.410 vs Muzzle loader for a youth deer gun

[Badge54]

I was going to take my son deer hunting with his .410.  We missed it but muzzle loader is coming at the end of the season.  Do you think the .50 loaded with .45s in sabot would kick too hard for a ten year old?  What load would you recommend for a lighter kicking load that would take a whitetail. 

I have a blackpowder but would buy him one and back him up.  Mine is scoped and shoot the .50 cal 300 grainers at with 3x 50 grain pellets.

Pellets are ok in the Handi muzzle loader right?
I usually don't have many questions but this is one of the few areas of firearms I'm not too familiar with.

Badge54

[Keith Lewis]

As long as you are hunting deer you can stay with a fairly light bullet which will increase the velocity over a heavier one and reduce the recoil as recoil is directly related to bullet weight. You can certainly come up with a .50cal. muzzleloader load that would outperform any .410 and have the same or less felt recoil. It sort of depends on how big your son is. If he can handle a heavier rifle that will also help keep the recoil down. The NEF is a fairly light rifle but will do the job but I would recommend the longer barrel one just to increase the rifle weight. A Limbsaver recoil pad will also make the rifle a lot easier on the shooter. I am somewhat recoil sensitive due to damage I did to the body racing motorcycles so I put limbsaver pads on everything I own.

[MSP Ret]

Keith Lewis is right on the money, also there is no deer that I have ever seen that needs 150 grains of BP or substitute. Get your son set up with a fairly lightweight full .50 caliber projectile and about 80 grains of BP or Pyrodex. it will be very accurate, very deadly, and won't kick much, save the 150 grains of propellant for Pachyderms in the pussywillows ....<><....

[Badge54]

Thanks for the replies.  My 150s are for me and reaching out at the range, I just like thumping stuff.  I wouldn't do that to my son.

There is no problem using the pellets in the Handi is there? 

Badge54

[Keith Lewis]

As for the pellets in the NEF type rifles. I don't think there is any problem however I just do not like pellets and they are a little harder to ignite than loose. If it is Pyrodex pellets make sure to get them in the right side up with the black powder end on the bottom. I would use a fairly hot primer with pellets. Maybe Federal standard 209's as they are the hottest. With loose powder I would back down a little from the Federals and maybe go with the special muzzleloading ones.

[billy_56081]

  My son shot hundreds of rounds of the Lee modern minie out of my very light weight CVA bobcat when he was 10. He shot 50 grains of clean shot and the bullet is about 350 grains. It kicks very little and would be a very effective load on deer. I'd say build up a powder charge that is accurate and doesn't get into the heavier recoil will @ about a 300 grain bullet or larger and watch him knock the snot out of a deer. I've used the same combination on deer with 60 grains and it knocks the snot out of deer with that big flat face on the bullet.

  The H&R muzzleloader will work fine with pelets I'd suggest trying one pellet and maybe a powerbelt for ease of loading for the young man. As long as you can find an accurate load the power of the round is much less important than placement.

[mrsfroghunter]

Billy;

Top of the day to you! I agree muzzle loader with .50 would do him okay! I say this because it was a draw back with me in august 2006 I had open heart surgery! i was just getting my bearing's back and was kinda stay in away from the muzzle loader because no matter what anyone said I thought it would kick too much for me and I was very reserved about even using it for fear of open up chest again! But one day Frog hunter my husband said you know you'll have to get over that fear! So Yes we went out to the range and zero her in at 50 yards! I did just fine and now I'm ready to go again! But i understand your son ,I too have a 10 year old daughter whom right now shoots 20 gage and has a 410. Then Our 6 year old son shoots 410 and 22 he likes his 410 he Say's 22 abit much for him right now! I guess you had to be there to see expression on his face at the skeet and trap range! LOl
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Mrs. FrogHunter

[Jal5]

You cant beat my Sidekick 2pellets pyrodex+ powerbelt 295gr. Remington primer for ML.
very accurate & gentle recoil.