My nine year old daughter wants to deer hunt this year and I don't have a gun for her. We are a shotgun only state, and we have to use slugs. She is 4'2" tall and weighs around 60lbs. Any ideas on a gun that she will be able to handle not just for the one shot under hunting situations, but also for the days at the range getting sighted in and used to shooting? Thanks for any help!!

Oh, my!

I would say you're only choice is a semi-auto, in order to keep the recoil under control (a 20 ga with slugs is about equivalent to an '06 rifle.....).

With that limitation, I would suggest the Remington 1100 youth, 20 gauge. I would also strongly suggest you do not let her shoot it "off the bench". Standing shots only (with a rest is fine), and preferably only at "reactive" targets (milk jugs, and such). For some reason, watching the target blow up reduces recoil....!

I have a 9 year old and a 11 year old that are both hunting for the first time this year. It really is borderline for the 9 year old, strength wise and the ability to handle recoil. HTH, Dutch.

Thanks dutch,
What do you think about a .410 if we kept shots @ 40yds and under? We normally don't get shots any longer than this where we hunt anyways.

I have no experience with the 410, but if memory serves correctly, it is somewhere in the 45Long Colt category with slugs? If that's true, with careful shot placement and at 40 yards, it should be near perfect for her. Here's wishing her luck! Dutch.

Thanks again and good luck to you and your children also!!!!

I have kids too..all have started out on the Rem
1100 20 gauge. Great gun, little recoil and it fits em perfect. You can even get Youth stocks. I am even looking for another one at this moment!Cant say enough about em..Although it IS a repeating gun..muzzle control, safety is a MUST!

m1rage,

I've seen quite a few deer taken with the .410, It "shouldn't work" but it does- and pretty well too.

At 60 pounds the .410 might be the only option. Recoil is really minimal. One thing to be carful of is overheating those tiny tubes- POI will walk. When I sighting mine in I let the barrel cool completely between shots.

Mossberg has a new Slugster out in .410. Basicly a shortened VR barrel with rifle sights. I saw one last week at a local store for around $250. If you can find a used VR barrel have it cut off and use rib sights for the same effect and less money.

Yuo can also stop by the .410 slug forum at
http://www.dougs410slugs.wxs.org

BH

Not cheap, but I think TC makes a 28 Ga barrel for the Encore. I have not checked but someone on the internet must have 28 ga slugs. I know Ballistic Products sells 28 Ga slugs for reloading.

Just a thought.

Well - I have looked now and can't find a 28 Ga slug in loaded ammunition.

Scratch that idea.

[ 11-01-2003, 07:06: Message edited by: trigger ]

I would offer her a Ithaca 37 pump with the Slug barrel in 20 Ga. I have a 12 GA. This shotgun also is drilled and tapped for scope mounts either on the receiver or rings that attached to the rear sight on the barrel (Long Eye Relief Scope).

Look at the NEF Handi-Rifle assortment of guns.

[URL=http://www.hr1871.com[/URL]

One of the suggestions above was regarding the comparison of the .45 Colt to the .410.

New England Firearms/H&R/Mossberg makes a version of their "SB1" shotgun called the "Survivor" in a .45C/.410 combo. For a 60# 9YO, I wonder how well a "SB2 Handi-Rifle" would work for your daughter, if fitted with a .45C/.410 barrel?

The "Survivor's" barrel is 16 1/2 inches long and is rifled, so it complies with federal "1934 NFA" requirements which defines this gun as a rifle and not a shotgun, and would still be easily managed by such a young shooter. My thought is, "How well would this barrel work for shooting .410 slugs?" I realize the .452 bore might be too large for a .410 slug.

Usually an owner of a rig like this would shoot .410's after inserting the screw-in choke-like muzzle brake, that literally stops the spinning .410 shot-column before existing the muzzle. Otherwise the centrifical force of the spinning shot would instantly distort into a "donut" any kind of a useable pattern in the .410 when shooting birdshot. To shoot .45C revolver rounds, the "choke" is removed to avoid hindering normal barrel dynamics when shooting a .451-.452 diameter projectile.

I'm impressed with the versatility of the NEF-system of the HANDI-RIFLE, and think it might be an ideal solution for a beginning hunter and shooter when looking for a versatile, but inexpensive way to put together a working "battery" of guns, or gun barrels.

However!

DO NOT STIFLE YOUR DAUGHTER AND YOURSELF by restricting "versatility" to NEF shotguns. Get an NEF "SB2" rifle instead!

Almost any NEF shotgun barrels can be fitted to the SB2 Handi-Rifle action (except 10 gauge barrels), but the reverse is not true. Rifle barrels CANNOT be adapted to the shotgun receiver. The SB1 receiver can't handle the higher rifle pressures.

Look oinly at "SB2" type guns.

But check out these NEF single-shot guns for yourself. NEF Handi-Rifles retail new for $200-$225, but are often seen used in good condition at gunshows. Fitting them at the factory with additional barrels takes four to eight weeks however. This late date in the season might forsee such a combination as this being better used next year.

Let us know what you decide, would ya'? Best wishes!

[ 11-24-2003, 04:07: Message edited by: Cougar ]

I'd vote for the mossberg 500 in 410

Better make sure .410 is legal for deer hunting in your state first. In Illinois it isn't.

m1rage,

Curious, what did you decide to do?

This past weekend was the first Ohio "early" season for young deer hunters. I stayed out of the woods until after 10 so I wouldn't mess up the youngsters. I figured there would be a lot of them but I saw very, very few. Kind of sad.

BH

410 slugs aren't legal in MD either. Try a sims vibration lab recoil pad on whatever gun you choose. I put one on my Encore and like it alot. Good luck.