A Bantam is a shotgun sized for smaller shooters, and this one is chambered in.410 bore. The Mossberg 500 Bantam Slugster has a 20-inch barrel, a 3-inch chamber and a matte blue finish, for around five hundred seventy-five dollars. It is a pump action.

Youth hunters start with.410 because of its light recoil. A 3-inch.410 slug can take a deer at close range if rules allow, but it gives less energy than a larger gauge, so keep shots short and shot placement careful. Check North Carolina rules on slug use and caliber before you hunt.

The Bantam stock has a shorter length of pull than a standard Mossberg, which helps a young shooter shoulder the gun properly. The 500 action is simple and well known, and the Slugster setup gives iron sights for slugs. A pump gun also teaches a new hunter to slow down and make each shot count.

Bring the youngster to the range first and let them shoot a few shells at a target. Keep the gun clean and stored safely. This shotgun is new. It ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer for the background check and transfer.