I am taking my 6 y/o dove hunting for the first time this weekend. He's kind of a little guy and can't handle a 20 gauge yet. I have a single shot break away 410 that he will be using. What is the best ammo for this? I haven't ever used a 410 for dove hunting but I know some of you have kiddos that do and looking for your help!

Thanks!!!

I sometimes use a .410 for doves (including yesterday morning) and use 3-inch shells with 7 1/2 or 8 shot. They're great for not producing much recoil but hitting a fast-moving dove with one is a challenge. The doves will have to be within about 25 yards to be in range. If your son brings down a dove with it, let him know he's done something a lot of grownups would be hesitant to try.

I am a big fan of small bore shotguns. My favorite of all is the 28 ga. Buy the right one where you can change the stocks from yute model to adult and he could have a good bore for life. 410s have their limitations. Great guns but do have some limitations.

Thanks for the tips!

Maybe I will get him a 28 gauge for his birthday in March for next season. I am buying him a .243 for deer season as soon as I find the right one so I am going to have to wait on this.

I was just checking to see about a ruger red 28 for my wife. Oh heck no!!!! I bought mine used for $750 a few years ago. Asking prices on them now are $1400. I am looking now for maybe an 1100 style or something like that. I understand about the money part. Besides that I just got through building an AR. She wants that gun too.

Most .410's are full choked. 7 1/2 is my go-to on dove in 20g and up, but I'd go with #8 or maybe even #9 if you can find it for a .410. Dove aren't hard to kill and with a .410 every extra pellet helps. A couple #8 or #9 pellets would at least knock one down. Good luck and be safe!

Thanks SD, I will see what Cabelas has on Friday morning!!!

Look in the classifieds on this forum for EL_NUMERO_UNO. He has Ruger American compacts at a really good price in various calibers. It's been a couple of weeks since I saw the add. I think his price included tax and was like $349??

If he is small for his age do you really think he is even ready to shoot a shotgun?

It would be less frustrating for him and he would have just as much success with a Red Ryder on this first hunt

This is true. I overlooked the fact that he's 6.

That is how i started but looking back it was kinda cruel. but it made me a good shot when i was about 13 i got a 1100 12 ga and went to a local turkey shoot where they shot Trap I won 8 Turkeys beat all the old rich guys with their High dollar guns until no one would enter if i was gonna shoot. so it made me a good shot.

Hand and eye coordination is most likely what made you a good shot. Shooting a big gun that kicks too much when you're young just develops bad shooting habits that if you want to be competitive one day you will have to fix and retrain yourself to shoot

Fant your real name by chance wouldn't be Alvin York would it?

If you can hit a moving target, the gauge of the gun makes little difference. A .410 pattern simply has more holes in it at longer range, as do all sub gauges.
Keep the shots within 35 yards and any .410 ammo will work fine.

You're right, a 410 would be the perfect choice for a smallish 6 year old on his first hunt

I would suggest a 2 1/2 inch shell with 7/16 oz shot and really give him a challenge.

I use to limit with a 410 bolt action and a box of shells (and sometimes had a few shells leftover). Turned 12 and recieved 12 gauge auto and never have been as good as a shot.

Thanks for all the advice...if it is too hard for him or is kicking too hard, he can stop. I am not going to make him keep trying if he is struggling or not having fun.

If he is 6 I agree with Hayraker get him a Red Ryder and wait a while. The single shot 410 is a hard recoil gun. I often teach youth and newbie shooters and I have acquired the Remington 1100's in 410, 28ga and 20 ga to build boldness and confidence without the KICK

My son shot a pellet gun till he was 9, then he got his first shotgun, 20 ga single shot (which was still too big for him at the time). After the hunt, I would take him to shoot tin cans with his pellet gun. The pellet gun was mine as a kids, otherwise I would have got him a BB gun as mentioned by others. At that age they really just want to hang out with Dad and watch.

I agree with most of whats been said on here. I grew up with a single shot .410 that I still have and shoot on occasions. I think i was probably 8 when I first got it and it knocked me flat on my rear the first time I shot it. But I shot it for years and it made me a really good shot because I knew I had 1 shot and had to make it count.

One thing to remember about small light single shots, they don't have any moving parts and a light gun will produce more felt recoil. I have a 5# 28 gauge o/u with 26" barrels that kicks harder than my 8.5# 12 gauge clays gun with 32" barrels.

From an economic stand point, look at buying him a 20 gauge when he gets old enough... then he really won't be limited and can afford shells for it when he has to buy his own. Remember to get good, you have to shoot a lot and you don't want to be trying to get good shooting a 410 or 28 gauge unless you have plenty of disposable income! You can get a flat of 20 ga for around $50, but 410 and 28 will be well over twice, approaching three times that.

If you do let him shoot the 410 at 6 y/o... prepare him for what is about to happen to him. Make sure he has good weight forward on his front foot and get him on top of the shotgun. This way you'll prevent a bad experience that might make him not want to shoot again for some time!

My kiddo is shooting AA 410 , 2.5" #8. 7/16 hasn't slowed him down. When your on em, your on em. He shot 15 yesterday with 40 shells. Actually hit 5 in a row.

I'm guessing your son is not 6. To shoot like that means he has obvious raw talent and has shot a few times before. That kind of shooting with that round is something to really be proud of. He certainly deserves a high five.

To get 5 lined up in a row, that's the ultimate skillet shot there.