hunting with a .410 shotgun

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All the conjecture and comparison is good info.However,practical usage is the best comparison.I've killed two deer with .410 slugs at distances of more than 50 yards and both were dispatched where they were hit.Many feral dogs and coyotes have been kiled with one shot at 50 yards or so.
The .410 is all we used to have in the farm truck and was used whenever necessary.The slugs were always 3" Brenneke.

Stan
 
Is there a real reason why you couldn't find a better choice than a .410? Seriously!
Click to expand...

Define better. Most hunters think more energy = better. I'm not convinced.

A close friend of mine has used a .410 to take deer in Indiana and lower Michigan for over 10 years. He just waits until the come within 20 yards.

I have a pack of 3" winchester slugs IN MY HAND as i post this. 1/4 ounce slug at 1,800 feet per second.

The 2.5" slugs use an 1/5 ounce (87 grain) slug, but as far as i can tell 1/4 ounce comes out to 109 grains. I guessed at the ballistic coefficient of a 1/4oz slug, but I'm guessing it sucks. i used a .1 BC for these calculations.

4103inchslug.jpg

just shy of 800ft-lbs at the muzzle. Where is the guy who said the .410 is like a .380? Id like to hear from him again. Even with that atrocious BC, it still retains over 700ft-lbs at 25 yards.

That said, I would use my 12 gauge under most circumstances, simply because it affords more margin of error, but I surely wouldn't critisize anyone who chose to use a .410. Nor would I pass up a close range shot on a deer if it presented itself, and I had a .410 in my hand.
 
That's great news! I hope that your big game hunting goes well with your energy producing, powerful .410 shotgun. I am not going to dismiss you, as most everyone I know started out with a .410 or a 20 gauge, but for heaven's sake, there's a reason that centerfire rifles, and 12 gauge slugs are preferred. even a 20 gauge with a scope can "knock em dead" but the .410 is intended for a starter gun. If you wish to take on the great outdoors with a .410 and swear by it, I guess that you have made up your mind. I'd advise against it though. It is not an effective deer round, let alone a squirrel, or pheasant round, in practical terms, in my humble opinion
 
http://mcb-homis.com/slug_410/index.htm

I find the Barnaul (Russian) 410 slug interesting. It is roughly a 10 mm foster type slug in a sabot that makes the combo basically 44 mag. The Russians have been shooting that down the Saiga 410 AK platform...

I find the same cartridge to be the most accurate cartridge for my BFR 45LC/.410, my encore 45/.410, and my NEF/H&R 45/.410. It appears the greater accuracy may be due to:
1)putting the bullet nearer the threads than any other system with a 45/.410 combo
2)perhaps the sabot/foster slug expand to engage the .452 caliber barrel.

Anyway, jump over to this other thread:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=4556160#post4556160

Let me know what you guys think of the several failed trials of myself and others to improve the 45/.410 and the additional ideas I have...
 
Personally I really enjoy hunting with my Saiga 410. I hunt with guys very similar to those above who think you need a 12 gauge to kill a spider. A 410 in the hands of someone who can actually shoot is very effective for small game and birds, still not sure about the whole deer thing.
Anyway for those who don't like the AK style 410's like the Saiga410 here is an option
http://www.safirarms.com/eng.html
I for one would love to get my hands on it.
 
The .410 slug has approximately the same striking energy as a .40cal muzzle-loading patched ball, said patched-ball loads killing deer just fine...I hunt with a .410 and speak from experience rather than armchair theorizing....in addition, within 20-25yds inside a 20" circle, its pattern density equals a 12ga cyl bore shotgun at 30yds/30" circle....with either slug or shot, it does the job fine if you know how to aim or point....
 
yah, saw it was an old thread straight off, BUT, obviously of interest, and probably better than a new thread on the same subject....PLUS, a fair amount of bad info to be corrected....
 
I like the .410 for deer!?

Don't know what all the hub bubs about - many deer have been shot and killed with a .410 - I shot a buck on opening day with my .410 and he dropped in his tracks at 40 yds.+/-
As for the .410 being a starter gun it is more than that - it is a sharpshooting, meat hunting, coyote killing, home defending, partridge dropping weapon for SKILLED SHOOTERS. I lost 0% meat from that buck. Had I used a 12GA, my '06, .308, whatever, he would have been blown all to H.E double hockey sticks! But not with my .410 - 1/4 ounce, 2 3/4" Barnaul slug.
So say what you think gentlemen - those who have experience with a .410 know it's the world's best kept secret of those who covet the "Expert" marksman badge.
B
 
The basic problem with the 410 besides the low power, has been the combination of who hunts with them and quality of most 410s.

I had a 410 as a kid and it sucked. bad trigger, bolt action that was difficult to operate and a stock that was all wrong for shotgunning . The front bead sight was almost useless, a rifle type adjustable sight would have been helpful.

I would take my 65 lb Bow with 410 grain arrows deer hunting over a 410 shotgun.
 
You are right - almost!

Lefteyedom is right - it matters who is hunting with the .410. I would not hand one to an inexperienced hunter and say "Go kill you a deer". As for his first shotgun - Some of the older 410 bolt actions are junk - had one blow up on me after 300-400 rounds, it seems the HS went South and that was that.
I recently bought a new Saiga .410 and with the Russian Ammo it is fantastic! Low power is not an issue here as the Barnaul, Brenneke, ammo is great: Check out
http://www.barnaulammunition.com/shotgun.htm,
http://www.brennekeusa.com/web/pdf/Magnum410ga.pdf
This gun is fun to shoot and shoots straight. The Iron sights came through "Spot on" and I can plink with this thing all day at ranges from 25-75 yards. At 100 yards I have sported 3" groups.
My son has a NEF .410, and with the Brenneke slugs it shoots great! With only the beaded sights we can manage 2" consitent groups at 20 yards.
The beauty of the .410 is it's range of use:
Squirrels, Rabbits, Partridge, woodcock, clays, plinking, Fox, Coyote's, Deer, self defense - and more, all from one gun shooting different rounds. I am working on a Double slug round that put's both slugs into a 1" or less! group at - ready for this - 50 yards! A killer 'yote round for New England Predator hunters. Low Pellet damage, no pass-through shots, less damage than a smallbore rifle or Buck shot rounds.
Thanks for the feedback Lefteye...
 
A good question with plenty of possible answers. As far as being able to bring down a deer with a slug from a 410 it is very possible. A .177 caliber air rifle can do a lot of damage to anything with the right circumstances, But the question at hand should be is it ethical to hunt with that type of gun. Part of being an ethical hunter is obeying the laws of your home state or the state your hunting in. Some states may allow that type of round for hunting. In my state of Alabama the law only specifies that a center fire mushrooming round is used. So pretty much bigger than a .22. Best answer from me it can be done, but make it a legal kill.
 
IMO hunting with a .410 is similar to hunting with a bow. They are both limited to a range of 20-30 yards and they require that you hunt the way primitive people did - stalk your game or wait until it's within the effective range of your weapon and have the discipline to pass on longer shots.

If people are taking long shots with either a .410 or a bow then they are definitely unethical hunters, but the same is true FOR ANY WEAPON. Just because you tote a 12 gauge doesn't mean that 70 yard shots at geese, ducks, or pheasants are a good thing. How much game gets wounded because people think their wizz-gang gun shoots photon torpedoes and take ridiculous shots beyond their effective range?

A thorough knowledge of the limitations of your weapon and your skill needs to be a vital part of the training for any hunter.

The ethical hunter knows the range of his/her weapon and realizes that knowing WHEN NOT TO SHOOT is a vital part of the sport. It's never the weapon that is unethical, it's the way it's used.
 
I once had a Stevens bolt action .410, and it worked great on squirrels under 20 yds. Thats the largest critter I've used one on. I have killed several deer with .22 LR's and .22 magnums. Head shots with either translate to DRT. I suspect a 100+ gr. .410 slug will do quite well with proper placement and very reasonable ranges.
 
I've taken rabbits, squirrel (well beyond 20 yards), even a few ducks off the creek when I was a kid. It's what I started hunting doves with, too. My 10" Contender .410 will kill fine to 20 yards, let alone a full sized shotgun. The only difference in a .410 and a 10 gauge 3.5" magnum is the weight of the shot string and, thus, density. Most .410s are rather tightly choked for this reason so it takes being ON target with one. But, if you can shoot, it will amaze your friends. :D

Man, this is an OLD thread!
 
Just because you tote a 12 gauge doesn't mean that 70 yard shots at geese, ducks, or pheasants are a good thing.
Click to expand...
I wish I had the opportunity to hunt up there where you live. In the land of 20yds feet down (geese). But down here in South Texas, after y'all have educated them, 60 yds landing in your spread of a thousand Rags/Shells is almost the norm. I shoot a 10 ga with T-Shot at every thing inside 80 yds. If that makes me unethical, so be it.
 
Shot my first deer,..and many more since,... over the last 45 years with a 410 single shot. Not my first choice,...but surely not my last either. Not tack driver or for any distance,...we're talking point blank to about 30-35 yards here.
 
Yet another "can kill" thread. :barf:

Yes, you can inflict a fatal wound on a deer with a 410 slug if the range is short and shot placement is perfect.

Is it a good idea to hunt deer with one?

No. The 410 slug is very light for caliber, which results in poor penetration. A 10mm mag pistol would be a better choice. Or just about any centerfire rifle.
 
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