Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Single shot .410’s

Thinking about one for my 11 year old for her birthday. About the only thing I’ve come across is a Stevens 311.

Thoughts? Ideas?

Not really wanting to go pump guns yet.

when you start getting ideas, don't go on concensus....try the action opening and hammers if its an exposed one. sometimes they can be super stiff. get one with an easy action and hammer for kid fingers or you'll be loading it every shot for them.
not knowing your budget....why not a lever gun? i/e: win 9410 etc.....

Well my train of thought would be skip the .410 and start with a 28ga. I rather give them more to work with than handicap them.

We have a savage model 24 o/u. .22lr on top and .410 on the bottom. It had a 24" barrel on it originally and a gunsmith buddy of mine cut it back to 20" to make the shotgun cyclinder open bore. My kids all have grown up carrying it around in the woods. I can put rifled slugs it in or bird shot. Its killed hundreds of grouse.

Not looking for anything fancy, classy, or sassy....just a basic one shot wonder squirrel killing machine.

Our local Walmart has the Hatfield 410s for 109. They also have.the mossberg 500 in 410 for 199.

pawn shops got lots of them.

I am following this thread with much interest because I am in the same situation. My daughter will be 12 this August and I told her that I would start her on shooting this summer and hunting in the fall. I have a single shot .410 that I started out with long ago but would like to upgrade her into something she can keep and use provided it will fit her reasonably well. Was thinking a 20 gauge Montefeltro, were going shopping together today and I'm going to see what fits and what she likes. Really hope she develops an interest in clay pigeon shooting and squirrel hunting!!

guns are like clothes for kids.
you either buy something that fits today, and buy more clothes every year, or you buy something a little big and they grow into it. sloppy fit at first, then all of a sudden it fits. then guess what? they grow out of it again!

True.

Not really looking to be all sappy nostalgic. $100 shotgun will likely get sold at a yard sale like kids clothes anyway.

Good for You, I hope the little princess develops into a sportslady. Your investment (mostly of your time) can pay off big later!

May I ask why no pump gun yet? A pump or semi auto can be single loaded with only one shell to begin with. Later they can be used as a repeater. Many pump or semi auto can be had as a youth gun and later when necessary a full size stock swapped out with the short stock. Same for barrels. A decent gas operated semi auto 20 gauge might not recoil a lot more than a light .410 and is a considerably better game gun that offers more versatility in choke and shells and can grow with the shooters competency and physical size.

Well....that would be pretty simple deal I reckon. 🤔

I have two kids, one 12 and one 14. I started both of them on an Iver Johnson single shot in .410. The gun is nearly ideal, IMHO. Ours has a full choke, which I believe helps a bit when hammering squirrels. Here’s what you do.... get two bales of straw and stack them on each other. This makes a natural blind, and gives a rest for them to shoot off of. Put out some tall aluminum cans, (ex. Arizona Iced Tea) at various ranges. These simulate a squirrel standing up. Once they are completely proficient at hitting them, they are ready to hunt. Our Iver Johnson .410 is also a family heirloom, making hunting with it even sweeter.

Regardless of final choice, I'd suggest one beg, borrow, or steal a couple examples before making a purchase. Have the kids do a little shooting and participate in the choice. I do Hunter Ed classes and am always pushing for a 410 in the stable. The rest of the crew insists they need to learn to handle recoil, so it's 20 gauges. I mostly handle the rifle side in our classes and I can look at targets as the groups pass through and near always tell which bunch had the 20's at their first station. Much larger groups due to flinching. If one wants her to come into the circle, make things as fun and pleasant as possible at the beginning.

Good luck and hope she sticks with it,

i have a 9 year old shooting a browning cynergy at my matches. he does pretty good. in just 1 yeasr, I noticeable growth is appearing, making his gun that fit last year, small this year.
heck....get some cheap stevens crack shots.
pay 75 bucks for a used 410, 100 bucks for a used 28ga....and as growth takes place, sell the first one and move up.
but again....watch those stiff hammers and latches.

16bore...where ya from? close to mo?

Local Runnings, Farm, Home & Outdoor store, has the Rossi single shot, break open, .410 shotgun on sale for $99.99; save 50 bucks according to the ad. I know nothing about these but they look interesting. Any one know anything about them? Looks as though it could be a candidate for the O.P.'s requirements.

VA

go to green top and try some out......................