RFI - 20 gauge to 410 adaptor

[Desk Jockey]

My summer project is to teach the kids (9 & 11) to shoot guns. We have started with the basics on bb guns and will move to 22s next and progress to 223 on the rifle side. I want to intro shotguns soon but don't want to buy a new gun and am worried a bit about recoil on the 20 gauges I have. I looked into low power loads but also saw adaptors that will shoot 410 in a 20 gauge gun. I think it might be a good transition step.

Any body have any experience they can share?

Here are a few options I found:

Shotgun Adapter 20 Gauge to 410/45 Colt-Gunadapters.com

Our Smooth Bore 20 Gauge to 410/45 Colt Chamber Adapter provides the Versatility your Shotgun needs at a Price that can’t be Beat!

www.gunadapters.com

AmericanSpecialtyAmmo.com

 

[howl]

Fiocchi sells a trainer load that is .410 power. The seven year old will shoot about three of the Fiocchi shells before tiring of it. That's enough to practice for turkey and sq. Wingshooting isn't on the menu for them for years yet.

You can also get a pistol or rimfire adapter for the shotgun. My kids like the 22lr adapter in an ultralight .410.

 

[rayporter]

if they are really ready for it the 20 wont bother them. if you are rushing it..........

 

[Desk Jockey]

if they are really ready for it the 20 wont bother them. if you are rushing it..........

Hmmmm. So you think I ought to take them out and have them touch off a few rounds of 20 gauge to see if they are ready yet? Bang. Flinch. Ouch. Oh well. Try again next year.

Not sure if it came through in the original post, but I am trying to ease them into shooting from a zero base. Last thing I want to do is create issues with recoil sensitivity. I am progressing through BB guns to 22 to light centerfire rifles in order to build them up slowly. When I start them shooting shotguns, I want something with a soft kick - a 410 or low power 20 gauge loads. I have 20 gauges and don’t want to buy a 410 (that would only be useful for a couple of years) to do the same progression for shotguns to walk them up to full power 20 gauge loads. Hence, I am looking for perspectives on 410/20 adapters and low power 20 gauge loads. Thanks.

 

[rayporter]

no sir.

if you are pushing them to shoot a shotgun before they are ready you are going to create a problem.

if they want to shoot it they wont care. I was not allowed to have a 410 -my first shotgun was a 20. and I hunted with it in third grade. 2 of us would talk of how many squirrels we got each day--no one believed us.

 

[codym]

I would wait on the shotgun if your not wanting to buy a youth gun. Fit in a shotgun is paramount. The chamber mates will be fine for a break action gun to mess around on stationary targets. For shooting clays or birds I would wait until they can handle a full size shotgun or spring for a youth gun. There’s some really in expensive youth shotguns out there. I think your smart considering recoil first but second should definitely be fit. It’s not fun to miss a bunch.