Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters .410 slug vs. .40 S&W rifle for deer

Seems like with the right bullet, a .40 S&W round shot through a rifle should be similar to, or perhaps even better than, a .410 slug for deer. Would it be? What are factory .40 S&W loads that have worked on deer (or theoretically should work on deer)? What would be the max range - 50 yds, 75 yds?

I would sure think it to be more accurate.

with both being rifled both about max 75 ,closer to 50

Unless the regs have been changed recently .410's slugs aren't even legal for deer hunting in my home state of Wisconsin. I have no personal experience with either, but would think that a 40 S&W bullet would be a better constructed projectile than a .410 slug, which is probably lead and soft. Since an average deer and and average sized human are roughly the same size, and the 40 S&w has a pretty good rep as a defence round I'd personally go that route; but no experience with either. Others may have more experienced feedback.

a .410 slug only weighs about 80 gr... they are very soft, for the most part and have little use for hunting anything...

i've heard that the brenneke is an exception being heavier, and harder... never seen one to play with...

I own a Ruger PC-4 .40 carbine and a .410 shotgun. The .40 would be head and shoulders above the .410 slug for use on deer.

As stated above, the .410 slug only weighs about 80 grains vs. 180 for the .40. The bullet diameters are similar. I would expect the .40/180 from the carbine to be doing about 1150-1200 fps, which would be somewhat less than the .410 slug, but the .40/180 would have more than twice the ME of the .410 slug, and much better SD and bullet construction for hunting. It would penetrate much better than the slug, and it would also be more accurate. As stated below, it will duplicate the performance of a .38/40 rifle, and that was a common deer hunting tool way back when.

I have never hunted with the carbine, but have killed a few deer with a .40 S&W handgun as a LEO. It seems to work about as well as a .357 revolver. I wouldn't be afraid to hunt deer with a .40 carbine if shots were limited to 100 yards or less, depending on the accuracy of the carbine. I've never shot mine at targets farther than 50 yards away, and it shot groups of about 2 1/2 inches at that range as I recall.

I would avoid the lighter .40 caliber bullets and use a good 180 gr. JHP.

I would think that neither is humane for hunting deer (no personal experience with either) as they use light soft projectiles at moderate velocity. As for use in dispatching a wounded deer up close (as in the case of a LEO like "wildhobbybobby), either would work. But at 40-50 yards, the chance of wounding a deer is greater. Neither (IMO) is a suitable sporting cartridge.

AMEN DJS, i wonder when people are going to stop useing deer for target practice, with some pos caliber. rio7

The 40 S&W with a 180 gr bullet will run 1100 fps with out to much trouble with the right load. The 38-40 is the same caliber and was a fairly popular load in 73 Winchesters which gave it a little higher velocity but not much. Be my guess a pile of game was taken with it say 100 years ago or so.They didn't sell them then to shoot squirrels with or to protect the homestead from hostile indian attacks either.It was a fairly popular round because it got the job done. A 40 SW run out of a 16-20 barrel would also have better figures than given for the auto pistols it's usually chambered for. Be my guess if people put the bullet from it where it belongs it will get the job done,just like it did 100 yrs ago. Shot around the fringes is well shot around the fringes and don't get it no matter what you shoot them with.
Looking at the Remington catalog they show a 1/5 oz slug for the 410, that is an 88 gr weight at 1830 fps at the muzzle,1335 at 50 yds and 1040 at 100 yds.Never shot them or had any experience with them.That is about the same ballitics of the 40 cal patched round ball used in alot of flintlock and percussion muzzleloaders back in the late 1700's and thru the 1840's to kill animals that fed frontiersman and their families also used as protection from hostiles. I haven't shot any deer or "hostiles" with a 410 slug or a 40 SW but I am sure if I gotta,I'll make it work for me just like my ancestors and you guys ancestors did. You guys have a good day. Magnum Man

Far better than a .410, as are several .357 loads for short range out of a rifle.

A 45 Colt out of a revolver properly loaded is even better

A .45 Colt, properly loaded, is VERY capable.

In a strong revolver, loaded to modern specs., that round is in a whole nuther league than the original. Much like the .45-70.

Assuming they worked well in my gun I'd take a look at the DoubleTap Ammunition 40 S&W 200gr. WFNGC. at 1050 fps or so.
Buffalo bore also has a 180 FMJ flat point at 1100. I would check penetration in wet newspaper and choose my shots accordingly.

Not endorsing either for hunting but a .410 Forster slug will kill hogs DRT if put in the boiler room.

I've killed a few deer with the 38wcf and it worked fine. With a good bullet I think the 40 would be fine if you choose your shots. I have always used a soft point on deer, but have loaded 180 grain hollow points and have some consern that they may be a little extreme for deer a rifle speeds.
Deer aren't bullet proof.