epijunkie67
Member
Mods feel free to move this if you feel it doesn't belong here.
I'm wondering why the .410 shotgun is considered such a terrible choice for home defense. Don't get me wrong. I realize it isn't the BEST choice. I know a 12 gauge can deliver a lot more pellets on target. I get that. And even a 20 gauge can do better. Heck even I use a 12, because I can.
But even though they deliver more pellets than a .410 those pellets weigh the same and are moving at about the same velocity. So the energy delivery of any individual pellet is about the same regardless of which shotgun you're using. (and yes, I realize velocities can vary by about 100fps depending on brand)
People frequently recommend a "reduced recoil" load in the 12 gauge for the recoil sensitive. So for comparison I looked at the remington reduced recoil load for the 12 gauge, 9 pellets of 00 buck moving at 1200 FPS. S&B .410, 5 pellets of 00 buck at 1190 FPS. Winchester .410, 5 pellets of 000 at 1135 FPS.
So I gain a whole 4 pellets with the 12 gauge. I know that regular 12 gauge buckshot has around 15 pellets depending on the load (for 00). But with the .410 we are still talking about getting hit with 5 pellets of buckshot at >1000 FPS. That's like taking an entire magazine worth of rounds from my kel-tec .32 at point blank range using +P+ ammo.
So why do people consider the .410 such a terrible choice for the recoil sensitive shooter?
I'm wondering why the .410 shotgun is considered such a terrible choice for home defense. Don't get me wrong. I realize it isn't the BEST choice. I know a 12 gauge can deliver a lot more pellets on target. I get that. And even a 20 gauge can do better. Heck even I use a 12, because I can.
But even though they deliver more pellets than a .410 those pellets weigh the same and are moving at about the same velocity. So the energy delivery of any individual pellet is about the same regardless of which shotgun you're using. (and yes, I realize velocities can vary by about 100fps depending on brand)
People frequently recommend a "reduced recoil" load in the 12 gauge for the recoil sensitive. So for comparison I looked at the remington reduced recoil load for the 12 gauge, 9 pellets of 00 buck moving at 1200 FPS. S&B .410, 5 pellets of 00 buck at 1190 FPS. Winchester .410, 5 pellets of 000 at 1135 FPS.
So I gain a whole 4 pellets with the 12 gauge. I know that regular 12 gauge buckshot has around 15 pellets depending on the load (for 00). But with the .410 we are still talking about getting hit with 5 pellets of buckshot at >1000 FPS. That's like taking an entire magazine worth of rounds from my kel-tec .32 at point blank range using +P+ ammo.
So why do people consider the .410 such a terrible choice for the recoil sensitive shooter?