RE: 410. for quail?
there are a couple ways to look at it. Me personally, I suggest a 20 ga for your Girlfriend. As stated above, quail are small, and fast, and a .410 is not alot of shot to hit them with. IT is said often to not start a new hunter on a .410 for this reason. Less shot, harder to hit the target = less fun. A 20 on the other hand, is light recoiling, and has killed many many many quial, ducks pheasant....etc
Now, i was home on leave in November and had a chance to shoot some quail with a friend of mine. His grandson, maybe 10 years old carried a small single shot .410 and killed plenty of birds with it. I was truly impressed as I have met several experienced bird hunters that have been shooting for years that won't carry a .410 to the field to hunt.
Take your pick, but I suggest a 20
Good Luck