coyote#68

the 410 will work fine.let the kid shoot a few targets and make sure it shoots a good pattern and go kill some squirrels!

reds10ss

perfect for squirrels 6-71/2 shot...hell the one i used to have shot like a rifle..even succesfully shot deer with it...i know mossberg makes a good 410 combo

vaslugger

Thanks so much to all that replied!I used to use a 410 when I was a kid
but its been a long time since I shot one and could not remember exactly
how well it did as I no longer own one.I have been shooting high powered
rifles and slug guns for so long that is what you use get used to and you
tend to forget.I am 209 pounds and my son is 60 pounds so I try to remember
that when you first start it is important to not be scared of recoil so that is
why I wanted your guys opinions as I dont want him recoil shy as he is just
learning.Leaning towards the Mossberg 500 Bantam as it is light and should
be easy to carry.Thanks so much to everyone for your response!Mike

Pro-Line

I am a .410 nut. It's a very versatile gun.

BUT...It can frustrate the hell out of an inexperienced shooter. The pattern is about 1/3 the size of a 20 guage at 30 yards...and the pattern density is not great out of the small center of the pattern due to the smaller amount of pellets.

One thing that is critical is that you NOT get the 2 1/2" shells. They are about as worthless as a milk bucket under a bull.

I've killed rabbits with a .410 at 60 yards...granted they were like 2 pellet kills...but rabbits will fall over pretty easy.

Good luck!

Seif5034

get him a nice recoil pad to go with it (just in case)

Mr. Longbeard

I've got a mossberg 410 with a full choke... It's a ok squirell gun out to about 25 yards... I wouldn't recomend shooting one past 25 yards with it... But who am I to talk... Everybody that I talk to has a turkey gun that will kill turkeys out to 60 and 70 yards... So I guess that would mean there 410 can kill squirells out to 40 yards

Pro-Line

Mr. Longbeard...I think we run with the same crowd.

Went to a turkey shoot (paper shoot) last year. A guy was running his yap that his gun would kill turkeys at 60 yards consistently.

He was only getting half the pattern of the other shooters at 100' with #7 shot...I guess he was having a bad day...

piketon_hunter#9

410 all the way!!! a 410 was my first gun when i was five or six, im now 17 and i still love to hunt squirrels and such with it. great gun!!!!!!!!!

vaslugger

Thanks to all that responded!I bought my son who is 7 a 410 Mossberg Pump yesterday in the youth model and synthetic stock.Still kind of big for him but he will grow into it.Squirrel season came in today in Virginia and we will take it out soon as it cools down a little.Got 50 rounds of Remington 3 inch shells number 6 shot extended range.He was real happy to get it and should last him for many years.Mossberg has a 10 year warranty and made in the USA who could ask for more.Thanks for all the good information everyone! Mike

Bocajnala

great for small game in range! I love mine!