Will a Mossberg 505 pump 410 make a effective home defense shotgun??

[NYH1]

I have a Mossberg 505 Youth (12" LOP, 21" barrel) Pump Shotgun in 410. and a Remington 870 Jr. 20 ga. (12" LOP, 18.5" barrel).  My wife didn't really like the recoil of the 20 ga. last time she shot it.  However next time we go to the range we're going to bring both shotguns. 

If she can handle 10 to 15 practice rounds though the 20 ga., I'll work with her every few weeks so she can operate it in her sleep.  However, if she can't take 10 to 15 round of 20 ga., I'd like to woork with her with the 410.  How effective can a 410 be for a inside the house home defense shotgun gun with a maximun range of 30 FEET or so?  What type of loads should I be looking to get for the 410?  Can a 410 shotgun with a 21" barrel  be effective within the short range she'll need to use it in? 

Thanks, NYH1!

[Thebear_78]

The 410 can be very effective in home defence.  there is a tri ball load with 3 000 buck and also slugs.  THe new loads intended for the judge pistol should also be very effective.  Better a triball load from a gun she can shoot than spraying with a gun she is uncomfortable with.  I surely wouldn't want to be shot with a 410 slug or triball at any range.

[Oldshooter]

The 410 is not something i would wanna be shot with but personally if recoil is a problem she may be better off shooting the 20 with the stock under her trigger arm and holding the gun at lower level with the forend pointing the way with opposite arm. After all we are not talking about long distances here for home defense. That would keep the recoil away from the shoulder and face. you might be suprised how accurate you can shoot a scatter gun from the hip, so to speak.

[equinoxbuilders]

Ultimately, she has to be able to shoot with confidence.
Try getting some reduced/managed recoil buck or bird in 20ga and see how she does.
If still not comfortable, being proficient with .410 is better than not being proficient with 20ga.

I'm with Oldshooter on this one.
I really, really wish Mossberg would offer their 930 SPX in 20ga.
That would be the ultimate home defense shotgun.
One of those with reduced recoil buck or large bird would be perfect for a smaller person.
The auto action would reduce recoil even more and they have a shorter 13" LOP in pistol grip.(could easily be modified shorter)
Come on Mossberg... Please produce one!

EQ

[teddy12b]

For a reference, I really really really don't want to get shot by a 410 because I think I'd die.  Especially when you consider the slugs, & 00 options that are out there, I really really really don't want to get shot by one. 

[equinoxbuilders]

For a reference, I really really really don't want to get shot by a 410 because I think I'd die.  Especially when you consider the slugs, & 00 options that are out there, I really really really don't want to get shot by one. 

 

[NYH1]

Thanks guys! 

[myronman3]

while not my first choice, it definately rates higher than asking intruders to leave or using your fingernails to fight. 

[Lloyd Smale]

better then a stick!

[Ron 1]

just about any gun will get your point acrossed.....
rw

[mannyrock]

    I am always stunned by questions like this. Of course the .410 shotgun is an effective self defense weapon in and around a home.  That lead is coming out of the barrel with about the same power as a .44 magnum.  Using a 3 inch shell, with no. 4 buck, is devastating.  Even no. 4 birdshot, at 20 feet or so, is devastating.

    The .410 single shot is a favored self defense weapon among older women in Memphis, and has been for years.  Recently, a woman shot an intruder at about 15 feet, coming down the hallway towards her, using heavy birdshot. Almost the whole load blew clean through him, and he was dead before he hit the floor. The key, I believe, is to go with a full choke, not a cylinder choke as with a 12 gauge.

    The most important thing is for your wife to be comfortable and competent with the weapon.  If she is happy and comfortable with the .410, then this is definitely the weapon for her. 


Regards, Mannyrock

[Merle]

I have a Mossberg 505 Youth (12" LOP, 21" barrel) Pump Shotgun in 410. and a Remington 870 Jr. 20 ga. (12" LOP, 21" barrel).  My wife didn't really like the recoil of the 20 ga. last time she shot it.  However next time we go to the range we're going to bring both shotguns. 

If she can handle 10 to 15 practice rounds though the 20 ga., I'll work with her every few weeks so she can operate it in her sleep.  However, if she can't take 10 to 15 round of 20 ga., I'd like to woork with her with the 410.  How effective can a 410 be for a inside the house home defense shotgun gun with a maximun range of 30 FEET or so?  What type of loads should I be looking to get for the 410?  Can a 410 shotgun with a 21" barrel  be effective within the short range she'll need to use it in? 

Thanks, NYH1!

Perhaps you could add (or upgrade) a recoil pad on the 20 gauge.

I have also found that a stock that is too short for me is far less comfortable to shoot - how tall is your wife?

   

[simplicity]

Like stated earlier 410 wouldn't be my first choice but also like stated it will get the job done without a doubt in my mind and no one wants to get shot the sound of the 410 jacking makes the same sound as a 12 jacking and the tri ball loads and the new winchester PDX load with the three small slugs followed by I believe #4's in a hall way would no something I would look forward to for sure. One thing most don't understand is in all accuallity a 410 has the same power as a 12 ga it just doesn't throw as much shot  so a 410 is throwing three 000 buck pellets at the same velocity as a 12 does throws 8. Now each 000 pellet is a 35 caliber ball (same as the 9mm) at about the same speed as a 9mm so basically with  the tri ball load your throwing pretty much three 9mm rounds  every time you bust a primer on a 410 so yeah no doubt in my mind it'll work.

[Swampman]

better then a stick!

I agree......20 gauge skeet loads have very little recoil.

[Cheesehead]

There are many new defensive loads for the .410.


http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=393924


Cheese

[Merle]

   I am always stunned by questions like this. Of course the .410 shotgun is an effective self defense weapon in and around a home.  That lead is coming out of the barrel with about the same power as a .44 magnum.  
  
Regards, Mannyrock

You should go back & check your ballistic tables.
The .410 slug is a lot lighter & packs a LOT less energy than a 44 mag.

     

[Merle]

Now each 000 pellet is a 35 caliber ball (same as the 9mm) at about the same speed as a 9mm so basically with  the tri ball load your throwing pretty much three 9mm rounds  every time you bust a primer on a 410 so yeah no doubt in my mind it'll work.

Yeah, each pellet does have about the same diameter as a 9mm, but thy are a LOT lighter & don't penetrate as well.


    

[Cheesehead]

Some new loads have 3, 40 caliber balls.

Cheese

[mannyrock]

Merle,

   My apologies.  I got confused.  I meant the .45 Colt. Still, a devastating round.

Manny

[mannyrock]

  A little more info on that .410 slug.

  My online research shows the 3-inch slug, in 1/5th to 1/4th ounces of lead, coming out of that shotgun at between 700 and 750 foot pounds of power.

  That equates to a .40 caliber round, hitting with more than 150 foot pounds of power than the .357 Mag coming out of a revolver.

   Yea, . . . that'll do it!    :-)

Best,  Mannyrock

[moxgrove]

http://www.paraklesetechnologies.com/products.asp?cat=13
These bring mama's 510 mini super to whole new level

[Merle]

Merle,

   My apologies.  I got confused.  I meant the .45 Colt. Still, a devastating round.

Manny

Since I am not familiar with that load, I never would have noticed.
Yep, still something to be avoided!

    

[Merle]

  A little more info on that .410 slug.

  My online research shows the 3-inch slug, in 1/5th to 1/4th ounces of lead, coming out of that shotgun at between 700 and 750 foot pounds of power.

  That equates to a .40 caliber round, hitting with more than 150 foot pounds of power than the .357 Mag coming out of a revolver.

   Yea, . . . that'll do it!    :-)




Best,  Mannyrock

That's nothing to sneeze at, but still short of a 44 Mag. I certainly wouldn't want to get hit by one!

I live in Virginia & some folks let their smaller kids use a .410 slug. It doesn't always turn out well, possibly because that blunt projectile looses velocity pretty quickly - but deer are tougher than most bad guys.

    

[Merle]

http://www.paraklesetechnologies.com/products.asp?cat=13
These bring mama's 510 mini super to whole new level

Very impressive!

  

[NYH1]

I had back surgery March 11th so I've been spending a lot more time with my wife and kids then I usually do when working.  My wife and I went shoot twice in the last two weeks.  She's been shooting, handling and completely manipulating the 870 Jr. Model 20 ga. we have.  It's a great little shotgun.  As mentioned before it has a 12" LOP stock, 18.5" vent rib barrel, Remchoke System w/ imp. cyl. choke tube in it now.  She practices with #7,  #8 and #9 1/2 birdshot.  And has been shooting Remington 2 3/4" #3 buckshot very effectively.  We just had to work on the way she was holding it.  The more she shoots it the more comfortable she gets with it.  She does really good loading and unloading it using the safety.  We brought our 9 year old son with us last week.  He brought his little Mossberg 505 410.  Both my wife and son shot the 870 20 ga. and the 505 410.  They both prefer the 870 20 ga.

We bougth some Winchester 2 1/2" 000 Buckshot for the 410.  It has three pellets.  It shoots a nice 3 to 4" pattern at 20 feet.  A lot better then I thought.  The 20 ga. #3 buckshot (20 pellets) is pretty amazing.  About a 5 to 6" group at the same 20 feet or so, about the same as my 11-87 12 ga. with 2 3/4" 00 and #4 Buckshot. 

Our shotgunning is going great. . . . .I couldn't be happier!