Introducing a kid to shotguns with a .410 is perfectly acceptable, as long as you monitor his progress closely and he understands it's limitations. Great for squirrels and rabbits for a beginner, and fully capable of bagging a limit of doves or quail when used properly.
My 9 year old grandson, in his first year of wingshooting this year took 28 doves with a .410 S x S. I moved him up to the 20 ga. the last two shoots with results being about the same, or less, than with the .410.
The little guns are deadly in the hands of a good shot, who naturally will use it within it's limitations. I dare say that more potential shotgunners have given it up due to poor, or non-existent coaching, than by the limitations of a .410.
If you aren't capable of using the .410 properly, leave it to the hands of those who are. But, don't badmouth it just because you read something somewhere you like the sound of, or you won't go to the trouble to learn to shoot it and estimate range. I'm a great fan of Buckingham, and he was purportedly a great shot, but he was not an expert on everything shotgun, IMO.
SRH
