410 for Turkey ?

[Bob70]

Well my daughter wants to hunt turkey this year she has a mossberg 510 mini in 410, I can find 3" loads in size #4 shot do you think this would work ?

[uplandhunter870]

i shoot a 410 quite a bit and have for a long time for upland birds and cherry orchard avian pest control, i see no reason why it wouldnt work but remember its a 410 and even with 3'' shells youre looking at 3/4 or 7/8 oz of shot.  if it were me id look at a variety of shells including heavy shot shells if i could find them coupled with a full choke and pattern all of them between 10 and 30yds. i wouldnt feel comfortable trying to kill a turkey at much past 25yds with a good patterning shell unless i was shooting slugs.

[yelp]

Bob70 - I suggest a 20 guage. more load option more shot, etc..  A .410 may work but what you don't want is a wounded bird.  Like everyone above mentioned patterning is key which finds the effective range for the gun and load.  However, kids also have a comfort range and that must be factored in.  Decoys for close shots can work but its all about learning when to shoot and how far.  This is always the hard part with smaller guage shotguns.  I say let her blast clay pigeons with either guage and practice is the key in the way of comfort.  But a turkey gobbling and getting close still gets me excited and shakey..Good luck.  I am taking my son for his first hunt this spring and I am buying him the bantam 20 guage.  Good luck and have fun.

Yelp

[JPhelps]

 

If the .410 is the only option get the bird close.  I would want them within 12 or 13 yds. 

If you can swing the 20 ga. let her practice with the .410 and as long as the 20 gauge fits her switch to that for the hunt.

[Dan-o]

Just my opinion, but I WOULD NOT take a kid turkey hunting with a 410.   Sorry, just not enough gun for me.

I'd get a 20 gage.   you must have a friend you can borrow one from.

It seems far too likely for the shot to come off less than clean with a 410 - not something you want to introduce your new hunter to.

I'm no turkey expert like a few folks on here, but I do hunt them and know how to get them pretty regular.   I'd hate to take to the woods with a 410, so I'd hate to do that to a kid.

Best of luck, whatever you decide.

[SurfingScooter]

I can't image using a .410 for turkey hunting.  Unless you were to use buck shot.  Not sure if its legal, but they do sell buck shot 3" shells for .410s.  I can't remember where I bought them though.  Good Luck!

[JJB11B]

Tried it......EPIC FAIL!

[bobcat]

I can't image using a .410 for turkey hunting.  Unless you were to use buck shot.  Not sure if its legal, but they do sell buck shot 3" shells for .410s.  I can't remember where I bought them though.  Good Luck!

    Buck shot?  No. Why would you do that? The same size shot that you would use in a 12 gauge would still be the size you'd want in a 410. I'd probably go with 7 1/2's and then limit shots to about 20 yards max, depending on what patterning tells you.

[JJB11B]

I can't image using a .410 for turkey hunting.  Unless you were to use buck shot.  Not sure if its legal, but they do sell buck shot 3" shells for .410s.  I can't remember where I bought them though.  Good Luck!

    Buck shot?  No. Why would you do that? The same size shot that you would use in a 12 gauge would still be the size you'd want in a 410. I'd probably go with 7 1/2's and then limit shots to about 20 yards max, depending on what patterning tells you.

Tried it last year with #6s at 20 yards...put the bead on the neck/head area and boom.....flies away
I am ashamed to admit it but I tried it twice

[bobcat]

I can't image using a .410 for turkey hunting.  Unless you were to use buck shot.  Not sure if its legal, but they do sell buck shot 3" shells for .410s.  I can't remember where I bought them though.  Good Luck!

    Buck shot?  No. Why would you do that? The same size shot that you would use in a 12 gauge would still be the size you'd want in a 410. I'd probably go with 7 1/2's and then limit shots to about 20 yards max, depending on what patterning tells you.

Tried it last year with #6s at 20 yards...put the bead on the neck/head area and boom.....flies away
I am ashamed to admit it but I tried it twice

How did your patterns look at 20 yards on paper? (I assume you patterned it first to know your maximum range)

Could it be that you simply missed? 410's shoot a small pattern so it's easy to miss a small target like that.

[JJB11B]

you know, Id have to go dig out the patterns we did to tell you, I cant remember. I am sure I didnt miss I was using a 3 dot sight. I am not that bad of a shot After the second fail I grabbed my 12 guage and never had another shot at a turkey

[JJB11B]

The reason I did this is that I had recently inherited a .410 from my Grandpa who had given it to my Dad, My Dad had used it as a kid to kill His first Duck, Goose, Pheasant, and Quail. I have killed all of those with it now and I wanted to one up my old man

[turkeydancer]

No matter the shotgun you should use 4,5, or 6's ... whichever patterns best.  That said, I would get him a bantam 20 or 28 gage in 3". 

[Wacenturion]

No matter the shotgun you should use 4,5, or 6's ... whichever patterns best.  That said, I would get him a bantam 20 or 28 gage in 3". 

Agree.   

[fethrduster]

A bb traveling at 1300 fps hits just as hard no matter what gauge it's shot from.  That said, I wouldn't use anything bigger than 7.5's to keep pattern density up, I would use the fastest 3" magnum loads you can find (or better yet, reload with buffer), and I would absolutely pattern the gun to make sure you know exactly how it shoots.  Your margin for error is nil.  Not the best choice for a beginner, but it could be done with patience and preparation.  Agree a 20ga would be a better option.