The lowly .410 bore

[Dave Workman]

I just did a piece on the .410 for Gun Week, where I'm senior editor, and now have an assignment to write about a new S/S double in .410-bore from Stoeger for a piece in GUN WORLD which I am going to relish. the gun should be in my greasy little palms in time for the 9/1 opener. Double triggers, fixed full chokes both sides; and I just "might" end up buying the damn thing...

Gawd knows I need another shotgun like I need another nose, but the little .410 has always fascinated me.

Test ammo is enroute so now I ask all of you fellow gun nuts, wildlife killers, and assorted polecats.. if you were hunting for grouse with a .410, what shot size would you use, and what shell, 2 1/2- or 3-inch?

[runamuk]

I love my 410 its a tiny little kid model and still I love it.....as for the type of shot who knows I buy what I can find which is not much locally 

I am officially jealous that sounds like a sweet sweet little gun have fun....researching

[Bofire]

 :)3inch #5, killed many many pheasants, some ducks, one goose and dozens of grouse with it in my #37 winchester Grandpa gave me.
Carl

You gotta be quick and dead on!!

[Rgrady35]

In 2 1/2 inch I would use #6.

In 3 inch I would use #7 1/2.

My brother and me had single shot Savage .410 when we were about 8 years old. We hunted and killed mostly Bobwhite and Morning Dove in North Central Texas. They were full choke guns. We used the #6 for quail and 7 1/2 for the dove. It worked well for us.

[MackPrince]

I used to carry 3" #6 for grouse with my single shot.  If you want a slightly faster load the 2.5" gets about 100fps over the 3" but loses some of the already low load weight.

[JackOfAllTrades]

What Rgrady said..

It also depends on if you're wing shootin or willing to shoot on the ground/tree branch as a head shot doesn't take much better than #7 1/2 at all.  Be sure to pattern that shottie before you hunt in the field.

-Steve

[CP]

I’d use a 12g.  I started my hunting career with a single shot .410 and couldn’t move on to a 12g fast enough.  Anything a .410 can do a 12 can do better, except wound game. 

[Dave Workman]

I’d use a 12g.  I started my hunting career with a single shot .410 and couldn’t move on to a 12g fast enough.  Anything a .410 can do a 12 can do better, except wound game. 

Well, of course, that's not the point of the project, CP.  

I'm trying to show that the .410 still has some spunk.  I've got a 12-gauge, and a 20-. But the .410 just might be a keeper.  It'll certainly be fund to blast fool hens with if the opportunity arises.

[uplandhunter870]

for the really dumb ones that will sit on the side of the road and let me get within 15yds of them 2 1/2s with 7.5s work great, for the more wiley ones i find that the 3in with 6s work better, i try to avoid longer distanced flying shots as it usually ends up in a wounded bird.

[woodswalker]

I have several .410s, both the 2-1/2" and 3" are stoked with #5s or #6s.  Also have some factory multi-ball loads 3 or 4 000 buck....and I make a slug load that uses a swaged pistol bullet.

[carpsniperg2]

3" 6 shot is what i would use myself and what we ran a lot of when we were kids.

[CP]

I’d use a 12g.  I started my hunting career with a single shot .410 and couldn’t move on to a 12g fast enough.  Anything a .410 can do a 12 can do better, except wound game. 

Well, of course, that's not the point of the project, CP.  

I'm trying to show that the .410 still has some spunk.  I've got a 12-gauge, and a 20-. But the .410 just might be a keeper.  It'll certainly be fund to blast fool hens with if the opportunity arises.

Then get close and hit them in the head.  Might as well use #8 shot because the pattern is going to hell before the velocity drops off.  

[JackOfAllTrades]

I miss that you can't use a 410 with slug on deer any more in Washington.  Had an old Stevens 22 over .410 that was a sweet shooter.

-Steve

[AWS]

I 've hunted quite a bit with a SxS double trigger 410, given to me in 1959.  I always used 3" #6 for hunting, it was my favorite rabbit gun, worked good on grouse and pheasant if you kept the shots close.  2 1/2" #9's for skeet shooting.  Still have the old gun but haven't taken it out for a few years.

AWS

[CMG]

What Rgrady said..

+1

410 was my first gun, took my hunters ed class with it. still have it today, and my son will use it shortly. Single break Sears & Roebuck 

[tlbradford]

I would stick with #5 and #6.  I pushed a large late season pheasant about 4 feet sideways on 2 consecutive shots with the 7-1/2" at about 15 yards.  It didn't even slow it down.

[rasbo]

#5 outta mine,its an older bolt action I bought for my wife...Le grouse do the Michael Jackson when hit

[huntinhick]

#6 was the ticket when I was a kid,  I figure it I could drop a pheasant with it it will work on grouse.  Yes you have to be able to get a good shot on a bird and may have to pass up some shots you could have made with a 12g but then that is hunting! 

[Dave Workman]

The test gun will have double fixed full chokes, 26 inch bbls, and double triggers.  I am REALLY looking forward to getting that baby cranked up.

Thx for the advice and KEEP IT COMING!


GROUSE MUST DIE!!!!!!!  

[huntinhick]

I am looking forward to the review!  I love 410's just picked up a rossi single shot made for kids in Jan for a grouse gun and just cause i wanted it.  I was sitting here thinking about the fact that so many people say the 410 is a crippler.  what I am thinking is it is like going to bow hunting,  you can't go for those 100 yard shots that would have been cake with the rifle but that is the reason you went with a bow so that it would be a harder hunt.  you go with a 410 knowing it has its limits and they are different than your 12g and you enjoy a good day in the woods.  Also I have seen just as many birds hit poorly with a 12g get away as ones hit poorly with a 410, within its range it is a sound little gun.....not that I like the .410 or anything.

carl

[jdb]

I usually use 3" #6. I am a huge .410 fan we have 2 in house and I'd buy another if I found just the right gun, I have killed many, many many. grouse, squirrel, rattlesnake and quail with both a single shot and bolt action .410.

[h2ofowlr]

I use # 5 & 6 in the 3" shells, out of my side by side.  Also wacked a few with the Judge. 

[Dave Workman]

The test ammunition will be 5's, 6's and 7 1/2's, and I expect to use a bunch of it.

I'm a big fan of S/S doubles, with double triggers. I've got a 12 and 20 like that, and this .410 is also a DT model. 

[Curly]

3" with #6's.  Just not enough pellets with larger than #6 shot, IMO.

[ICEMAN]

I teethed on a pump action .410 for grouse, plus carried it for deer my first two years....

I have always been on the lookout for a savage 22mag/.410  but everyone I find is aparently someones family heirloom and they want way way too much for it....

I would consider buying a new gun in 410 magnum when it comes out. Still waiting...wishing...

[let.it.fly]

i got a buddy who has some kinda AK varient that shoots .410's its pretty cool though it only hold 5 shots.

[Whitelightning]

I was given a Crescent Quail Hammerless SxS in .410. I have only used it a couple of times with #9 target but dropped a couple Grouse on the wing with it last season. It sure shoulders and points nice.

[halflife65]

First gun I ever shot that had a "kick" when I was about 7 or 8.  Single shot .410.  Killed my first grouse with it when I was 12. 

It belongs to my uncle but it gets loaned out to whatever kid in the family is ready to graduate from a .22.

[Special T]

My father in law has a S7R single shot that i have shot a few times... I like the gun and gauge for rabbit and grouse... My reason for not buying a savage 22lr 410 was just the cost and availability of the 410 ammo.. from what i hear it is still a popular gun in the south due to the popularity of hunting squirrels and rabbits down there...

[tlbradford]

I think the .410 is still a fun gun and has a lot of history for us, but with some quality 28 gauges out there, it doesn't pass the logic test anymore.  Effective for sure, but there are others that do the same job better.   

[Special T]

If you gona go for effective why not 20Ga... ammo is cheep plentiful and does a great job... I know people that love both 16 and 28 gauge guns, but unless your a die hard you'll probably fall into the 12 or 20 gauge catagory... 

[woodswalker]

If you gona go for effective why not 20Ga... ammo is cheep plentiful and does a great job... I know people that love both 16 and 28 gauge guns, but unless your a die hard you'll probably fall into the 12 or 20 gauge catagory... 

Guess that makes me a diehard...I got the Hercules .410 from my Granddad at the tender age of 11 or so...MANY a fine afternoon walking the old rail grades behind Lake Whatcom looking for the evenings dinner.  That gun is likely the LAST I'd sell if forced to, its OK (but not LEGAL) for deer and will bring down grouse/pheasant/quail/doves and even works for ducks and geese up close(but not since steel shot requirements - I've not seen bismuth for the .410).  Pretty much all around game-getter.

[satchel3006]

hevishot makes .410 non toxic loads
http://www.hevishot.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=1&category_id=21&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=73

[Dave Workman]

I have three 12's including a fine Beretta S/S double with double triggers, a 20 Stoeger Uplander S/S with double triggers and then there's that .410 Stoeger Uplander I have enroute for a magazine article that just might stay here as a check makes its way back to the mfg.

This experience will likely tell me one way or t'other about the .410 for "my" purposes.

[tlbradford]

If you gona go for effective why not 20Ga... ammo is cheep plentiful and does a great job... I know people that love both 16 and 28 gauge guns, but unless your a die hard you'll probably fall into the 12 or 20 gauge catagory... 

I agree SpecialT.  I fall into the 12 and 20 category myself.  I never thought 16ga made much sense.  I will add a 28ga and a little single shot .410, just to have around and play with one of these days.

[44 Flattop]

I enjoy 410's for grouse, have for many years.  My favorite is an O/U with a single trigger and 28" F/F barrels.  Last year I took 18 ruffed and blues, the year before 26 ruffed and blues, all with 410's.  I use 3" #6's for early season work, 2 1/2" 4, 5 or 6 are fine for later in the season when they hold better from all the rain and cold.  I never use 7 1/2 for any game birds as I hate picking the shot out of 'em. 

The last 3 years I did my best to step off most every bird I could and found most of my shots were between 22 and 33 yards, with 33 yards being just about as far as I really want to use it.  I did step off 2 ruffed that were 'about' 41 yards but those were shots that a guy just keeps following through getting that second shot off.  22 to 25 yards seems to be just right for 100% kills. 

44

[Dave Workman]

Flattop
That's a lotta grouse

[44 Flattop]

Flattop
That's a lotta grouse

Heh heh.  That's just the ones shot with a .410

A 20ga Ruger Red Label is my most used.............

My best year ever, and I've always kept track, was back in the early '80's with 72.  My worst year was also in the 80's, 1.   Average would be anywhere from 25 to 50.

Did I mention how much I love grouse hunting? 

44

[C-Money]

I'd use 3'' 6's or 7 1/2"s. I want a .410, it would be a great gun to get the kids started on. I need to get one soon!

[woodswalker]

hevishot makes .410 non toxic loads
http://www.hevishot.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=1&category_id=21&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=73

Nice, Now they need to make 2-1/2 loads and I'm SET.

[Dave Workman]

Doubt we're going to see 2 1/2-inchers in Hevi Shot. 
I've got some 3-inchers on the way.

I have two boxes of 2 1/2-inchers from Nobel Sports, in 7 1/2 hard shot.  Looking forward to popping grouse and bunnies with this gun over the next 60 days, if all things come to pass as they should. 

Now that the skies have grayed over and it has rained, it feels like Washington again...the Washington of my squandered youth. Hunting in Pierce and Lewis counties, with a rare trip to the Little Naches country. 

This .410 better live up to expectations.  I anticipate it will. 

[phishisgroovin]

I just traded off a nice old 12mm shottie of belgian make for a Snake Charmer III. Still havent shot it yet. Just sits there patiently awaiting the day it will go play with pop cans or snuff out a couple critters when scouting in open areas allowing Microscopic game harvests or Halibut fishing. Great little boat gun.

[Dave Workman]

A "12mm shottie?"

That must be a pretty small smoothbore.

I have the .410. Test fired it already. Virtually no recoil. Ready to rock with it on the Wednesday opener.

It's a pretty little gun, with a visual flaw here and there.  We'll see if grouse I shoot with it give a rip about its looks 

[Bigshooter]

I used to carry a .410 contender pistol around with me during deer season, and shoot grouse when things were slow.  I shot quite a few with it, but as with everything you need to know your effective range.

I do the same thing during deer season with my contender.  Mine has the 10" barrel and believe it or not i've killed more than 1 grouse with it past 40yds with a 3" #6 shell and so has my dad before he gave it to me.  Anything under 25yds is dead everytime.  Love that gun.