The lowly .410 bore

[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.