Mossberg 500 HS .410

M

MissouriShooter

New member
I've had one of these for years, never fired it. Trying to reset HD now, with this in play.

Questions for those of you who know these things...

1. I'm having difficulty getting the cap off the ammo tube, as I assume I should to remove any dowel or plug. Any ideas? Yes, I'm technically impaired.

2. The mfg spec says it should hold at max 8+1 2 3/4" shells. Should I presume that 2 1/2" shells will present the same load?

3. Can I use the new Federal .410 Handgun 2 1/2" 000 4 pellet buckshot that I use in my Judge Public Defender? Or is there another round that would be better for HD use?

Thanks for your help.
 
The reason the end cap won't come off is that it's not removable. If there is a plug inside the mag tube, it will be a wooden dowel that is small enough to pass through the hole in the cap if you shake the gun with the hole pointing down. It's not likely that the HS comes with a plug, but I suppose it's possible. You should be able to hear or see it if you look for it.

If it holds eight 2.75" shells, then loading eight 2.5" shells will give you an extra 2" (.25*8), not enough to add another shell of either length. However, I've never heard of a 2.75" 410 shell, only 2.5 or 3".

The Federal loads may have been developed for short barrels. I'd use these:

http://www.winchester.com/Products/shotshell-ammunition/super-x/buckshot/Pages/XB413.aspx

Put as many of these in as the gun will hold. They give 5 pellets instead of 3, a worthwhile improvement.
 
I've got an older .410 HS I picked up used, so I don't have the manual. If you can get 8 shells in it, color me surprised. I saw that listed in the specs online, but mine only takes four 3-inch shells in the tube, IIRC. Same for the 2.5 inchers, as you are just shy of that extra half inch to load an extra shell. The mag tube detaches at the receiver: you unscrew it. Once it's unscrewed, the follower and spring come right out. Mine did not have any type of plug in it.

I have fired 2.5 inch federal buck loads through this gun: they pattern pretty tight. The 410 HS comes with a "spreader choke" which is essentially a cone starting at cylinder bore and flaring out. Since it starts several inches back on an 18.5 inch barrel, it gives you the equivalent of a 14-15 inch cylinder barrel with standard loads, and they really spread out at 7-15 yards. The buckshot can't take advantage of this because they are all in-line: without a wad and some lateral dispersement of the pellets in the barrel, the choke does nothing for them. With my 410 HS, #6 or #4 shot will pattern out around 12-16 inches minimum at 15 yards. The buck comes in around 3-4 inches.
 
The Winchester buck is soft and will deform. If you want a 3" load get the Fed 000 5 pellet handgun load. It's cheaper and the performance will be better.
 
The Winchester buck is soft and will deform. If you want a 3" load get the Fed 000 5 pellet handgun load. It's cheaper and the performance will be better.
Click to expand...

The Winchester will deform when fired in a revolver, where it has to deal with the cylinder gap, a revolver forcing cone and rifling.

I would make the same recommendation if the OP had a Judge. But he doesn't.
 
The Winchester will deform when fired in a revolver, where it has to deal with the cylinder gap, a revolver forcing cone and rifling.

I would make the same recommendation if the OP had a Judge. But he doesn't.
Click to expand...

The Federal is still cheaper. It's harder and copper plated and will deform less than the Winchester.
 
Thoroughly confused now ...

NatMan wrote: I would make the same recommendation if the OP had a Judge. But he doesn't.

But he does. A Public Defender, and plenty of 2 1/2" Federal ammo, in triple ought and #4 shot. So the Judge is not an issue for ammo. Got lots.

So does the Mossberg .410 HS mag tube need a new/different spring for the extended load capacity? I'll probably try loading this weekend. Bought some of the suggested 3" Winchester 000 at Cabela's. Is 7 rounds the reality? Or is it four?

JollyRoger's comment seems to say that the #4 shot is better for the Mossberg, with a broader spread (range is no more than twelve feet). Please remember that this is all about home defense in a small house and with close house spacing in an older subdivision. I want to be able to stop the threat and not puncture the neighbor's walls.

Finally, I'm told that the Federal ammo for the Judge is "rifled internally". True? Not true? BS? If true, does this make a difference in the Mossberg?
 
One more question ...

Why is this:

Mossberg says: 5+1 shells, 3"

Cheaper Than Dirt says: 5+1 shells, 3"

GunsAmerica says: 8+1 shells, 2/12"

But above it's 4 rounds or so.

C'mon ... who's really got one and loaded it up?
 
Ooh ooh ooh I have a question.
Is this the Mossberg with the spreader choke?
If so, what is that?
Removable tube or just a section of the barrel?
Duckbill shaped (spreads horizontally, not vertically) or blunderbuss (slightly more than the usual .410, expanding conically, but I guess only near the muzzle?)
Does it still allow you to fire slugs?
 
JollyRoger's comment seems to say that the #4 shot is better for the Mossberg, with a broader spread (range is no more than twelve feet). Please remember that this is all about home defense in a small house and with close house spacing in an older subdivision. I want to be able to stop the threat and not puncture the neighbor's walls.

Finally, I'm told that the Federal ammo for the Judge is "rifled internally". True? Not true? BS? If true, does this make a difference in the Mossberg?
Click to expand...

# 4 shot is a bad choice for SD, it don't have enough penetration. #4 buckshot is marginal.

I'm told that the Federal ammo for the Judge is "rifled internally". True? Not true? BS?
Click to expand...

It's BS, it works fine in a shotgun.
 
About chokes: your guns pattern as they will - can't argue with that - but there are no "spreader" chokes. There are "spreader" wads but I've never seen them for a .410.
Regardless of what is done at the muzzle, the widest choke, really, is CYL. You can expect a cyl choked gun to spread about two inches a yard (buckshot will be tighter) though individual guns may be different. Barrel length has little or nothing do do with it,
Blunderbusses - the coned muzzle was meant to make loading easier when used on a moving coach or a ship's deck during a battle. Otherwise, they pattern like a cyl bore gun....mine does.
Pete
 
Hi - just registered to comment on this thread... I found this video on Youtube where the guy takes the cap off the HS410 magazine tube like other Mossbergs and it had a wooden dowel inside: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRV4RJ0Y5qw

Anyway - What are your guys opinions on this for a home defense gun? I have a chance to get one with only 50 rounds through it for $200, which seems like a super deal since they are @ $330+ online.

I've been reading all over the place and people are dismissing it and some are supporting it. The one test I saw that was promising was this one with 000 Buckhttp://www.brassfetcher.com/Winchester%203%20inch%205%20pellet%20buck.html It would seem logical to me that even though there are less pellets than a 20 or 12 Gauge, that each pellet is basically traveling with the same speed and force and will penetrate pretty much the same.

Is there any reason not to use slugs for home defense?
 
thats a good deal but go to the gunstore. I THINK you can get one for 200something dollars 'out of the box' so just do that instead if that is true. Mine gets 7 in the tube and one in the chamber (3" 00 buck winchester or federal). A shotgun is a real good purchase for your arsenal and they are a good for HD and as a 'farm gun' as some examples.

Most people like 2 3/4 00 buck better with a main reason being the recoil. I learned with the 3" so that is what I use(they have 15pellets instead of 9)
 
I'm not sure what you mean by getting one 'out of the box'
New they are $330 or more in a gun store. Used on Gunbroker they are $250, $270 something like that. $200 is a really good price. I'm just trying to decide if I need it.
 
Well, after all this discussion, I'll report that I've never found the Mossberg 410 to feed and function as well as a 20. Besides the 20 is twice as much gun as the 410 for very small amount of increased recoil.
 
To finish this off ...

Well, I have this .410 and I don't have a 20 guage.

Finally took my Mossberg HS410 to a LGS to see what's what. Trail Creek Trade in Bridgeton MO, by the way.

1. Discovered that the cap to the shell tube was on way tighter than fingers might expect. They removed it mechanically.
2. Tapped out the wood dowel "bird shot" protector (shotguns used for water fowl can't have more than two in the tube and apparently most small guage shotguns are sent with this limit). No charge.
3. Bought a box of 10 of the PDX1 2 1/2" HD shells because I'm a nice guy.
4. Got it home, loaded six of the new shells into the weapon (one in the chamber, five in the tube). Set and ready.

So there, empirically, is the answer I was looking for.

The Mossberg HS410 comes stock with the "bird shot" wooden dowel, which must be removed for more than three shells, and will max out at six 2 1/2" shells loaded as above. I imagine that if I was using a 2" round, I could squeeze in one more. But all the .410 HD shells I've been recommended and have in stock are 2 1/2".

FYI, I paid $15 for the ten PDX1 x .410 shells, which I think is a bit pricey. But the LGS guys were helpful and will remember me, hopefully, when I screw something up or have another question. Kinda like tipping the waiter for good service.

So it's one up and five in the tube, and then another 5 x .410 Federal Premium 4 pellet buckshot in the Judge PD. If it comes to more than that it's off to the AK and a 30-round mag or two.
 
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Sounds good,except.....

I would not trust my life and that of family members to an unfired gun I don't know like my tongue knows my teeth.

Youi need to know two things to make this a good HD tool.

You need to know it works.

You need to know HOW to make it work under poor conditions.

Both require a round count.

Shoot the thing. Shoot rats at the landfill, barn pigeons, clays, tin cans, whatever. Birdshot will do for most of this but do shoot off a few of those defense loads just to see how they pattern.
 
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