vaslugger

Thanks so much to all who answered!Looked at some Mossbergs in the
Model 500 Bantam pump today and I think that is what I will get him.
Still leaning towards the 410 just for recoil purposes and it will also
force him to shoot better at game.He shoots his BB gun a lot at cans
and he shoots it real well.I will be backing him up with a 20 gauge
Wingmaster in case he needs help.Also as I see he can handle something
bigger I will pass him down my 20 gauge Wingmaster to him.I am 209 pounds
and he is 60 pounds so kick is a big thing when you first start out and I dont
want him shuttinghis eyes as he pulls the trigger as some will do and it is easy
to do if it kicks to hard.I just want him to build his confidence up first and learn
how to properly aim withouy being scared.Just trying to do it right the first time
with him.Thanks to everyone again! Mike

uncle matt

I recommend the 20 if AT ALL possible. He will be discouraged if he isn't hitting things like the other fellas said and we certainly don't want that.

Make every effort to get him light powered loads or even have someone handload them for you for a year or so if necessary until he gets just a bit older and bigger.

Good luck and thanks for getting another young one out into the great outdoors!

homers brother

A year ago I'd have easily said "go with the 20". But, after taking my (non-shooting) almost teenage brother-in-law out to the gun club and going along with another guy's recommendation to let him borrow his .410, I'm not so sure anymore that I agree that the .410's so much harder to hit things with. He broke clays as easily as I've seen other "kids" his size and age break with a 20.

Of course, since then, we put him on a 20 and he complains that he can't hit anything. Maybe some recoil sensitivity? Don't know, just starting to work on him.

Recalling the .410s of my youth, most were single-shots and ALL had fixed, full choke barrels - probably not the best alternative for shooting squirrels (or anything else, for that matter). If you can find one with choke tubes, I think I might pick it nowover a 20 for the situation you're in.

A5Mag12

Nothing at all wrong with a .410. I killed plenty squirrels, rabbits and more than a few ducks with mine. Just remember you need to give him plenty of practice. Order up a few cases of shells and let him have at it. Start with stationary clays then some rolled along the ground followed up with hand tossed ones.

Buckmaster519

i bought a mossberg 500 20 gauge pump youth shotgun and i would not recomend it. it kicked harder than any 12 gauge i have ever shot.

coyote#68

the 410 will kill squirrels and such just fine in every tree except a redwood that's 300 feet tall.just let them practice with it.and make sure it patterns well get some 6's and shoot some squirrels.I dove hunted with a friend that had a 9year old son and a 410 a few years back and his son shot several birds that day,so the 410 will do fine,just dont spend a lot of money on it because he will outgrow it in a few years.good shooting!

salukipv1

If the 20ga isn't too much kick, then hands down I'd get a 20ga over the .410.

More variety too, deer slugs 20ga....though that may not matter in your state, here it would.

Also for turkeys, would much rather a 20ga over a .410.

how about a 28ga?

bronko22000

I'd definately look for a 20 gauge. I picked up a youth 870 20 for my grandson. I liked it so much, I got another for myself and used it this past spring to harvest me a nice gobbler at 25 yds with a load of 3" Winchester #4s.

daleh

I think you got a few years before a shotgun. At 7 he sould probobly learn gun safety and sportsmanship first, this could acomplished with a BB Gun.
When he gets old enough and mature enough to handle a real gun. I would suggest a youth model 1100 in 20 gauge.
This is a gun that he can be succesfull with and at the same time has 1/2 the recoil of a pump.

mauser06

id go with a 20gauge....

those 410s are small, light, and hurt just as bad as a 20ga...if not more...usually got to shoot a 3" mag to get any kinda killing pattern..