What is the 410 good for? What do you use yours for ?
Thanx fellas

The 410 skeet division and that's about it.

Out here, where you and I are, I'd guess Supermag is close.

Back in the Midwest, (like Michigan), I bagged a bazillion rabbits and squirrels and a reasonable, (small, no "illions"), quantity of upland birds, ducks and others critters whose species are best unmentioned.

I still have the same bolt action model as the one I used as a kid and would jump all over a decent new or used SXS, 870 or the like.

Oh, yeah, I bought one for my son when he was 10 and he was a grouse getting machine with it. Now he gets to pass his and mine down to his boys.

I've shot everything from sparrows to fox with a .410. But my favorite use for it is on the skeet range..

You have NO idea how huffy some guys get when you beat their 12 ga's with a .410...

I have a ton of fun doing that..

So for rabbits how far is max and with what load? This is a full choked gun.
Thanx

+1

House varmint shotgun, quail, rabbits, squirrels etc... The 410 is great to keep you on your game. Practice with a 410 and learn to consistently connect while shooting 5 stand, skeet, or sporting clays and it makes the larger bores easy. When I find myself not centering clays, out comes the 410.

Rabbits, squirrles, skeet, sporting clays and 5 stand. Excellent fun gun.

My Winchester 42 is my second favorite bird gun (dove and quail). Starting to hunt birds seriously with a 410 is like eating your first oyster. You're pretty sure you ain't gonna like it but after a one or two, you can't get enough. Use 2 1/2" shells in #9. That's what they were made to shoot.

What I've got in the shop is 3", #6 Remington Express. Maybe because it was all I could find. Back when I was a youngster it was the same way but but I think we preferred #4 & #5 for furred critters.

Skeet's a blast with the 410 (8 or 9 shot). With my Mossberg bolt (183 DF) I always get the "Do you want singles?" for the first pair. "No" always take away the smirk. FYI it is great practice for hunting season follow up shots if necessary. It has also accounted for MANY rabbits, squirrls, porkies, and coons (4,6,7 1/2's, mostly 3")

B

My very first firearm was a Winchester M37 in .410. Still have it and it's in about 90+% condition. I routinely nailed bunnies at 25-30 yards with 3" shells loaded with #6 shot..

For skeet it's 2 1/2" shells w/#9's.. Little noise, little recoil, and cheap...

thanx fellas

+1

Long live the pee wee!!!!!!!

I just can not believe how flippin' expensive ammo is!!!!

LMAO... Yep. That's why I bought about 2,000 hulls several years ago, a reloader and wads for the .410. Costs me about $3.00/box to reload 'em..

That MEC has paid for itself about 10 times over..

With lead being so high now, it's probably more like $3.75/box to reload now, but I bought a ton (literally) of shot about two years ago for $10.75/25# bag so I'm good for a few years yet.. I think I still have about half of it left..

410 and 28 gauge shells are about the only thing it pays to reload anymore because shot has gotten so high.

no shee-at!

Another excellent reason to hit garage sales and auctions.

So long as you stay down south there.

I`ve shot a lot of woodcock, grouse, and rabbits over dogs, and hounds, using 410`s in the woods of the N.East. I use mostly 7 1/2 shot in a three inch shell. I don`t like the bigger shot because it drives the fur and feathers too far into the meat. In NW Wy. I use 2 1/2 shells with #9 shot to shoot an occasional Ruff. They don`t fly worth a hoot out here. Cottontails are taken with either a 22 hand gun or my mod. 61, in front of the hounds.

I have a 42 skeet. Dove hunting is a riot but expensive. Cottontails are fun. I shoot skeet and sporting clays with my little 410 or I mean I try to shoot skeet and sporting clays. I shoot 2 1/2" #9s most of the time. There are some wonderful little 410, small receiver O/Us on the market. If you really want a challenge, try shooting clays with a 410 SxS that has double triggers. Anyway, just pulling a trigger is always fun. Gregory

mine is Mossberg with a pistol grip and 18" barrel I bought for $100 ... I use it for home defense.

what load?

I use mine for Grouse up in northern Alberta.
They dont fly away and make great Appys before dinner. Easy to clean as well. Best part of our trip.

I'd use high brass 3" magnum #6s or #4s.

Neither will go much through double drywall, so those in other rooms aren't in as much danger, but those on the receiving end would damned sure be taken out.

In fact, I have #6s in my 16 gauge Rem. Model 11 Sportsman stashed in the house, for EXACTLY that reason.

just regular game loads (6 or 7 1/2).

Dad sold the .32 Colt auto that he had used when he was the town Marshall in Varina, IA (head for your maps) to buy me my first shotgun, an H&R break-action .410. In later years, I read many times about what a poor choice he had made by handicapping me with a gun that shot such a tight pattern. Always seemed to me that that gun taught me that just because you are throwing out a cloud of shot rather than a single bullet you still have to aim carefully to hit what you are aiming at. Still have it in the safe, by the way. It is one that isn't going anywhere. Best, John

Rattle snakes.

I almost thought we were gonna make it through without somebody shooting grouse on the ground . . .

How do flush a bird that is just as likely to run into the nearest brush line? I'd say only about a third of the grouse in my niegborhood actually flush. Most just stand there and stare at you untill you get to within about fifteen steps and then run straight for the thickest brush they see.

I suppose I'm just not a "sportsman". I have no problem with wacking a grouse on the ground. I often wait until my deer are holding still before I shoot them aswell. I know I should shout at them and wait untill thier at a dead run but I just like my kills to be quick and clean. Never lost a bird that was holding still when I shot it. Even with a 410ga.

Where is it written that you are guaranteed a kill every time you see a game animal? So only wingshoot that third that flush; that's about my ratio, too, as they're just as likely to bugger off into the bush instead. But I'll follow them until they do flush. You can get clean kills wingshooting, grouse are easy to kill.

I know you're not saying it, but one could argue that you are saying you find shotgunning birds on the ground 15 feet away to be a challenge. I am certain that your shooting skill is far better than that.

P.S. The deer analogy is silly. I don't know why people seem to always come up with that comparison.

No shooting grouse off the ground isn't challenging. The truth is I'm not really a grouse hunter. For me grouse are tasty targets of opportunity. Same as rabbits. I generally carry a .22/410 O/U so that if they are holding still I don't have to pick any shot out of the birds. Not really much of a problem with a 410 wich is why I like it but sometimes I carry a 20ga. 95% of my grouse are taken while preseason scouting for deer or elk.

So in short, if you or I were out hunting for grouse for the sport of it then OK lets just take them on the wing. Most of the time for me I just want meat for camp that night. Less challenging for sure but they still taste great.

P.S. the deer comparison is silly but I've had people ask, "Whats sporting about killing deer with a rifle?" Somtimes it's not very sporting. Some of the deer I've killed never had a chance. But they still taste great.

Good for you Wallaby! You sound like a sensible, practical fellow.

When I'm hungry and want to "eat," I've sluced grouse too.

My Stevens model 311 S/S and Stevens model 240 O/U just stand in the safe and look nice and continue to appreciate in value. I've never gotten around to firing either of them. I've fired a few .410 shells from one of my Savage 24's a couple times.

I shoot one several times a week...at skeet. Great fun, and surprisingly effective. Rabbits, squirrels, doves = fun.

BUT...shoot it too much and your shooting with a REAL gun will go to hell.

I once saw a good sized Indiana whitetail buck that had been killed with a .410 loaded with 7 1/2 shot. Sixteen year old boy was hunting cottontails when bedded down buck jumped up in from of him. Bang! One shot venison.

At the short ranges involved in house defense the .410 would get it done but I would prefer larger shot. #4 ?, or slug.

Well, I hope he got cited or turned in for this action because it is illegal!....for one thing rabbit season comes in when gun season is over and its archery only and he shot it with birdshot....do tell me he was cited!

I use my .410 for hunting tree rats....makes you a better stalker since it's effective range is limited alot more than the 12 or 20...it doesn't tear the meat up so bad either.... but all in all I love mine...good hunting!

My first gun was an Ithaca single bbl .410, wish I still had it. Now my only shotgun is a Stoeger .410 SxS. If you are a good shot with a .410 then with a 12 you should be world class.
I taken grouse on the ground with an Ithaca single shot leaver .22.

I have used 410's for Rabbits( both Cottontails and jacks) Squirrels,Racoons,grouse,doves, quail, pheasants and as a boy ( before non toxic shot was mandated) 2 ducks. I still use one today and rarely feel handicapped. The little gun does well as long it is pointed properly. The only reason I don't use it mor eoften these idays is the cost of ammo!