.410 for HD?

[dchi]

Mossberg makes a .410 for ladies and HD. Would that be any good? I not particularly found of either the company or GA but it would be for my wife. The 12ga in any format is too much for her and the 20 might be too as I have talk to many young teens at hunters Ed and they thought the 20 ga kicked alot. Oh yeah the gun store don't let you try until you buy.

[Superhouse 15]

If it's all she can (or is willing to) handle for HD, a .410 can work. You just have to work around the limitations. Mine is kept in a safe room with a clear and narrow field of fire to the only door from a position of cover. There are not a lot of accessories for the .410 Mossberg. you will have a hard time finding a barrel mounted light for example. Nobody makes a sidesaddle carrier for it, but an elastic cuff for rifle ammo will work for .410s. I use S&B buckshot for mine. 3 pellets of 000
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii25/superguns15/DSC00262.jpg

[.351winchester]

20 gauge (the 870 Express Synthetic 7 shot is very well balanced has weight for milder recoil, and also the smoother action) with 2 3/4" 3 Buck is a manstopper for real, IMO just as well suited for HD as a 12 gauge. Still too much recoil? The Knoxx buttstocks (IIRC a factory option from Remington) will bring it down to nothing, nothing punishing.
You could go .410 and it will work, but for what you get with it, think a pistol cal. auto carbine could be a better way to go, if sensitivity demands a .410 the mildness of a Ruger PC-4 or something would really shine in the control and confidence area. I mean you can get the same .410 HS payload in the 'Judge'. It's nothing you want to get tagged with at all but cannot offer 'real' combat SG performance, more like a magnum wheelgun popping multi-ball rounds. Which is fine but not in league with a 12 or even 20, reliable stoppers. The 20 gauge above with or without the effective Knoxx stock. Or even a 500 Persuader 20, if you find one a 1300 Defender, ithaca Po'. Even softer an 1100 with an extension and chopped to 18". There are not alot of combat SGs in 20 gauge.
One excellent house weapon often overlooked is a youth or bantam sized 20.barrel 18-22", extra short butt (a plus for your girl maybe, better fit, but for me stubby fixed stocks are the cream indoors anyway) usually forends with shorter reach to cycle the action. It has a lot of good going for it as a HD weapon, certain advantages over 12 ga. riot guns in fact, and if it matters, one is that if you have to use it, it's not a evil looking ATI trailer park sweeper. It looks like something your dad gave you when you turned 12 to take bird hunting with him. And is an innocent, kids sporting arm. No home invader could tell you it from a Benelli M2 or Wilson 870.

No try before you buy...hey, I'd be very happy with so much as feeling a genuine trigger break (snap cap in place) if the peice has a hammer or perhaps even a DAO, or even a Glock-meant to be stored after a 'dry fire'.
Gander Mountain are the worst. They want more than MSRP sometimes yet won't let a customer on the fence get a 'dry' feel to decide. Another sporting good store, clerk said I would have to buy the LDA I wanted to see what it was like, If I 'tried' to squeeze the trigger. Pointed to a sign, store policy. Or the one guy at Gander who insisted he hold onto my driver's liscence for the duration of my checking out a used Bodyguard Airweight, of which I couldn't open the cylinder fully or grip properly the trigger lock was so big, giving an irritated sigh and not responding when I asked about unlocking (really was going to buy it) at which point I said nevermind, grabbed my ID and left the store. Guns are expensive and all the stupid laws and paperwork out there are bad enough but seems like some dealers not only don't want to get you what you want, but try to make a sale into some kind of priveledge. But yeah it would be nice to rent a firearm before you purchase with no clue. Would've saved me thousands on getting an unpleasant surprise after taking her home. And no matter what you just practically lost half what you paid, depending. Man I hate that routine, you pay thru the nose.

[dabigguns357]

This been debated before on a grand scale.But to start the war and puttin my 0.02 $ in,my wife has a snubbie and a back up mossberg 410 that she handles quiet nicely.It took me begging her to fire it after her experience with a 20 g(which she hated).At 10 to 15 feet a 410 will do great.If you are really intrested about this ask mikenbard,He has way more info than i.

[ammo.crafter]

Do you reload? If so, you can work up loads that would "fit" your wife nicely.

[TxGun]

Yes. the .410 can work. Not optimum, but you know that. Some decent buckshot loads are available. I have most of the major makers' pump guns (Remington, Browning, Benelli, Mossberg, Winchester). Mossberg makes a good shotgun.

[Bill DeShivs]

It will work fine, and you don't need flashlights, butt cuffs, extended magazines. Just use it as is.

[Death from Afar]

Unless overpenetration is a big issue ( which it cant really be if you are looking at buckshot) I think a .410 is very far from ideal for HD. It just doesnt have enough stop. I love the 410 for hunting, but after firing a lot of 410 ammo over the years it is very limited. I think you would be far better off with a semi auto rifle- like a M1 Carbine, or a Ruger 9mm. All would be better, and just as easy to hit with as a .410.

[dchi]

I had and am still considering a rifle but the only thing that seems to be suitable is the Beretta storm, it very compact size and weight works well with her but she's left eye dominant and right handed. This makes shooting a rifle fast nearly impossible. Also $700 is a lot to pay for a small house rifle. Add a good lazer to help her with her cross dominant eye problem and well be up $1000.
As for comment "don't try before you buy", I ment that I can not let her try a smaller 20 ga unless I buy one first. I've never seen anyone on the range with a smaller 20 ga. Almost everones got something in 12ga or some one has a full size hunting gun in 20. If you've ever seen a kid or little lady try to hold up a 28" barrel shotgun with 13" pull on the stock you'll know what Im talking about. So far the size, weight and cost of the .410 works but the power may not. What else is there in deffense ammo in .410? I don't consider the 3 pellets of 000 as an option because at close range it will be like shooting a rifle.

[dchi]

I forgot to ask, those of you that have the little mossberg .410 HD. Does it operate smoothly chambering rounds and eject without problem? Any problems with short stroking? How long is the barrel with the spreader choke? How many shells does it hold? Last what kind of spread do you get at 20-30 feet? Thanks.