I would like to get a shotgun to try my hand at informal clay shooting at Stafford forge with my 9-year-old son.

Would a 410 like the Mossberg 510 Super Bantam be worth considering for clays?

 

On a slghtly unrelated note, can the fancy defensive 410 ammo for the Judge series of pistols be used out of a shotgun? Not that home defense is really needed, just a question.

 

Thanks for your thoughts.

20 gauge for clay shooting

 

either for HD

 

Since the judge revolvers came on the scene, 410 ammo is extremely expensive.

410 is quite challenging for clays. The number of pellets in one shell is significantly less than a 20 ga.

 

#9 shot has 585 pellets per 1 oz.

 

12 ga usually packs 1-1/8 oz of shot in one shell for target loads = 658 pellets

20 ga ranges from 7/8 to 1 oz = 512 to 585 pellets

410 bore is ~1/2 oz = 292 pellets

Definitely go with a 20 ga. Your son can grow into the gun as opposed to growing out of it. There's nothing wrong with a .410, I just think the 20 ga. is better. A 20 ga. is perfect to boost confidence at the early stages as it helps gain anyone's interest when they are doing well. Some .410's can be a frustrating experience for a beginner shooter. If you reload shotshells, you can make light 3/4 oz. reloads @ 1050FPS-1100FPS that are easy on young shoulders yet still offer enough shot to make consistent hits on clays at most ranges. .410 & 28 ga. shells will always be more expensive. And they are not offered in as many loads or varieties as the others. Standard payloads in a 20 ga. normally run from 7/8 oz. to 1 1/8 oz. in 2 3/4" shells. And up to 1 1/4 oz. in 3" shells.

 

I started out my three with a 20 ga. with a short stock, using light 3/4 oz. reloads, and they were breaking clays confidently after a couple of sessions; and enjoying themselves!

20 it is then. Thanks.

I reload 12GA to 28 gauge (3/4oz) specs and it kicks like a 410 (this is because the gun is proportionally very heavy)

 

We use 20GA youth remington lt-20s (1100s) for the kids for the hunters ed program

BSA uses 20ga pump guns for clays and youths never have a problem with them. You can also use it to hunt with in the future should you/your son decide to try that. I was hunting with a 20ga bolt action with no issues shooting buckshot at 10yrs old. I was not a big kid, either.