a 410 shotgun for an adult?

D

dalegribble

New member
i had an old bolt action 410 shotgun when i was a kid. it was fun, helped me learn to shoot but i never really hunted with it.

is the 410 actually practical for hunting birds or rabbits? do any of you guys hunt with a 410 and what do you hunt?

i have seen some o/u's, sxs's, pumps and semi autos in the gun racks of some local stores and for some reason i am being drawn to them. maybe even one of those 22/410 o/u survival guns.

i have a few 12 and 20 ga shotguns of different types and actions so i really don't need a 410, so why do i keep thinking about getting one?
 
Verona LX702 chokes recut to Skeet x Skeet. I use mine for quail hunting. I don't understand why the manufacturers insist on tight chokes for the 410's; they will never be 50 yard guns so they shouldn't be choked as 50 yard guns. That's my opinion but there are quite a few quail that have fallen victim to that opinion. Avoid full choke if you want to hunt anything other than squirrels and sitting rabbits with one. A 410 will make you choose your shots as you have range and payload limitations. They can also frustrate the hell out of you if you try taking marginal shots as you will miss or not drop your quarry. Shells cost more than a 12 or 20 gauge, the manufacturers generally load them with soft shot, and they also are generally wed to stuffing as much shot into a shell at the expense of velocity.

My experience with the "survival" 22 /410 combos is the triggers suck, are counter intuitive to use (four finger squeeze up), and the useability is quite limited.

If you want to challenge your self and hone your wing shooting skills, a 410 is the ticket. If you can consistently break 20's or better on skeet with a 410, you can be doing 25's with a 12 as you will have learned to be right on target and quickly.

I have pumps and O/U's in both 12 and 20 in my hunting battery to choose from in addition to my 410.

Just my 2 quarters worth.....inflation and fees have raised the cost.
 
.300 Weatherby Mag said:
It makes you pick your shots...
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True, but it's not like you can indiscriminately shoot at everything you see with a 12 gauge, unless you enjoy wasting ammo.
 
I've shot rabbits, grouse, woodchucks all with a .410. I've even used a .410 encore pistol on about 30 rabbits with no problem. The biggest benefit can be a lighter gun with the smaller frame, but the biggest factor is patterning the gun. With some loads at 25 yards a direct shot might produce no hits.
 
I don't use mine to hunt, but I know a few that do. I've got an old h&r that was sold as a Bridge Black Prince. And I have a Taurus/Rossi Circuit Judge and it's pretty neat. I have a thing for revolving long guns and it's a great gun.
I know people that hunt with .410 shooting squirrel. But a few use them for deer shooting slugs, but it's because they can't afford a rifle and just want a cheap gun.
 
Why a .410 ....because you can ....

but like others said ....I think most of the lower end guns are a poor idea. Get a good pump gun ...or maybe a good O/U in a .410 ...and make sure it fits you .....and yes, if you have some good pointing dogs, shooting a .410 for Quail isn't a bad idea....although I prefer a 28ga...

but sure, if you can shoot a .410 at Skeet ...and break a majority of targets ( at least in the 20's out of 25 ) you can use it for hunting...probably with 8's or maybe 7 1/2's...

Some of the bigger sporting clays shoots ...have .410 events ...and I've done reasonably well with my .410 with 1/2oz of 8's for sporting clays. I have a Browning O/U with changeable screw in chokes ...so its very versatile ...and in the field, I'd want a gun with changeable screw in chokes so you can adjust for the range a little ..with your pattern size and density...for whatever kill range you find is optimum that day ...if birds are holding or not.
 
"i really don't need a 410, so why do i keep thinking about getting one? "

Because you haven't discovered the 28 gauge yet? :)
 
If owning a 410 would make you happier than life without one, go buy it. period end of story. That said the only use mine gets is for squirrels.
 
A 410 is really fine for light game to 25 yards or less if you can center your pattern. I killed a few jacks with #6 1/2 oz shells when I was a kid and it dropped them pretty good at 20 to 30 feet. Beyond 25 yards you'll want a 20 guage or bigger. I have seen pretty impressive performance at the skeet range by guys who load their own shells and shoot the heck out of their 410s.... It is a great choice for a survival kit where weight is a factor such as the M6 scout. For anything bigger than quail, I like the full choke just fine...
 
I have an old H&R Topper model 158 with a full choke, and it's my go to early season rabbit gun. Took 11 shots with it this past season- hit rabbits 11 times. Was using Rem. #6, 2 1/2" shells. The major limitation of a .410 for rabitts is distance- 30 yards at best.
Originally posted by SHR970:
Avoid full choke if you want to hunt anything other than squirrels and sitting rabbits with one.
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For me, this was untrue. Tagged 3 running cottontails this year with my fully choked .410. I've not used the gun for quail as it is only a single shot, but I might try it next season.
 
loads

My Dad and I killed a bunch of rabbits ( and I mean like truck load) with .410's when I was a kid. We had a pair of beagles, good dogs, and hunted a lot. My best memories with Dad.

We used a variety of guns, a Win 37, a Mossberg bolt, a Savage bolt, and the last was a Springfield pump. The bolt guns both were largely junk. We had a loaner of unknown make that was a dandy pump, but $80 dollars used..Dad said was to much, and we didn't buy it. Gosh, I hope it wasn't a Win 42!!!!!

We used one load and one load only. The 3" shell and 7-1/2 shot. The big problem with .410 is that folk insist on using shot that is to big. Even a load of #6 is pretty thin in the lightly loaded .410. And folks insist on the short 2.5" shell too!.

I still have the Win 37, and have bought a Rem Express .410 that I am largely satisfied with. To 30 yds, they worked, then, and still do on bunnies.
 
I hated all those old bolt action .410s my uncle traded into and out of 50 years ago.

I still have a Win 37.
 
Why not a .410? It's lighter and you can carry more shells in your pocket or bag. The .410 is as accurate as any shotgun, just fewer pellets delivered down range. That's why most are full choke.
 
The only shotgun my father owned is a Mossberg .410 bolt. He's used it for everything up to and including duck with a scary rate of success. But he does pass up alot of shots. And when everykid in the neighborhood was getting a .410 as their first shotgun, dad bought me a 20. He said the .410 is what you use once you learn, not to learn with.
 
Many experienced gun writers have rightly stated that a .410 is for experienced shooters not for beginners because the limitations of the tiny and thin shot pattern calls for very good shot placement compared to a 12 or 20 gauge. On small birds like quail where small shot gives a denser payload and adequate penetration the .410 can shine. When shooting at bunnies or squirrels, I disagree with using very small shot to get more pellets in the pattern because I have repeatedly seen smaller shot fail to penetrate to the vitals even on cottontails if fired at anything past 20 yards, They lose energy very fast. That makes the .410 a better wounder than killer on tougher game if pellets used are too light to penetrate. A single #5 pellet that rips through the vital organs will stop a bunny or squirrel faster than half a dozen # 7 1/2 or #8 that don't make it through the outer flesh. I have skinned out many a rabbit to find #6 shot lodged in muscle tissue that failed to penetrate even a 1/4 inch when fired from 30 to 40 yards out. I stopped using anything smaller than #5 in any gauge for anything tougher than land birds and have never regretted that decision. A load of #5's in a 3" .410 can bring home anything from squirrels and bunnies to smaller puddle ducks at close range.
If you can limit your shots to under 25 yards and keep game centered in the tiny pattern, the .410 can take game consistently. If you know it's and your limitations, it can be a fun little game getter.
 
I believe the 410 spits out shot at the same muzzle velocity as most 12 guage light field loads which is around 1300fps instead of 1220 for the 20 guage. rc
 
I believe the 410 spits out shot at the same muzzle velocity as most 12 guage light field loads which is around 1300fps instead of 1220 for the 20 guage. rc
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Nope. Most 2 1/2 shells give 1200, most 3" 11/16oz loads give 1130-1140. 3" 3/4 oz. loads give 1100 fps. Shame of the matter is that 5/8 oz. loads are damn near impossible to find. They usually get the velocity up a little.
 
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