I want to reply first to Vapodog. There is no way that an 11 year old will be able to buy a gun legally as we all know. The mere fact that he is asking for advice on the "proper" gun for her shows me that he at least has some intelligence and good intentions. I know that when I was that age and wanted something like that I would do all the research that I could and then take all the facts that i found to Mom and Dad. They were always VERY impressed and more than willing to listen. After all I had done most of the work for them. Sure they would want to verify it but it had been found for them. This made it MUCH easier on everybody. Though a lot of that information was for naught at the time, I have used it since and it has served me well. If a kid is on the hunt for information then I will assist them in any way I can. Information=growth. My point is just don't be so quick to judge so harshly.

I will have to disagree with Hornetguy. I believe the 410 is the perfect gun for beginners. I started on one some 20something years ago and the lessons learned with that 410 single shot have served me very well in the years since. I seldom had any problems taking appropriate game within the limits of that gun. Most of the game that I did miss was either because I was exceeding the range of the 410 or because of poor woodsmanship. I bought a 410 single shot for my 8 year old son this past Christmas and have taken him out once so far. The water was very high and we only saw one squirrel. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity for that squirrel to come out from behind the tree, when he finally did, my son popped him with one shot from about 20 yards+/-. The only time a 410 is a handicap is when somebody wants more than what it is capable of. The good thing about the 410 is it teaches a young hunter (or an older one who has forgotten) the necessity of proper shot selection and woodsmanship. IMO that makes it the perfect beginner gun.