A 410 is not a deer gun. Paul M. and eldeguello have it right.

I would never give a beginning hunter a gun that has such a high potential for wounding and losing the game you're after, unless you want to sour them on the whole experience for life.

Do yourself and your wife a favor and get her a 20 Ga at least. There are reduced recoil loads for practice, and then if you want to, you can sight it in with a more potent load for hunting deer. I saw a show that did a segment on some 20 Ga. slugs made by Federal. The guy stated that the ballistics make that load acceptable on deer out to 150-200 yds.

A 410 must be good for something, but deer it aint.