I used a Stevens bolt action 410 until I was 8 and complained that I couldn’t kill ducks. My dad let me use his dad’s 1908 LC Smith double 12 and I still haul it out when I absolutely positively need to hit something flying. I had a permanent bruise on my arm from that long stock until I finally grew into it in high school.
I still use the 410 for snowshoe hares and forest grouse. My wife has a tiny double barrel from South Africa that she loves. My boy has a 12 ga Greener on a Martini action.
To make a 410 a better killer, use 4 or 5 shot. You aren’t going to hit something with a lot of pellets so each pellet better have higher energy and the larger shot gives that.
Those Greener GP’s are a hoot. Annoys trapshooters (that doesn’t take much), but if the Zulus attack they’ll be glad I’m there.