I just looked up the ballistics of some typical .410 loads:
0.2 ounce slug @ 1830 fps
0.5 ounce birdshot @ 1200 fps (2.5" shell)
0.7 ounce birdshot @ 1135 fps (3" shell)
I must admit that these numbers are better than I expected. The slug load, for instance, is delivering a 1400 grain projectile with 651 ft/lbs of muzzle energy.
But for home defense, using slugs defeats the "low penetration" advantage of a shotgun and increases recoil, which is what .410 users are typically trying to avoid in the first place.
I suppose I'd feel more enthusiastic about the .410 if it didn't have the reputation of being marginal for the larger small game, such as pheasants. Now, I realize that a home invader isn't going to be flying around at 30 yards the way a pheasant would be, but a human being is still a lot larger than a pheasant.
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