Youth turkey help

Hi guys. I need some advice. My nephew just pasted his hunter education class this past weekend. I want to take him turkey hunting next month. My question is a 410 big enough for turkey. His shoots would be less then 30 yards. Thanks guys.

Muliefanatic

LAST EDITED ON Mar-06-17 AT 05:45PM (MST)[p]IMO and it is mine alone. A 410 will kill turkeys. A 20ga will kill turkeys. A 16 ha will kill turkeys. A 12ga will kill turkeys. A 10ga will obliterate turkeys lol. But will a small child be able to kill turkeys with a 410. Yes. I would limit the range form 20-25 tho. And with a 20ga stretch it out to 30. But a 20ga would be a lot better choice with a mild load.

Thomas

I agree with you. I think a 20 gauge would be better. It's just that we got a 12 gauge and a 410. He can shoot the 12 gauge it just to long for him to control it safely. Thanks for the input. Keep it coming guys I really appreciate it.

Just make sure they are turkey loads, but I would lean toward a 20 gauge with turkey loads at the least

How old is your boy?

Yes a 410 can kill a turkey; of course you would want good shot placement, good heavy load to shoot, and a reasonable distance for the shot.

I can only tell you what I have learned from my experience. When I was a kid was I started off with a 410 like lots of other people have been. Since them days I have done a lot of hunting with a shotgun. I personally would not start a kid off with a 410, if I had my choice. To me the kids have a lot better chance of being successful and enjoying the experience with a 20 gauge than with a 410. I suggest start a kid with a good tripod; they usually are not strong enough to hold the gun up and be steady for a shot. This is what I did with my daughter. She was a pretty small kid when she started hunting at 10 years old. I had my daughter start with a 20 gauge. I had her shoot off of a tripod at a target with dove loads, and then moved up to pheasant loads. She shot her first turkey load when she killed her first turkey. She has been lucky enough to get three turkeys; and has been dove, quail, and pheasant hunting with her 20 gauge. If you look down this forum a little ways for the one titled "Recommendations for a Bird Taxidermist" there is a picture of her biggest turkey. Not telling you what to do, but maybe you know someone with a 20 gauge you can borrow that will work. Another great resource about hunting with a kid is NMPaul and others on here too. Good luck to you and nephew.
Thanks, SWB

A 410 at 20 to 30 yds with a shot to the head will kill a turkey Dead. use #4 or bigger shot. Have killed a bunch with a 410. The key is you have to be CLOSE!!
Jack

The tripod is a good idea. I have my boys shooting off a Caldwell Dead Shot. Makes all the difference. My 10 year old has killed a cow elk and a stink pig off of it and my 8 year old took a stink pig with it. For small kids I wouldn't have them hunt any other way. Kind of a pain to lug around but it makes a huge difference. My oldest took the cow at 140 yards and the pig at 160. Both heart shots.

Thank you guys lots of good advice. He is 10 years old. This weekend we will do some practice and see how he does with the 12 gauge off a rest. Thanks again.

I have never used a .410, but I am sure it would do the job after you have patterned it and know its limitations. My boys use .20 out to 50 yards using Federal 3inch #4 shot with the flight control wad with great success. All shots on animals have been 20-40 yards, but it patterns very well out to 50 yards. If Federal makes .410 turkey loads with the flight control wad, I would recommend patterning to see how that fairs out of your shotgun.

let your nephew shoot and feel what is comfortable for him

but congrats to him passed the test...