a question i feel really stupid for having to ask

M

McBrideGuns

New member
im wondering if anyone can help me here im wanting to get some shells for my .410 so my son can maybe go turkey hunting with me but here in the state i live in we are restricted to #2 or larger shot shells for turkey and here is the part i feel stupid for i know that in shotgun gauges the lower the number the bigger the gun but is the same true for the shells is a #2 larger than a #6 or is it swapped? like i said i know it's a stupid question but i havent had alot of experience with shot gun shells and i cant find any .410 shells in #2 can someone please help me here
 
#2 shot is larger than the #6

I turkey hunt some but not a pro at it. But from what I hear, the .410 may not cut it. Usually a 12 or even a 10 ga. shotgun with a tight choke pattern is the norm I believe. But I could be wrong. Maybe others will be of more help.

If it's a chance to take your son hunting, it really don't matter in my book as long as it's legal to use the .410 for turkey. It's the recreation value of getting out in the woods and enjoy life. You could even see a turkey! But be very careful as hunters hide in camo and sound like turkeys and sometimes get shot by accident.

Wal-mart for ammo if there are no gunshops in your area. However, the selection of shot size maybe limited.

Turkey hunting is great, but if your a 1st timer, take some time to read up on it and ask more questions. Safety is 1st...always. Your questions are not stupid!

Being careless is stupid!

Good luck!
 
There are no stupid questions

My first thought is that the .410 bore is marginal (to say the least) when hunting turkey. You might want to consider trading it in and getting your son a 20-gauge instead. That would probably do the job, and there gobs of loads for it. The 20 will handle everything from upland game to waterfowl as well.

My two cents...
 
Use 4, 5, or 6 shot for turkey. But as mentioned, I'd try to step up to a 20 ga, 3" mag, as a minimum for turkey. Single shot 20 gauges are dirt cheap from Remington's Spartan line (Baikal), NEF (old H&R), etc.
 
Since the diameter of a 410 shot shell is so small, it would not hold many #2 size pellets in this casing even if using 3 1/2” shells. This would decrease your success rate while hunting turkey. I don’t understand the logic in requiring #2 shot or larger while turkey hunting and would suggest you re-read the requirements or call your local DNR for clarifications. When turkey hunting in Ohio I use #6 shot 3 ½ inch shells out of a 12 gauge shotgun. I agree with the above that at minimum you would want a 20-gauge shotgun with 3-½ inch shot shells. The more pellets (or shot) you can put on your target the better chances of making a clean kill. Good luck.
 
I just read the regulations for fall turkey hunting in Missippi. The regulations state that shot no LARGER than #2 can be used. Based on this information you can use any shotsize as long as the pellets are not LARGER than #2. With that said, you can use 3, 4, 5 or 6 shot.
 
Despite what everybody is saying a .410 WILL do the job I shoot with a man who hunts EVERYTHING with 2 3/4 inch Remington sts hulls with 7.5 shot. He set up for a shot on a tom and killed him and hit another one that he gave his camera man.
 
.22 shorts can kill a deer too, but you dont see many hunters using them :eek:


the payload a .410 holds is just too small, many people choose a .410 for their small kid b/c of the recoil ect but at the same time it throws out such a small payload that it looses what little density it had quickly. and makes it much harder for a new shooter to make clean kills and hits. .410 is an experts gauge IMO.

You would be much better off w/ a 20, or 12 gauge as already stated.

remember if its kick you are worried about, a recoil pad and adding weight to the gun will make the gun kick considerably less. He can handle it. :)
 
No matter what the gauge/cartridge, you can always find a few people who can reliably kill the critter in question. But that's not the point. I'm sure that there are people such as the one Skeetin'870 knows who can ethically hunt turkeys with a .410. But that doesn't mean that we should all go out and buy a .410 'cause that's all we need.

I've heard a story about a guy who hunted and killed a turkey while wearing a Santa Claus suit, but (if true) that doesn't mean red is the best color to wear in the field.

I think a gauge increase would be an excellent idea. #4-#6 are the most common shot sizes. That said, if you are intent on hunting with a .410, then keep your ranges short, and use a smaller shot size than #2.

Just my $0.02.
 
I would buy him a Benelli Nova in 20ga. & a long barrell. They come with changable choke's & he could use it for up-land bird hunting or clay's.:)
 
Here we are restricted to # 4-6 . But no mention has been made that you're going for head shots and pattern is critical .Always pattern your loads .You can get 'turkey' or extra full chokes for a gun with interchangeable chokes .That will put lots of pellets in the small head sized area !! I too would go for a 20ga [or even 12 ga ] with interchangeable chokes so you can use it for anything.
 
I would take a 20ga over a .410 for turkey anyday of the week. It can be done with a small bore gun but it wouldnt be wise on your first few times simply because there is so much less power and density. If you can I would go and get him an 870 express magnum.
 
How old is the boy? remington has a couple of jr express and express sized youth shotguns, most kids over 10 can handle a express junior, and those over 13 can handle an express youth.

youth 1100's are more money but less recoil,


:yes a 410 can kill a turkey, but your margin of error is so small as to really lean toward the 20 gauge.
 
i shot a domestic turkey that was alive but being eaten by bugs with a .410, it took 3 shots, the first two body shots just bounced off... the third broke its neck... no mind you this was out of a m6 scout that has a very short barrel but this leads me to believe that the 410 is not cut out for hunting wild turkey...

jmho

nick
 
NickolasPopoff,

what size shot were you using? sounds like you were using something really light like 7.5/8/9 shot. i feel #4-6 would have done that turkey in.
 
#6 shot.... maybe something bigger would have done him but still at the range i was at i could not imagine it would make that much difference at turkey hunting ranges... i mean what is the effective range with a .410, in my experience if had used a 20 gauge i would have had a hard time finding the pieces at that range..... with any size shot.... maybe i am wrong... just think something with a little more umph would serve you better
 
i shot a domestic turkey that was alive but being eaten by bugs with a .410, it took 3 shots, the first two body shots just bounced off... the third broke its neck... no mind you this was out of a m6 scout that has a very short barrel but this leads me to believe that the 410 is not cut out for hunting wild turkey...

jmho

nick
 
Hey i wasnt there but i beleive your experience, that sounds pretty dam weak! what was the range? i'm assuming pretty dang close if it was domestic!

20 gauges are def nice, got to pick one of those up soon.
 
I've seen them on CheaperThanDirt.com

I've seen them on CheaperThanDirt.com. They have .410 every once in a while at great prices. These days most kids use the 870 Youth models. Women like them too. I have one, for the girlfriend. She loves it. Maybe it's time to upgrade?
 
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