Home Forums Reloading Shotshells Shot size - Hunting w/410

What size shot do you 410 hunters like for Fox Squirrels and large Swamp Rabbits?

I know 7.5s might work, but would expect better results with 4, 5 and 6s. Are there enough 4s in a 410 to pattern decent, or do you get better harvest results with 5s and 6s ?

If you had to pick one.....?

We always used #6 shot and had great luck.

Thanks for your input.

6’s are the smallest i’d go, as I usually find the pellets against the offside hide, anything smaller and I have to pick shot out of the meat. 5’s and 4’s would be best if using unplated shot (if you can find them) Copper or nickel plated 6’s are the best in my opinion, as you get plenty of pellets per shell and those usually exit. Those winchester double x turkey loads make a good squirrel shell in a 410-3/4oz of copper plated 6’s.

#6 has always been my choice for rabbit and squirrel.

#6 here as well

#6 may be the best compromise. Larger shot usually gives a spotty pattern. I never liked the idea of 7.5s for anything other than birds.

I like 5’s for everything but ducks and geese.

That said, 3” .410 6’s are the standard for anything you would actually use a .410 for.

I have read folks say in the low 'payload' of a 410, the smaller shot gives better density, no doubt 25-30 yds is about max for any load IMHO.

Took a large Swamp rabbit Sunday at about 25 yds, w/a 7.5 RP 3" load, 11/16 oz I believe, but will use my last few of 6's in the future, about a 1/2 box. A dog owner was on the hunt, he has 17 cases of #4, I would consider buying some if he would sell them, but thinking 5 and/or 6 may be best bet. I had a squirrel taking some 7 1/2 earlier in the season, thick hide mature Fox in a tall hardwood - about 25-30 yds, so changed to 6's to finish the job - I believe to get him to drop out the tree and then finish as he was trying to run off. Not too impressed, as I am with my 28 gauge. No doubt the 28 is close to a 20 and I have had stellar results with my 28 bore.

I think a 4 may be ideal for alot of hunting in gauges/chokes where you can be assured of getting pellets on target. Definitely carry more energy and penetrate more.


Btw, anyone used the 410 on Pheasants (if so what loads/shot size?) or is that a lost cause? I would have reservations using my 28, and hope to go on a hunt in the future.


Thanks everyone!

Yes and no. If you're disciplined enough to limit yourself to 25 yds, yes. But if discussing wild birds that will likely be taken at distances past 25 yds, I'd say no........regardless of shot size.

Hunted grouse, woodcock, and scratch phez with a Model 42 for decades. Used and pattern tested most of the available 3" offerings. On paper and field, the RP 3" in #7.5 was decidely best and fastest (1240 fps - no, not a typo) with the B&P in second place. The WW 3" shells barely manage 1100 fps. Moreover, RP #7.5 pellets were the hardest (crush tested) of those examined, and they patterned like it.

Why ditch the #6 offerings? First, the .410 is a 25 yd bird gun, and that's assuming something between 5 thou (IC) and 12 thou (mod) constriction. More constriction makes sense for stationary targets, but not for flying stuff. At 25 yds pheasant can be cleanly taken with a well-placed pattern #7.5s from most any angle except dead straightaways that rise above your shooting position. I did it, alot. Larger bores take birds cleanly to distances past 25 yds, of course, hence most folks use larger shot sizes.

Second, pattern testing (and use on birds) showed me two things. At 25 yds the 11/16 oz .410 effective pattern of #6 is smaller. And 11/16 oz of #6s didn't kill better than the #7.5s to that distance.

Beyond 25 yds, yes the #6s will still kill a phez. Getting enough of them on the bird at distance is the trick.

Third, I never noticed an excess of #7.5s in the edible parts of phez, woodcock, or grouse.

Parenthetically, woodcock are very easy to kill with a .410. One #7.5 pellet is usually enough. Never felt handicapped with a M-42, took them to about 30-35 yds. Grouse are another matter, best use 25 yds as a max as with phez.

Dad had a 42 long ago, shot my first duck with it, very nice gun.

Great info Sam. Yes, my O/U - according to the mfg has fixed chokes of Modified and IC. Probably meant for clays and birds....but done fine on rabbits on close shots. Squirrels, very unimpressive. Tried some 9s last year, about worthless on game, about all you can find in the stores. I expect to get some 5s and 6s, and maybe more 7.5s. Always done my hunting squirrels with a 22 of various sorts as an adult, but found these 'sub' bores in 410 and 28 are fun. The 28 is noticeable - simply a solid killer on game. I feel once I get the 410 dialed in for load for what game, it will be ok at close distances. I never cared to take long shots w/a scattergun, but sometimes you have to say for tree squirrels or if you are waterfowl or dove hunting. No doubt the 20 and 12s come into their own as you pass 30-40 yds, though I would use my 28 to 40 or so w/the right loads.

Your insight on 7.5s given the short-range potential of a 410 makes good sense. You just have a very small amount of shot. Those speeds above are better than I might have imagined on those 2 loads you mentioned.

Thanks everyone. Great knowledge here!

In my old full choked Winchester Model 42, I’ve killed a ton of dove and quail with 7.5 shot.
Killed a few quail with #9 Remington Skeet loads , but they were close.

I use # 6 shot for anything else, including pheasants.
Works fine for me.

When I was a small kiddo, I killed a ton of ducks with my old H&R Topper .410 single shot, using # 6 lead shot, back when it was still legal.

Of, course, though, the only type of duck hunting we knew how to do as kids was sneaking up on a creek or stock tank, and “jump shooting” them.

We’d never seen any REAL Duck Hunting, and had no idea how it was done as an 8 to 10 year old in the 1960’s growing up on the plains of N TX. 😬

Sam pretty much sums it regarding the 410 on pheasants as well as shot size in general. I started off with a 410 and I probably crippled more pheasants than I killed when using it. Much of that was due to a lack of skill and inexperience but there was a noticeable improvement when I switched to a 16 ga.

My personal opinion on shot size is a maximum of 7.5 on the large end as it provides enough shot density (marginally) and energy for the limited range of the 410. I just finished off a box of 3" #5 shot on red squirrels and I noted that I killed 14 of those pests from that box with that shot size.

These days, I seldom use the 410 for hunting. For birds I'll pick a larger bore, for rabbits or squirrels my choice is a pistol, 22 rifle, or even an air rifle. Range is about the same as with a 410 and, these days, ammo for the former is not only cheaper but one can actually find it! I recently hunted cottontails for the first time in 30 years and chose a 22 rifle using Shorts. If the temps would have been higher I would have taken an air gun. Way back when I knew people with beagles I mostly used a 22 or my old Iver Johnson 16 ga.

Great info guys, thanks a bunch.

W81, yes, the 410 has a 'marginal' amount of shot, IMHO and IME for consistently anchoring game, especially as the distance grows.

I too typically use a 22 on squirrels, and want to do take some rabbits w/iron sighted 22s when my buddy takes his dogs but my shots will be very limited as often several folks go, so I will have to have a positive clear line of fire.

Thanks again folks!

One issue with hunting rabbits with .22s in the winter is that often the ground is frozen and ricochets can be a real issue. Even with a clear field of fire, those .22 bullets can bounce off hard frozen ground and whine off into the distance. As much as I enjoyed hunting with a .22, I quit it and went back to a shotgun for bunnies. This with hunting rabbits with dogs, or jump shooting them. Tracking or stalking through good cover head-shooting sitters is a different thing usually.

Here in LA, seldom gets that cold, but will definitely keep that in mind.

No doubt, it will be a very controlled situation where I would cut loose, otherwise I hold fire, even with shotguns.

Safety first always. Thanks.

I started hunting will a 410 as a kid over 40 years ago. At that time you could still hunt waterfowl with lead. I remember having good luck on ducks with 5 or 6 shot from 3" shells. My friends and their dad's i hunted with all used 12 or 20 gauge pumps or autos. I always got the most ducks with my little h&R single shot 410 which i still own.

I learned to shoot it well having my little brother scare pigeons out of the neighbors dairy farm barns. I'd sit outside the windows and wait for them to come out. If I missed too many my brother would quit scaring them out for me. I also took out a lot of starlings and other birds. My dad said the other day that his yard has never been as quite as it was for a few years after I got that 410. He said it was nice not having any bird crap anywhere.

I've though seriously about getting a nice sxs or over under 410 and loading my own tungsten loads for hunting. I think a 1/2 ounce of tungsten #9s would do a lot of things well. I've heard of guys hunting geese with them.

Bb

I always reload #5s. But mainly used #6 or sometimes #4 factory loads for rabbits and squirrels. Always #9 for doves because I can't hit one with a .410 past 25yds. anyway.

4 or 5 I'd rather miss a few than pick small shot .

Fine shot fills up a pattern but energy is lacking compared to a #6. Try #6 and pattern you gun at different ranges to find you max acceptable range.