Question: I am introducing my twelve-year-old daughter to the shotgunning sports. I thought about getting her a .410 bore shotgun to start out but am worried about the difficulties of hitting anything with this small gun. Any advice?

Chuck P., Plymouth.

Answer: I do not recommend a .410 for just that reason. I would recommend an over-and-under 28 gauge that is either built for a small person or fitted to your daughter. Fit is very important. You don't need to spend a fortune and you can save money by buying used. A ‘plain Jane' Stoeger Arms or American Arms will set you back about $300. On upland birds, a 28 gauge can compete against any of the other gauges without the weight or kick of bigger guns. I shoot one regularly.

Charlie Linblade

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