410 slugs for deer.

[bobby964]

Will 410 slugs kill deer out to 60-65 yds? I was thinking about trying to use it for  short range deer gun. I was at Bass Pro Shops in San Antonio and saw the winchester 1/5 oz slugs rated a 1830 fps. Supposed to have a 8.5 in drop at 100 yds from the muzzle.

[quickdtoo]

I should think they would be fine, but they aren't legal here, I'd make sure they are before you get too far into it.

Tim

[gimphunter]

I'd treat a .410 slug like an arrow, as far as range. No farther than 40 yards.

[Busta]

Will 410 slugs kill deer out to 60-65 yds? I was thinking about trying to use it for  short range deer gun. I was at Bass Pro Shops in San Antonio and saw the winchester 1/5 oz slugs rated a 1830 fps. Supposed to have a 8.5 in drop at 100 yds from the muzzle.

One thing to remember, that slug only weighs about 87 grains. Not much weight there. I live in a shotgun zone and would not recommend the .410 for deer. Has it been done? Sure, but I know of a lot more horror stories than success stories. Not to mention, most .410 slugs and guns are not very accurate, and the triggers on most guns are not very good.

If you must use a .410 for deer, I would limit the shots to 25 yards or less. Even then you better be able to track without the aid of a blood trail. The only .410 slug that has any merit with me is the Rottweil Brenneke 1/4oz (110 grain), and I still would not recommmend it for deer. The Rottweill Brenneke only starts with 780 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle, 502 at 25 yards, 342 at 50, 259 at 75, and 213 at 100 yards. A coyote would be the biggest animal I would shoot with a .410 slug. If you want to hunt deer with a shotgun, do yourself and the deer a favor and use a 20ga or bigger.

If you are accurate enough to hit the brain everytime at 25 yards or less, then maybe it would work successfully for you. Do yourself a favor and cut one of those .410 slug shotshells open and look at the slug first, I'm betting you will change your mind real quick.

Here is Rottweil Brenneke's sight, notice the Foot Pounds of Energy, or lack thereof.

http://www.dnrws.com/rottweil.html

[Markus]

The 1st thing that occurs to me is why would you want to use a 410 when the are much better options. Sur it will kill a deer if you place the shot right and dont go past the slugs effective range. 20 is a much better choice and the ammo selection is a lot better as well.  The aren't legal for deer here either.

[shaner]

lots of them kill deer here in ohio , and a lot of users also , they outlawed them back maybe 10 yrs ago ,and the ODNR got so much guff about them they  reinstated them back in to being legal to use, i personally say 50 yds would be my max range ive shot  a few ofthem out of various  shotguns ( iam a 410 aholic too,)  and i wouldnt  even take a shot overthat range, with it, most deer killed here in ohio are 25yds i would imagine , of course yu getthe  story " i droped it on a full run ,200yds out in heavy cover with a 12 ga slug, "  bur in reality 25yds to 50 yds is what they mostly kill around herre

[messer454]

As I have posted in a couple of other .410 threads, in Ohio there are few centerfire choices for small statured youth or adults.  We are only allowed shotguns with slugs , pistols, and muzzleloaders.  Muzzleloaders and pistols are not for novices therefore many hunters start their children on .410 slugs for deer and limit them to bow range.  I am trying to get  a reply from ODNR if they are considering pistol caliber carbines like Indiana is voting on.  this would be an awesome breakthrough for our youth and samll statured people.

To put things in perspective in Ohio we CAN hunt with a .454 TC Contender with a 15'" barrel but we CANNOT hunt with an 18" .357 or .44 Handi rifle.  Doesn't make sense to me.

[Swampman]

I'd consider .410 slugs for a survival gun.  I would only use them in an emergency.

[FOX22250]

410 slugs are good out too 50-60 yard and will drop a deer dead in it tracks..
i know this for a fact because i did it 2 times this year
first doe droped 25 yards from where i shoot her and the second one only took two steps

[Cookiemann]

messer454, The same thing here in Minnesota.  I checked, thinking maybe they would allow the 357 or 44 or45 in a long gun.  NOT....They said they excluded long guns to make it easier to enforce and to help prevent a lot of misunderstandings.  With wildcats and so many other cartridges out there it was just simpler to say pistols and not calibers.  But, I agree with you, what's the difference, if the caliber is the same.

cookiemann

[Spanky]

Just a thought on the subject.  I bought one of those steel spinning targets for target shooting with a .22.  I set it up and shot it with a 2.5" slug from my .410 and it was just like shooting it with a .22, it just spun the target.  I also shot it with my .22 Hornet with 45 gr. hollow points and they shot right through the spinner.  I shot with both guns at the same distance, which was about 40 yards. Now judging from that I would say that the Hornet hit alot harder than the .410 and I don't know of too many people that would consider the .22 Hornet to be a deer cartridge.  I'm not saying that you can't shoot deer with a .410 slug, but I would recommend something with a little more pop.