Dyed in the wool 410 shotguner`s

[streak]

 Just wondering how many dyed in the wool 410 shotgunners are on this forum and favorite game and loads that that they use. Barrel lengths also of interest.

[Markus]

Look up posts by froghunter. He's put together some really nice ones.

[spikehorn]

I just got the 410 barrel I bought of the classifieds It came drilled and tapped with a weaver #82 scope base on it. It locked right up on the frame I had sitting around. I put a Bushnell trophy red dot on it. Sighted it in with some Winchester AAHS 2 1/2" #8s today. I have tomorrow and Tuesday off so will see what it does with squirrels and bunnies tomorrow. I also have a 28ga that I absolutely love for squirrels.

[Rayzor]

I have a 26 inch barreled 410 that I shot 3 inch number 6 out of. I use it mostly for grouse and one turkey. Both my kids have 410's pardners. Matter of fact my son killed a dandy buck with a brenekke slug this year at better then 50 yards.

[Frankn4]

I am not a 410 only user, but, when it comes to shotguns, I am a 410 primarily. I have used a 410 since 1957, and very successfully.

On shotgunworld.com, there is a gent who uses the handle of kachbr. He got a 410 when he was 9 years old around 1969, or so, and has used nothing else, period, since. He has some really expensive and semi custom 410's and has taken everything including turkey, goose, and duck.

I do not take squirrel or rabbit with any shotgun.

I have taken all the upland birds. A 410 was my very favorite grouse gun. I couldn't count the crows and barn pigeons.

I started reloading the 3 inch 410 in 1964 I think it was. When I found out Remington was going to discontinue the special SP4103 wads for loading 3 inch shells, I bought all I cound find, thousands of them. I reload with magnum grade hard shot and was able to get a supply of some West Coast copper plated magnum shot. Loaded with the full 3 inch shotcup and hard shot, the 410 is a very effective shotgun when used within its 25 yard range.

The 410 is pattern tested at 25 yards in a 25 inch circle rather than at 40 yards in a 30 inch circle. Get a mindset that the 410 stops at 25 yards and is no larger than 25 inches at that 25 yards, and the 410 can do.

I stopped hunting in 2005 and gave all my guns to my 4 gandsons and 2 grandaughters. The two older grandsons also got the reloading equipment for rifle, handgun, and shotgun. I kept, for myself, one very special shotgun, a 410. It has a custom stock and forearm and has had some choke work done. A very effective litttle gun.

[PHATINJUN]

I have both the 22" and the 26" which is my choice mostly shoot 6's but got to admit the 28ga has stolen lots of shoulder time from the 410. Kurt

[gcrank1]

I dont know if this is true, perhaps one of you will set me straight. Years back, in Gun Digest, there was an article by a fellow with 'lots of experience' who said the typical 410 full choke had done a disservice by keeping the limited number of pellets in too tight a pattern. He had opened some chokes up, or aquired a more open choked gun, and it did wonders on his hits and take.
He too said that the 25 or maybe max 30yd. was the limit.

[matthew_h]

my .410 single is the only shotgun i use for squirrel hunting . its what i started with and i will always use it .I have burnished the barrel some with some fine steel wool , and i shoot mostly #6 loads . for three inch shells i like Remington and for 2 1/2 i prefer winchester . i have a stock set done up by mspret i love that little gun .  after the leafs get thin i switch to one of my 22s  ,sometimes  .

[streak]

Hey guy`s thanks for your reply`s.
Years ago had a Mossberg .410 bolt action and sold it after my two boy`s got grown and regretted selling it years later. I have two of the .410/45 Colt in the TC pistol configurations. Was thinking about getting a NEF in the .410 or possibly a Stoeger.
matthew_h that is a neat looking shotgun. Seeing those fox squirrels makes me homesick for the Woods of E.Texas and N.W. Louisiana! Although you would be pushing the range of a .410 trying to take a big fox squirrel out of some iof those 90+feet tall pines!

[streak]

Frankn4,
What type of reloading setup do you use??

[streak]

matthew_h
Do you see very much difference in performance of the 3" as opposed to the 2.5" shells as to pattern or killing power? I read somewhere where that the 2.5" shells seem to pattern better than the 3" shells!

[matthew_h]

@ streak thanks its a great little gun and set up just the way i like it  . the 2 1/2 do pattern better in that tight full choke in that little bore . no difference i can tell in killing power shoot em with either and their in the bag . i do limit my shots to 25 yards and under , sometimes i gotta sneak up on em to get in range . I would like to try one with a mod choke to see if the pattern was a little fuller .

[Frankn4]

Frankn4,
What type of reloading setup do you use??

I use a MEC 600 press, Redding scale, and RCBS powder measure.

I do not use the shot or powder hoppers or the charge bar that came with the press. Each powder charge is weighed and each shot charge is weighed. This is slower but I am used to reloading metallic cartridges so it is no bother, I actually prefer it. I only shoot about 3 flats, or so, a year and I have two gandsons that now do the reloading duties except for some special loads with hard copper washed shot and 3 inch shotcups.