Thread: 20ga or 410 for beginners?

My boy and I are going have crack at duck hunting this year. He is 14 and I haven't been out for at least 16 years.

I'm thinking of getting him a single shot which I'll trim and add a slip-on recoil pad. Should I get a 410 or 20ga?

410 can shot lead and has very little recoil, but perhaps a bit hopeless as a game gun, and just allows him a painless bang if nothing else. 20ga will kick a lot more for him but will allow to actually kill ducks if he does his thing right. At this stage I'm leaning toward 20ga, a wee single shot could make a good bunny gun for us as well.

I don't want to spend to much as the whole duck shooting thing may not be what he/we are in to, just going to give it a go this season. I'll be using my old SKB 1300 12ga for ducks.

I figure 28ga or 16ga too expensive for ammo and I imagine 16 will boot more than 20. Thoughts?