Why am I being drawn to the 410?

[Cheapshooter]

Beginning with my completely satisfied purchase of a Taurus Judge Public Defender Poly, and now a search for a replacement of one of the guns of my youth, a Stevens Model 59, I am really getting interested in the 410 bore. Now, I see on the website of a gun shop I always check out on my trips to Northern Missouri, a used, but like new with box Mossberg 500 in 410. The consignment asking price is $300. Not sure if that is anything special. I've seen them advertised at BPS New for $40 more. I'm thinking of asking if the consignor has any wiggle room, and trying a $275 offer if they still have it when I'm there later this week.
I really don't have a lot of practical use for it, but just can't get those cute little plastic tubes full of gunpowder and lead out of my head.

[Blindstitch]

I thought I saw a mossberg 500 in 410 at walmart the other day for $274. They also had the 20 and 12 for the same price.

[Blindstitch]

Just found one at my other go to store for $260.
http://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/moss.../0000000066858

[Bake]

The 410 is a very interesting round, but I believe the gun is even more interesting. I shoot with/against a guy that has collected between 10 & 12 Winchester Model 42's. These guns are simply the most sexy sub gauge out there. Of course they are closely related to the Winchester Model 12, which doesn't hurt.

[SteveBonning]

The .410 is an underestimate gun; great for HD, easy to shoot, readily available ammo. The old arthritics can shoot it as well as the kids.

Just found a used Mossberg 500E; I may make it my primary HD weapon. Easier to hide and access IMHO.

[Blindstitch]

Spread the word to all your friends and maybe ammo will drop back down from $15 a box.

[Dreaming100Straight]

What makes a .410 "great for HD"?

If you wish, read this for starts.

[Virginian]

You being drawn to the 410 keeps the world in balance. I'm repelled by it.

[bamaranger]

Well, they are not waterfowl guns, not really wing shooting guns, ....but a slew of youngsters, and lots of adults too, have bagged many a squirrel and cottontail with same. Lets call them game guns.

My Dad and I were serious rabbit hunters when I was a kid,... my best memories. We hunted with .410 pumps. And inside 25-30 yds,didn't feel we gave up anything to the bigger gauges on bunnies in the brush ahead of beagles. Much depends on proper load. For some odd reason, what I see in the big stores, and in the field, is .410's loaded with 2.5" inch shells, and #4 and #6 shot. Wrong choice. That tiny bore needs more pellets, and pattern will fail before penetration on game. The 3 inch shell, with 7-1/2 shot will prove a much better killer on small game. In a pinch, the 2.5" shell with #8 shot can work too, I ran up on a lot for sale a while back and bought them all.

The .410 works well as a pest gun too. Here, the diminutive shot shells offer no ricochet like a .22, and are grim death on snakes, rats, and other vermin that turn up at a country place. A .410 single barrel resides at my back door for just such use.

The slug and buck loads seem a novelty. Bamawife might could use such a thing in a stubby .410...she's just tiny. But for the rest of us, there are better choices.

[Cheapshooter]

Whew, dodged the bullet, or should I say shot shell load. I looked at the Mossberg yesterday. A quick look was all it took. Nothing wrong with the little 41 bore, but that Mossberg pump, NO! Now I have been known to buy cheap guns. My user name even implies such. But I do have my limits! This wood, at least I think it was wood looks more like a plastic wood stock on a toy. The metal finish wasn't bad, it it just had a cheap, in the wrong way, feel to it. Especially the slide which rattled, and wiggled around like it was held on by loose rivets or something.
So, no like new in box Mossberg 500 in 410 for me. But I will keep looking for that Stevens 59 to replace the one I had S a kid.
Saved that three hundred bucks! Oh wait, no I didn't, because I put a used gen3 Glock 17 on hold to pick up next week when I'm back up here.

[WV_gunner]

If you like your Judge, then the most logical gun for you is the Rossi Circuit Judge. It's a Judge with an 18 1/2 inch barrel and a stock. I have no complaints with mine. I got it when they first came out.

[riflemen]

I love .410 round, I have used it for bird when I was a kid. Its a great little round, I have a beautiful Field grade L.C. Smith O/U, If anyone is familiar with Hunter Arms I also have an Eagle {1930's} 16ga !!!!

Them little shotgun rounds are awesome...

[eastbank]

when walmart had a close out on rem express 870,s in the smaller gauges i bought a 410 and a 28ga, they were 179.00 each out the door. i like them both, but i think i,m going to have the choke opened up to mod in the 410, but i found the 28ga a lot better with only a slight increase in weight. i bought a mec 9000 in 28ga and then bought a rem 1100 sporting 28ga just to keep up with the shells i was loading. i load 3/4oz to 1oz for different game. eastbank.

[xzqzq]

I bought a single-shot H & R .410 a year ago, and have had wonderful fun with it. A wide variety of brass will chamber in it - .45lc, .444 Marlin, .303, .30 - 30 and some others I have yet to try... folks like to sneer at it as a defense gun, but I think 4 ( 00 ) Buck pellets would dissuade almost anyone, especially if followed by 2 or three more rounds...plus it is a light, handy package.

If you like casting and loading, the .410 offers you a lot of options... I love touching off a .444 Marlin load of black powder... get the experience without having to deal with often temperamental muzzle-loaders....

[Boomer44]

I love 410 for Skeet... I started skeet and trap shooting two years ago this Christmas.. About three months ago one of the guys I shoot with during the week showed up with a SKB 410 Over & Under. He asked me if I would like to shoot a round... I shot a 24 missing the option on Low 8... From there on I was hooked.. I went out and bought a carrier barrel and a set of tubes...Now I shoot and loads 410 & 28 Ga... Love it.

[Dreaming100Straight]

.410 Fun
I bought a single-shot H & R .410 a year ago, and have had wonderful fun with it. A wide variety of brass will chamber in it - .45lc, .444 Marlin, .303, .30 - 30 and some others I have yet to try... folks like to sneer at it as a defense gun, but I think 4 ( 00 ) Buck pellets would dissuade almost anyone, especially if followed by 2 or three more rounds...plus it is a light, handy package.

If you like casting and loading, the .410 offers you a lot of options... I love touching off a .444 Marlin load of black powder... get the experience without having to deal with often temperamental muzzle-loaders....

NO YOU CANNOT per the thread entitled "Shooting 45 ACP from a 410 shotgun?" and especially 44 AMP's post #31.

[Doyle]

The .410 is an underestimate gun; great for HD, easy to shoot, readily available ammo.

You got one out of 3 right. Terrible for HD and ammo is WAY overpriced when compared to 12 or 20ga.

[SHR970]

doyle wroteTerrible for HD

Based on what criteria? 5 pellets of 00 or 000 buck for a three inch round or 3 or 4 pellets of 000 buck for a 2 1/2 inch round is terrible how? Basically we are talking 1/2 of a 12 gauge load. Still no slouch when we look at energy and wound tracks at household distances.

[Doyle]

OK, I'll concede not terrible but still not nearly as good as even a 20ga that costs much less to shoot and way less than a 12ga.

For HD use, I'd even go so far as to say that I'd rather take on a bad guy with a 12 loaded with coyote shot than a .410 loaded with buckshot.

[Dreaming100Straight]

The .410 may not be "terrible" for Home Defense distances, but if needed do you want to hit with half the stopping power and half the pellets of a 12? Don't forget that not all pellets may score threat ending hits. Especially should the threat be heavily clothed. Then there is versatility. What if you need to use that .410 at longer outside distances outside the home? I wouldn't say that the .410 is a terrible choice for HD, and it may be a good choice for those unable to handle a 12, but I think there are better choices than a .410.

[SHR970]

The .410 may not be "terrible" for Home Defense distances, but if needed do you want to hit with half the stopping power and half the pellets of a 12?

Some folks don't do so well with the weight and / or recoil of a 12 gauge. Even comparing a 12 gauge with reduced recoil loads a 410 kicks less when you compare like guns. More pellets are better....to a point. By the same logic I should use my 835 loaded with 18 pellet 00 Buck. Pretty much like unleashing two reduced recoil / tactical 12 gauge 2 3/4" loads in one blast.

Don't forget that not all pellets may score threat ending hits. Especially should the threat be heavily clothed.

If a tactical load 12 gauge @ 1100 fps. w/ 00 buck is sufficient to penetrate heavy clothing AND reach deep enough, how is a 000 buck pellet out of a 410 at the same speeds going to be any different.

At typical household distances both the 410 and the 12 gauge loads are going to be tight. 5 pellets of 000 buck delivering around 900-1000 ft. lb.s of energy and 5 chances of hitting something important every time you discharge a load out of your gun makes the grossly underestimated 410 something far better than waiting for the 911 troops to arrive.

Is it "the best" choice? That is for the individual to decide. I have many choices, but I wouldn't feel under gunned or naked facing an intruder with my O/U 410.

[SHR970]

Why am I being drawn to the 410?

Because you like a challenge!

[Doyle]

If you REALLY insist on using a .410 as a SD weapon then at least reduce some of the "pattern" handicap and use Federal Personal Defense #4 Buck loads. That load has 9 pellets. Yes, you are giving up some penetration due to the smaller pellets but I think the overall gain of a bigger wound spread would outweigh that.

[B.L.E.]

A .410, nay, even a .22 rimfire beats cowering in the corner and begging an intruder not to hurt you.

[Dreaming100Straight]

SHR970, There may be unique circumstances where someone is better off with a .410 for defense, but I would think in those situations they would be best off with a pistol.

Multiple Wound Tracs: True, a piece of 00 travelling at the same FPS is going to penetrate heavy clothing just as well whether it is shot out of a 12 or a .410, but even if they are just as shallow, the additional wound tracts of the 12 are likely to more quickly end a threat.

Felt Recoil/Follow Up Shots: While up to a point you can fire an equivalent load of buck from a .410, the weight of a 12 will help to tame the recoil and thereby enable one to get off faster follow up shots. For that reason some choose to use reduced recoil 00 buck.

Availability of Ammo: It is much easier to find 12 gauge than .410.

Downloading 12 Gauge One thing about going with a 12 gauge is those hulls can be loaded so as to emulate sub-gauges. For instance, I regularly reload my shells with one ounce of shot ( emulating a 16 gauge) and I am beginning to load 7/8 ounces of shot (20 gauge), while some shooters are going to a wad that allows them to reload there 12 hulls with 3/4 ounces (28 gauge).


Go with your 18 pellets if you want, but 9 has been proven to get the job done. If it doesn't, I can drop some one ounce slugs in my 12. This is an example of what I meant when I said "up to a point". There is no reason to overwhelm the 12 gauge with 18 pellet ammo and all the attendant recoil when the standard 9 gets the job done. Any marginal advantage from the increased number of wound tracts is outweighed by increased felt recoil and reduction in follow up shots.

Tell us this. If a .410 gets the job done as well as a 12, what law enforcement agency equips members with a .410?