Youth guns

[bgizzle]

I want to get my 8yr old god child into hunting and SHE is willing or so she says. I want to do it right by introducing her to gun fire but I want to stay a step ahead of the game so I want to get an idea of how hard a 410 auto youth model kicks and if this would be a good idea for a start. Don't want to get her a .22 because of how far the travel and how good expierienced a shooter needs to be to shoot a squirrel in a tree persay. I just don't see someone starting out needing a .22 I'd rather put her on a 410 and if she wimps out I'll sell it I guess. What do y'all think?

[swamp snorkler]

My 8 YO boy shot an AK-47 and an AR-15........ He has shot a .20 gauge and a .410. He's about 75 pounds and no problems with any of them. The only thing you need to worry about is the length of the stock.

The only thing he chickened out on was my neighbors .50 cal.

[wetaline]

Kudo's to you for starting her on hunting!!! I started on a 20 simply because my dad didn't have a 410. That should be a good gun for her to start.

[inchspinner]

4-10 would do it, was my first gun as a kid

[huntin fool]

410/.22 crack barrel was my first and I was a tiny kid. Started with that around 6 or 7. 410 will be perfect

[bgizzle]

Looked at the mossberg 4-10 and it has 3 different lengths you can take out butt pads. 5lbs and pump. I would definately start her out shooting one at a time I just think it would kick less and give more opportunity to grow into than a crack barrel. Here it isImageUploadedByTapatalk1346554982.510265.jpg

[Micah]

Looks like a good choice, I shot a Mossberg for about 10 years with no problems and it's easy to breakdown and clean.

[Natural Light Kid]

Not sure if a .410 auto exist. Be careful with those crack barrels. There's nothing to them and have a little kick. Moss erg makes good, simple, no frills guns. Not much difference in recoil between a low brass 20 and a 2 1/2" .410, and she'll be able to use the 20 longer. There's my $.02.

[simplepeddler]

I've been down this road.........auto is the way to go.
felt recoil is just less......end of story.

What is often overlooked is EARS.......kids,especially those that have had ear issues as younger kids, just can't take the boom.

PLEASE make sure she has ear protection.

[bgizzle]

Mos def. we n her will start looking together soon.

[wtretrievers]

If you go the .410 route......make sure it's the 2 1/2" shells there's a lot of difference with a little one on recoil & boom. Crack barrel is not a good choice if she is timid in any way. Ear protection is a must with little ones! It's the boom that freaks them out more than anything.

If anyone thinks a .410 crack barrel doesn't kick....stick the butt to your chin & pull the trigger

[wtretrievers]

Forgot about this!!! Bought this for my oldest when he was 7yrs old. Being really small for his age, even youth guns were to much. The youth model rifles when held up he would arch his back really bad just trying to hold it up being that they were too front heavy for him. This is a Snake Charmer .410, had it drilled & tapped with a Red Dot to shoot slugs(2"1/2) & can also shoot fine shot (will shoot 3" also). Barrel is 18"1/2 long & weighs 3 1/2lbs. Went with a Millet Red Dot due to young ones not knowing about eye relief with a regular scope. Worked out perfect. He got the gun for Christmas & killed a doe that evening! My youngest also killed his first with it, a doe at about 65 yards & a buddy's 8 yr old daughter killed a 180lb 8 point with it. Gun ran about $125 14 years ago, I'm sure price went up some. Can shoot a 3 shot group in a skoal can at 75 yards with slugs! Not bad for a smooth bore. Also has a a safety on side.

[kcinnick]

Please start your children out with a single shot! Let them learn it is the first shot that counts, if they only have one they will get the point quickly!

[grizzon30s]

Rossi makes a sweet little starter gun. U can get in 410/22 20ga/32 or even 243/20ga I believe. 410 is a good starter gun as far as shotguns. Only prob is that non toxic shot is hard to find and expensive. I don't see a ton of kick diff b/t my sons 410 and his 20 gauge when shooting 2 3/4 shells. A 22 is a great round to teach kids the basics of shooting. Sure she won't be hitting squirrels in trees but hitting bullseyes on targets will cause her to have tons of fun with a firearm. That's the beginning of it all in my opinion. Shooting and missing live targets will only frustrate her at first.

[I make oil]

I have one of the Mossberg 510's. It's a nice gun I bought it as a "family" gun. One that everyone uses then moves up. They then moved up to a 20ga H&R crack barrel then for Christmas when they were ready they got Franchi 20ga autos. Very nice guns with mild recoil and two sets of stocks. One Youth set and another Adult set. These are guns they can use their whole lives and what I consider to be their first guns because these belong to them. My nephew is using the 510 now and will probably move into the H&R this year.

[noodle creek]

My youth model 20 gauge 870 I shot forever when I was a kid will kick the sh** out of you. I think it is still the hardest kicking gun I own. I think the 410 would be perfect.

[redaddiction]

A 20 gauge crack barell kicks harder than a 12 gauge auto. LOL I don't know why they call them youth guns!

[bgizzle]

Yea I have a 20g crack! I'd never put that in her hands to shoot maybe to get a feel for a gun but not with ammo in it without a doubt

[Ed32]

i started my boy age 10 on the 870 pump youth and it had quite a bit of recoil. got rid of it and just bought a youth 20 gauge tristar. lafayette shooters has them for $350. a lot less recoil and we hunted 8 days for teal season. i'm impressed with this little gun especially since he fell down with it about 3 times.

[j.e.hagen]

I did notice the little escort your younger son had I've shot one they are very good guns and don't kick much more if any than .410 I would look for some low brass light load shells and start her with that but if your going to buy a .410 the snake charmer is also a nice gun. I agree that the crack barrel is simple but i think thats a good thing to start a child on then move her up I have, they are more dangerous but I think they can all be dangerous it's all in how well you teach them and from what I could see in the blind today you stress very hard on it