My maternal grandfather, Pete, got a H&R 410 for Christmas in 1918 when he was 9 years old. He promtly carved H. C. 1918 in the stock. (My brother, Hunter, who was named after him now has it, probably rusting in his garage.) Pete used to for birds (quail) and many times he would leave his house in Reform, Al and walk with a dog and a companian towards his Aunt's house in Stansel, five miles to the south. More often than not, they would have to pull the dogs off point after reaching their limit of 50 birds. (What one one give today to kill 50 wild quail with a single shot 410?) He gave me use of the gun @ age 8 but I do not recall killing much at all flying with it. I was also allowed to shoot the 20 ga LC Smith that my father got from Santa when he was 12. (I will never forget my first wood duck that I killed with it. A number 4 maroon RP shotshell.) By 10 I had my own Sweet 16 and things begain to fall with some regularity. I now a have a Model 42 and an LC Smith 410 but I am not good enough to shoot them at doves and only use them on opening day morning shoots when I know there will be a lot of doves and limits need to be adhered to. The 410 Smith is my favorite rabbit gun. I started my son on a cut down 20 LC Smith that was graciously given to me for that purpose by a kind stranger on this board from California. It never seemed to work right but was a big improvement over the single barrel 20 I borrowed from his 1st cousin. (It was hard to cock and kicked something awfull even with hand loaded 3/4 oz loads.) I finally settled on a youth 1100 that had already been coverted with a LH safety. (Both my older children are RH with L eye dominate. I caught it early and Ty began he shooting LH with his Orvis cap gun at age 4.) He was taught to use it as a "real gun" and aways treated it as such. He killed his first dove flying @ 8 and shot his first limit at nine. He has always been welcome at any shoot I have taken him on and there has NEVER been any safety issue. (He often points out safety issues with other far older hunters in confidence to me.) He may be the exception but I hate to hear anyone discount hunters at a specifc age. I have seen too many grown men show up at hunts and have to be shown how to put their fine doubles together. (References, for Ty, upon request, some from people who make their living putting on dove shoots here in Alabama and across the line in MS.) He is now 15 and out shoots me with a BPS 12 gauge. (Top safety, bottom ejetor perfect LH gun) He also does well with my 20 ga Citori and would probaly do well with most of my doubles. At the 101 year old gun club that I belong, he may take both the youth trophy as well as the SR. (Er Shelly cup this fall. Er. Shelley was an early member of the club that got the dogs together for the lion and tiger hunts in Africa that he ramrodded for Mr. Rainey) I bought my first 28 in 1979, a Webley & Scott 728. I killed hundreds of doves with it until I was convinced that the 25" barrels were too short. A 28" Red Label followed and then a Parker repo with 28" barrels st grip and spinter.(ordered from Guns Unlimited, the same day I got the sale flyer from Jaques.) I promptly had it restocked with French Walnut and shoud be the only gun that I shoot. Bottom line, I started with a 410 but would not handicap any new gunner with one. The youth 1100 with little recoil is the way to go. I like the safety feature of a break open gun but the 1100 can be plugged to a single shell and the zero recoil coupled with a decent pattern is the best combo in my opinion. If you are depending on the gun for safety, you are out of the loop from the git go. (It is only MHO but it IS based on experience.)
