Author Topic: .410 - Users? (Read 809 times)

Con · « **on:** December 11, 2004, 09:33:11 AM »

Guys,
Anyone have experience using the .410 on game? I'm considering picking up a cheap double to use for training a young dog (before graduating to using the 12g) on planted quail/pigeon. Is the .410 effective on this sized game out to say 25m or so? Will be using the 3" case most probably and #9 shot.
Cheers...
Con

dukkillr · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2004, 11:13:42 AM »

no, not out to 25m... maybe 25 feet... the .410 is a cute gun that's fun to play with but it's worthless in hunting situations and will result in many more misses and cripples than you want...

Duane · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2004, 03:39:56 PM »

the .410 is used alot by both young and old it is capable of taking all small game out to 30 yds Ive personally hunted with one all my 37 years including tomorrow . inch shells #6 those who say its not capable either cant shoot are dont practice .Hunting squirrels with a 12 guage is not my idea of fun and I dont have cripples pattern it and test it out to 30yds on paper plates

marylandeer · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2004, 05:25:57 PM »

I have a 410 it's an old Ted Williams single shot. I don't know how it would do for birds because I don't hunt any. But squirrels, I pointed it at 5 or 6 six of them and they all were good eating (3" #6's). It shoots slugs very well, I can hit a soda can from 40 yards.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2004, 08:18:40 AM »

I would have to disagree with dukkillr on his accessment of the .410's capabilities and agree with C130E that it is far more an expert's gun than a beginner's gun.

Payload is small and in the 3" shells extremely long with a very thin protective wad. Lots of shot are damaged and not in the pattern in the 3" shells and they are not that much superior to the 2.5" shells.

BUT in the hands of an expert you would be amazed what the little .410 can do. Years ago when I was still shooting skeet competitively and struggling greatly with my .410 scores I was priviledged to shoot with the best of them all. Wayne Maze (I may have murdered the spelling of his last name) was at the top of the heap. He was also a more or less local guy and shot at many of the same places I did. The last time I looked at it he had fired more 100 straights with the .410 than anyone ever.

I watched Wayne literally smoke targets at stations 3,4 and 5 with the .410. I did it on rare occasions on those stations with a 12 ga. Wayne did it regularly with a .410 and 1/2 oz. of #9 shot.

In his hands the .410 and 1/2 oz of #9 shot was easily a 30 yard game killer. In mine it really wasn't. I was an A class shooter with 12 and 20 and AA with 28 ga. but barely a B class with the .410. Wayne was simply world class with all.

So yeah IF you're good enough the .410 will do what you're asking of it. If you reload or if you can find them I'd get #8-1/2 shot rather than #9 but otherwise #9 or #8 will work OK. So will 2.5" shells and 1/2 oz of shot if you and your gun shoot them well.

But a 28 ga or even a 20 ga would be a much better choice.

Ramrod · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2004, 01:56:01 PM »

Well, maybe the .410 is both an expert and a beginners gun. Give a 20 gauge to a young girl or a slightly built boy and have them fire a few rounds at hand tossed clays. You now have a kid that flinches and will probably be ruined for years. Let the little one loose on the local bird and squirrel population with a .410 and some 3 inch #6 shot, and you now have an enthusiastic, willing shotgun student. When a kid is about 3/4 grown is the best time to introduce them to recoil.

Mike103 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 13, 2004, 11:25:42 AM »

I used the 410 to start both of my sons with the shotgun at the same time. The older one was 12, slight build, and the younger son was 9, large build, when they started. First I used a 410 bolt action with a full choke to shoot stationary targets. Worked great but when we moved up to hand thrown clays the full choke was too tight.

I bought a Mossberg 500 youth 410 that came with a 24" full choke barrel and I also ordered the 18" cylinder bore barrel that Mossberg used on the pistol grip cruiser models. Great combo, the cylinder bore barrel allowed for easy hits on moving targets and the full choke hit hard enough to take small game at close range. Choke, as with all shotguns was the key to success. MIKE.

Chinaski · « **Reply #7 on:** December 14, 2004, 04:43:52 AM »

I hunted dove this year with my O/U .410 and did fine. If you hit them in the head, and that is where you should be aiming, they will hit the ground dead.

I used 3 inch 7.5

Hank

Mattkc · « **Reply #8 on:** December 16, 2004, 08:05:51 PM »

I didn't start hunting until I was in the service and started with 12ga. killed a lot of squirrel,rabbit and quail. Got out of the service and went to a small 20 SXS and limited out all the time. Now I just enjoy walking in the woods or field with my little 410 enjoying myself couldn't care less about getting my limit. One or two for the pot and I'm a happy camper. Last weekend my son shot his first rabbit with his Rossi 410 single shot. Somebody forgot to tell the bunny It was only a 410.

Con · « **Reply #9 on:** December 17, 2004, 11:08:23 AM »

Guys,
Thanks for the replies. I've decided against the .410 as its just too specialised. Besides, just found out that Fabarm will be releasing a 20g SxS built on a 20g frame at the SHOT show. Apparently it'll also be able to be fully optioned which to me means an English straight stock, double triggers and 28" fixed choke barrels. Here's hoping!
Cheers...
Con

Aardvark · « **Reply #10 on:** December 21, 2004, 06:32:54 PM »

The only bird I would shoot with one is a pigeon. A clay pigeon. Quail are tougher birds than you might expect. use a 20ga or bigger and up the shot to a 6 or 7-1/2.

dukkillr · « **Reply #11 on:** December 22, 2004, 04:49:09 PM »

i think you made a good decision and i agree with you ardvark