A good day

[Wolfer]

Today was my 8 yr old buddy's first day squirrel hunting. We didn't see many and they weren't very cooperative but Parker managed to close the deal anyway.
This may have been better than my first squirrel.

NEF single barrel, 444 Marlin brass, cereal box wads over powder and over shot with a little Elmers glue. Red shot cup, don't know the brand offhand.

[toallmy]

Well done That's as good as life gets .

[merlin101]

In the years to come that pic will be priceless, just like the grin on his face!

[rodwha]

Nice indeed!

Let me make sure I'm on the same page...

This is a .444 Marlin you loaded with shot? Not unlike a .410? And through a rifled barrel?

If this is the case I'm quite curious how it patterns and at what range as I've not known a rifled bore to produce anything but a doughnut pattern beginning around 5 yds or so.

That smile is priceless and a memory that will last!

[Wolfer]

No, this is a 410 shotgun with 410 loads in 444 brass.

[rodwha]

Gotcha

[Ole Joe Clarke]

Great photo, a yard wide grin. I love it.

[white eagle]

Nice...

[BrentD]

Sweet deal!

[WFO2]

That's one proud looking young man .

[marshall623]

Awesome, that will be a memory that will last a lifetime.

[richhodg66]

This is great! I think you have a hunter for life there.

[Pine Baron]

That smile is priceless.

[CWME]

Looks like you have good company and a beautiful place to hunt.

[TXGunNut]

Good job, both of you! Thanks for posting that great pic. I think Mag-Tech or someone did a run of .410 brass recently, a bit longer than the .444 to hold a bit more shot or powder.

[Wolfer]

Thanks guys
If all goes well we are going camping Saturday. His dad will be bow hunting and me and Parker will harass the bushy tailed fauna of Shannon co.

I believe this may be the young lads first time at deer camp. His dad and I were born to hunt. I believe the young lad shares the same affliction.

[Wolfer]

I had thought about ordering some of the mag-tec brass but Arms and Ammo is only a mile from my house and they had 444 in stock.
I have some factory 3" hulls to work with but I wanted the shorter loads because my youngest grandkids are 4 and 6.
Anytime Parker is at my house he likes to shoot my daughters little cricket 22. He's a surprislingly good shot with it and a couple weeks ago I had him try the 410. After watching him shoot a few I thought that boy could kill a squirrel if it would cooperate just a little.

The gun shot high so I soldered a ramp on the front and a peep on the back. I've had good luck with kids and this setup. I stress that they have to see the bead thru the little hole or they will miss.

[Mk42gunner]

Good point on seeing the bead through the hole. My H&R Topper Model 58 from the early 1970's shot high enough (and a tight enough pattern) to miss if you didn't nestle the bead in the groove on the receiver.

Yes it took me a while to figure that out as a kid. Once I learned to shoot it like a rifle, it was a very good gun.

Robert

[Messy bear]

That peep setup is a great idea for the little fellers!

[Wolfer]

Well we went to hunting camp this last weekend. Parker didn't close the deal on any squirrels. We had several opportunities for someone with more experience but they just wouldent set still long enough for him.
If a fellow was looking for a challenge he should just take an 8 yr old squirrel hunting. It was a hoot. This was his first night in a tent and early on he heard a bear outside the tent and insisted on sleeping in the same bag as his dad. None of us heard the bear and the food we left outside wasn't bothered but he insisted it was a big bear and not a little bear.
Grand times!