.410 for Turkey

[akfireman]

I have a 10 YO lightweight/small framed son, that is scared to shoot the 12/20 GA.     Would the .410 take down the bird ethically???

[bobcat]

Just guessing but I think it would work up to about 15 yards. But you'd have to pattern it to be sure.

[zike]

A 410 might do the job, but a 28ga would work a lot better. It would be a better wing shooting gun too. I've taken a few ducks with my 28 ga.

[RadSav]

Problem with the 410 is getting a good enough choke.  But if you hunt from a blind or can get 10 yards a standard full would probably be ok.  I'd try to find someone who could load you some nickel plated #5 or #6 pretty hot.  But, if the boy is fearful, perhaps it isn't such a bad thing to just wait a year or two

[redi]

A .410 can kill a turkey at close range but I wouldn't recommend it. I have found that a .410 will sometimes kick more than a 20 gauge since the .410 can be much lighter. You will have better shot patterns with a 20 gauge and almost twice as many pellets. A good recoil pad and a gun with correct stock length so the gun is on the shoulder will make your gun of choice much better to shoot. I have several .410 shotguns and use one single shot for grouse with good results. The shells for a .410 field load are about 12 to 16 dollars per box of 25 while the 20 and 12 gauge run about 6 or 7 dollars.

[PA BEN]

I have 5 daughters and all have killed deer, 3 have shot turkeys. 8 and 9 is when they started hunting. I told them you will never feel the gun kick when you are shooting an animal. The first words each one said after their first shot at an animal was "I didn't feel the kick". I started them on a 243 and a 20ga pump for turkeys. show him these pictures.

[Oliverharrelson]

A lot of good info on old gobbler about 410s

http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/board,115.0.html

[nwwanderer]

Same velocity as your 12, check that pattern, not very many pellets.  Good to 40 if you know what it does.  Good stuff on Oldgobbler