Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns slug patterns for a .410

Anyone shooting slugs out of a .410?

Wondering how they might pattern?

I got advice to try them in MY gun, but wondering IF anyone else has had any luck.

I posted this question on the 000 buckshot loads post as well.

Thanks for any feedback!

Virgil B.

I think the only way to answer your question is for you to shoot your 410 with slugs. My 410 (choked full) may fire a slug differently than yours, so my experience wouldn't be applicable to your shotgun, just saying.

I suspect you'll find they don't pattern, they group! But I've never shot a slug so what do I know! :-)

I've always called it groups when shooting a rifle or handgun, but with a shotgun, thought it must be called "pattern"

Anyway, hope the slugs "group" from my shotgun.

If I can get three slugs into 3-4" at 30 yards I'll be happy.

First, I gotta FIND some .410 slug loads.

Virgil B.

My esperience has been that Brennecke slugs group much better that Foster-type slugs in any choke, and that both group better in guns with very little or no choke. Others' experience may differ.

I've shot groups with a Remington 870 choked modified, a Winchester 37 choked full, a Savage Model 24M choked IC (not a factory choke), and a Match Grade Machine custom .410 barrel on my G2 Contender Carbine and fitted with a custom Colonial skeet choke. The G2 groups the best, followed by the Savage. Both will get your 3-4" at 30 yards with Brennecke Magnum slugs.

BTW, I killed my first buck, a little forked-horn Columbian Blacktail, with a Foster slug in my Winchester 37. That was in 1952. I didn't know at the time that .410 slugs were illegal for deer hunting in California.

I hope they group, not pattern......

Found some slug loads for .410 but the guy at the shop said they wouldn't group with any choke, that I needed a barrel with "cylinder" or, no choke for them to work?

My little .410 is Modified choke.

Back to my original plan; Find some 3" .410's W/ five 000 buckshot load.

Virgil B.

What type of slugs are they? If they are the typical lead Foster "rifled slug" they'll shoot safely through your modified choke. How they group nobody knows until you shoot them and see. I've seen many guns shoot Foster slugs better with a modified choke rather than an improved cylinder. I suspect that the thin soft slug skirt obturates and seals the bore with no gas blow by better in the tighter modified constriction.

Virgil, I carried a H&R Topper for many, many years before passing it to my nephew. 3” chamber, 26” barrel IIRC, and a FULL choke. Only loads I ever shot #6 for bunnies and squirrel, #7-1/2 for birds and Forster slugs for pigs. Never shot the slugs on paper, but did go 5 for 5 on grapefruit hanging on a tree at about 30 yds.

Shot 2 hogs with slugs, pop’n flop. One was about 20 yds out, the second splattered blood on my jeans when shot about 3’ from my boots.

Ahhhha!

Think I'll go back to that shop and pick up those slug loads and give them a try!

My Rossi has 3" chamber, and an 18-1/2" barrel W/modified choke.

If I can hit a grapefruit at 30 yards, I'll be tickled schitless !

Thanks!