to put in a 2 3/4 but put in a 3". She never felt it.
Just took an old camera tripod and put a alum u on top with pipe insulation.
She got a doe at 120 yds with a 6mm in Dec.
Has anyone had any dealings with the Mossberg Maverick 88 All purpose 20ga? Just come across them looking at some 20ga but have never used one or know anyone that has.
God Bless
For what it is worth;
My daughter is extremely petite, and this past Spring we used a .410 HR for turkey season. After patterning it, I knew the shot had to be close. We were good within 20 yards maximimum.
On opening morning, I called in a HUGE Tom for her. At 14 yards, she shot right over his head due to nerves and a small pattern. Needless to say, we were both sick about it.
She did manage to kill a bird later, but I had him at 10 yards for her and aiming for the beard.
(https://scontent-a-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/291956_10200833856556182_194020975_n.jpg)
Even though she tagged, I was really kicking myself for not moving up to a 20 gauge.
After doing some research, I bought her a Mossberg 510;
http://www.mossberg.com/product/shotguns-pump-action-510-mini-super-bantam-all-purpose/50490 (http://www.mossberg.com/product/shotguns-pump-action-510-mini-super-bantam-all-purpose/50490)
Even with her petite size, she is able to hold and shoot it well. I used a Recoil Pad on it as well to make the fit even better. Being a 20 gauge, it has a great pattern out to 30 yards and I have been really impressed with it. Looking forward to the Spring!
Good luck with your purchase whichever way you go, and good luck in the Spring!
One more thing , just how old of a kid makes a huge difference in [slip a 3" mag 20 or 12]. use some common sense and your own judgement. six year old =heck of a difference between taking a 12 year old.
How old is your kid?
another vote for the 20ga
I still pull out a 20ga from time to time. I have killed a gobbler 35 yards with it. They are had to find but a 28 gauge 870 express with the Rem choke barrel and a "special full" choke seems to pattern better than the 20 I use with a undertaker choke. I use W-W 1oz #6. I patterned it enough last year to the point I wouldn't hesitate on a 40 yard shot. Put 13 killing pellets on the target. The pattern is a little smaller than the 20ga but makes up for it in density. I only got to shoot one bird with it but at 29 yards it dropped him like a bad habit. reflex264