.410 vs. 20 gauge
- Thread starter BabyJ
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guntotin_fool
New member
for the most part a twenty is much more fun that a 410 uless you are really really good. for me hitting is more fun than missing and i hit for **** with a 410.
cost 20 are usually less than 410 both for equivilent guns and ammo.
recoil, really not much different 20 can be managed by anyone, a 410 is slightly less.
guns, depends on what you want, both are available in russian and east block guns for not much over a hundred, both are available in 870 expresses, and both are made in the finest kind guns of many many thousand, you get what you pay for.
as far as good shotguns tell me what you wish to pay and what you wish to do with them and i can tell you more.
cost 20 are usually less than 410 both for equivilent guns and ammo.
recoil, really not much different 20 can be managed by anyone, a 410 is slightly less.
guns, depends on what you want, both are available in russian and east block guns for not much over a hundred, both are available in 870 expresses, and both are made in the finest kind guns of many many thousand, you get what you pay for.
as far as good shotguns tell me what you wish to pay and what you wish to do with them and i can tell you more.
870 Remington Pumps
I have both 20 ga. & .410 Rem. 870 pumps. The .410 pump is my favorite squirrel gun and can deliver squirrel medicine to 45 yards with 3 inch shells. Ammo - about $8.50/25 3 inchers. Recoil not an issue. Muzzle blast-mild on the ears.
20 ga.- all around fun pump and deer slug gun. Recoil-moderate. Muzzle blast-medium/noticiable on the ears. Ammo - under $3/20 or under $4/25 shells.
Both are available as Youth models. I like the 20 ga. for deer because it won't ruin my hearing and it works. One sabot slug I recovered from a deer started at .40 cal. and mushroomed to .64 cal., rifled slugs leave an even bigger hole. No need to flinch when shooting it either.
I'd love to recommend the H&R 20 ga. single shot, rifled barrel slug gun since it's the MOST accurate, but it does have a pretty heavy barrel to carry around.
I have both 20 ga. & .410 Rem. 870 pumps. The .410 pump is my favorite squirrel gun and can deliver squirrel medicine to 45 yards with 3 inch shells. Ammo - about $8.50/25 3 inchers. Recoil not an issue. Muzzle blast-mild on the ears.
20 ga.- all around fun pump and deer slug gun. Recoil-moderate. Muzzle blast-medium/noticiable on the ears. Ammo - under $3/20 or under $4/25 shells.
Both are available as Youth models. I like the 20 ga. for deer because it won't ruin my hearing and it works. One sabot slug I recovered from a deer started at .40 cal. and mushroomed to .64 cal., rifled slugs leave an even bigger hole. No need to flinch when shooting it either.
I'd love to recommend the H&R 20 ga. single shot, rifled barrel slug gun since it's the MOST accurate, but it does have a pretty heavy barrel to carry around.
Larry Ashcraft
New member
+1 again.
'Scuse me, I got some 28s to pattern right now.
Larry...
ROFLAMAO
The inside joke is, Larry had never spent any time with a 28 ga. I tend to talk these 28 ga's up. While at the Tulsa Gun show, I assisted Larry with his first 28 ga.
I understand I created a monster. There is now a shortage of 28 ga shells in his area. Gun shops pull down the "closed" sign when they see him pull up out front. Doing night "patterning" , paying the neigbbors kids to pull targets for him...
Now I gotta find another vict....err...person to educate.
ROFLAMAO
The inside joke is, Larry had never spent any time with a 28 ga. I tend to talk these 28 ga's up. While at the Tulsa Gun show, I assisted Larry with his first 28 ga.
I understand I created a monster. There is now a shortage of 28 ga shells in his area. Gun shops pull down the "closed" sign when they see him pull up out front. Doing night "patterning" , paying the neigbbors kids to pull targets for him...
Now I gotta find another vict....err...person to educate.
dakotashooter2
New member
It would also depend on what you want to use it for. A 410 is generally a much lighter gun, nice when you will be carrying it all day. I have not used a 410 in a long time but as a kid used it for ruffed grouse, doves and small ducks at reasonable ranges (less than 25 yards). It would probably do OK on quail also. The 20 will have the advantage on larger birds at longer ranges. You do have to be a pretty good shot to be efective with the 410. If I did much dove/ruffed grouse/quail hunting any more I would likely go with Larry's idea of the 28.
Skeetin'870
New member
28ga is nice but the ammo can get expensive like 16ga 
The .410 is my "fun" gun. I have used it in the dove fields and use it regularly on skeet and sporting targets. Ammunition is MUCH more expensive for the .410 than for a 20 gauge. You give up at least 15 yards to a 20 gauge in practical range when hunting. Reloading for a .410 is a pain in the rear. The little shells don't last as long, and they are finicky about putting together good loads.
The 20 is a viable hunting gun. Shells cost the same as a 12 gauge, which is to say that they are among the least expensive. Recoil is about the same as a 12 gauge because the gun is proportionately lighter. In fact, a light 20 is a worse kicker than a standard 12. A lot of people who have not shot much 20 gauge think that, because the shell is smaller, the gun will kick less, but that just is not reality. Recoil with the .410 is a good deal less noticeable than with a 20. The shot load is about 1/2 to 2/3 that of the 20, and gun weight is typically only 10-20% lower. .410 shells are not nearly as widely available as 20's, nor are they available in nearly as many loads.
If you can only have one gun, get a 20. If you can have multiple guns, a .410 is great fun to own, carry, and use. Just use it within its limitations. I have, at last count, only one .410. It is a Wingmaster. I have five 20 gauge guns in pumps and autos. I don't yet have a 28, but when the right side by side comes along, it will be mine. The 28 gauge shells cost about the same as the .410's, by the way, and their availability is somewhat limited, so there is a downside to the 28.
Clemson
The 20 is a viable hunting gun. Shells cost the same as a 12 gauge, which is to say that they are among the least expensive. Recoil is about the same as a 12 gauge because the gun is proportionately lighter. In fact, a light 20 is a worse kicker than a standard 12. A lot of people who have not shot much 20 gauge think that, because the shell is smaller, the gun will kick less, but that just is not reality. Recoil with the .410 is a good deal less noticeable than with a 20. The shot load is about 1/2 to 2/3 that of the 20, and gun weight is typically only 10-20% lower. .410 shells are not nearly as widely available as 20's, nor are they available in nearly as many loads.
If you can only have one gun, get a 20. If you can have multiple guns, a .410 is great fun to own, carry, and use. Just use it within its limitations. I have, at last count, only one .410. It is a Wingmaster. I have five 20 gauge guns in pumps and autos. I don't yet have a 28, but when the right side by side comes along, it will be mine. The 28 gauge shells cost about the same as the .410's, by the way, and their availability is somewhat limited, so there is a downside to the 28.
Clemson
410 vs. 20?
410 guage is primo for upland birds - 3 inch #5 lead shot - pheasants & rabbits - 7 1/2 for quail and grouse.
12 guage for migratory birds.
I've owned several 20 guage shotguns, a Browning B-80 & an Ithaca O/U that come to mind that were my favorites. B-80 only took 2 3/4 inch shells, but was a very nice shooter. For a youth or female shooter it would be a great gun for upland birds.
12-34hom.
410 guage is primo for upland birds - 3 inch #5 lead shot - pheasants & rabbits - 7 1/2 for quail and grouse.
12 guage for migratory birds.
I've owned several 20 guage shotguns, a Browning B-80 & an Ithaca O/U that come to mind that were my favorites. B-80 only took 2 3/4 inch shells, but was a very nice shooter. For a youth or female shooter it would be a great gun for upland birds.
12-34hom.
.410
I'm gonna second alot of what's already been said here. The .410 has alot of good qualities: light recoil, low noise, and it comes in light guns. It's alot of fun to shoot and a challenge to break clays with. However, shells are ridiculously expensive compared to a 12ga. (Or a 20ga) and it's not nearly as versatile. Any moderately skilled shotgunner with a 20 can put everything from squirrel to deer into the pot (I'd draw the line at high flying ducks, or at trying to nail turkeys from more than 35 yds, but that's me). While a .410 is nothing to sneeze at, it takes ALOT more skill to drop upland birds with (I think we can all agree that crippled or wounded game is a bad thing), and even though a .410 slug packs the muzzle energy of a .44Mag, I'd be hesitant to try to take a deer with one.
So, what do I use mine for? The wife's Mossberg HS410, stuffed with 2 rounds of buck and 3 slugs is what she reaches for when things go bump in the night. Across the bedroom or down the hallway, I wouldn't wanna get hit with it!! While the first rabbit I ever potted was taken with a Savage combo gun in .410, most of my upland game hunting is accomplished with one of my 12ga 's. I'm comfortable that the 12ga is going to put whatever I'm shooting at on the dinner table, and I can shoot clays with it all day long and not have to go to the ATM to buy more shells.
Yes, a .410 has it's place, but, to consistently put a wider variety of food on the table for less cost in shells and less practice at the range, I'd vote for a 20ga.
I'm gonna second alot of what's already been said here. The .410 has alot of good qualities: light recoil, low noise, and it comes in light guns. It's alot of fun to shoot and a challenge to break clays with. However, shells are ridiculously expensive compared to a 12ga. (Or a 20ga) and it's not nearly as versatile. Any moderately skilled shotgunner with a 20 can put everything from squirrel to deer into the pot (I'd draw the line at high flying ducks, or at trying to nail turkeys from more than 35 yds, but that's me). While a .410 is nothing to sneeze at, it takes ALOT more skill to drop upland birds with (I think we can all agree that crippled or wounded game is a bad thing), and even though a .410 slug packs the muzzle energy of a .44Mag, I'd be hesitant to try to take a deer with one.
So, what do I use mine for? The wife's Mossberg HS410, stuffed with 2 rounds of buck and 3 slugs is what she reaches for when things go bump in the night. Across the bedroom or down the hallway, I wouldn't wanna get hit with it!! While the first rabbit I ever potted was taken with a Savage combo gun in .410, most of my upland game hunting is accomplished with one of my 12ga 's. I'm comfortable that the 12ga is going to put whatever I'm shooting at on the dinner table, and I can shoot clays with it all day long and not have to go to the ATM to buy more shells.
Yes, a .410 has it's place, but, to consistently put a wider variety of food on the table for less cost in shells and less practice at the range, I'd vote for a 20ga.
20 ga all the way. The only advantage a .410 has is in lower recoil, and if you can find some 20 ga shells with 3/4 oz of shot(seem pretty rare these days), & compare 'em with 3" .410 shells, even that advantage disappears. And $$? Price shells for each: the .410s are usually ~double what 20 or 12 ga cost- & that's at regular prices. Plus: They often put 20 ga shells on sale- I've *never* seen .410 shells on sale.
Price shells for each: the .410s are usually ~double what 20 or 12 ga cost- & that's at regular prices. Plus: They often put 20 ga shells on sale- I've *never* seen .410 shells on sale.My first shotgun was a .410 and it is what taught me how to shoot properly. If you can shoot great with a .410, you can shoot great with any shotgun.
My father was on the cover of western outdoor news years ago after winning a trap and skeet competition with a .410... the guy be beat out had a 12ga.
Now thats good shooting!
My father was on the cover of western outdoor news years ago after winning a trap and skeet competition with a .410... the guy be beat out had a 12ga.
Now thats good shooting!