Re: 20 or 410

-----Original Message-----
From: Rec.hunting discussion list [mailto:HUNTING@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On
Behalf Of Trail Shredder
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 11:29 PM
To: HUNTING@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: 20 or 410


Is a 20 gauge shotgun to much for an 11 yr old girl? Should I consider a
..410 instead?


There are so many factors to consider: (i) What is the intended use? If the
shotgun is just to be a present to carry wihen going out with dad, the
lighter 410 will do to take an occasional shot at a small bird or close up
rabbit. If however the girl is serious about actually shooting ducks with
it, why not rather consider a 12Ga? True a 12 ga will shove a small 11 year
old girl somewhat, but it will also teach her good gun mounting habits from
the first try. Light loads and a good recoil pad, and a PROPER FITTING GUN
make a 12 ga recoil quite acceptable. If, for whatever reason the girl is
already afraid of recoil, then only very patient teaching and a relatively
heavy gun with a good recoil pad and the lightest loads you can find is the
only gun to try. But then you must also teach that the load is not really
adequate for many heavier birds, and effective range is very limited. The
attitude about actually shooting at and killing a flying bird is one thing,
but so is the attitude of shooting at the same bird when it is out of
effective range and wounding it. Then the personality of the girl: Is she
the patient type that will be prepared to wait, practice and practice
restraint in target selection? If so, a mild recoil 410 may be all that is
required as a first gun. However the type of girl who wants to "perform" and
go out with dad and on her first outing want to limit out, may be quite
prepared to accept the shoving around that a full house 12 ga load would
give her.

Dont take my thoughts as gospel, just realize that there are many factors to
consider. By the time you have thought through them all and drafted a fully
motivated question to post here, you may well have come to the "correct"
conclusion yourself.

Good luck with the teaching, training and education required to welcome and
another young hunter into the community of hunters.

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren.

Andrew McLaren Safaris at http://www.mclarensafaris.com - The #1 choice of
budget-conscious and ethical trophy hunters who wish to experience the
life-changing thrill of African hunting on a custom South African plains
game, varminting or wingshooting safari.

"A good hunt is worth whatever you pay for it. A bad hunt is not worth the
time spent on it"



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