Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > General Topics > Firearms & Knives: Other Brands & General Gun Topics
o

Notices

Firearms & Knives: Other Brands & General Gun Topics Post Your General Gun Topics and Non-S&W Gun and Blade Topics Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-08-2018, 09:34 PM
Pisgah Pisgah is offline
Member
 .410 fun  
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 37
Liked 5,413 Times in 1,756 Posts
Default $99 .410 fun

I have a "reason" for every gun I own -- I am married; I HAVE to have a reason. Many married folks will understand...

Anyway, last week when I brought a new gun home I was, for the first time, absolutely honest with the bride. The reason for the purchase was fun, pure and simple!

I was wandering through Walmart and spied a long, slender barrel with a ventilated rib in the gun case. Up close, my interest soared. It was a Hatfield .410 single-shot. Made in Turkey, these guns are well-made and well-finished. Steel and walnut (they say -- I am a bit skeptical at how light the wood under the buttplate is, but it looks good). They describe the finish as black chrome, whatever that means. It looks like some form of bluing to me, but very attractive and well done. The barrel is modified choke and 28" long -- yes, 28"! I have named mine Long Tall Sally, and she carries balanced in one hand about like a broom handle. MSRP is $150; Walmart, $99.

A warning here -- out of the box the action and the trigger are horrible. Not just bad, frighteningly bad. But do not fear! A fix is just a few minutes away, and will cost you nothing but a bit of elbow grease.

Open the action by pulling the trigger guard/action release straight back -- and be prepared to pull hard with two fingers. Swing the barrel all the way down -- and it's a folder, so it'll go a long way. Now drench the action with oil. Pull the trigger guard back 50 or so times. You'll feel smoothing occur. Now close and open the action at least 50 times. In the end, you'll need about 250 repetitions to get to the sweet spot, but opening and closing the gun will get easy as pie.

The trigger's even easier. Remove the buttplate -- two screws. Use a 1/2" socket on an extension, loosen the stock bolt. Remove the stock. You will see the large, flat mainspring, secured on the lower end by one large screw in to the lower receiver tang. Lessen the spring tension by backing it out, 1/2 turn at a time, until you get a pull you can live with AND the hammer engages positively every time it's cocked. I have seen up to 3 turns recommended; I stopped at 1.5. Needless to say, too much can compromise ignition, so you need to check it, but mine still fires just fine with a pull that is so much better it is almost unbelievable.

Now, here it gets interesting. I haven't shot it at any moving targets yet -- never been much of a wingshot, anyway, and my primary use for a .410 has been for rabbits and squirrels. But I have shot at 18" square targets at 25 yards, Remington 3" no. 6 shot shells -- raise and cock the gun quickly, point, shoot, as if at a squirrel -- and the results have been centered, dense, even patterns. Point, shoot, hit, just like it ought to be with a shotgun. I have a thrower and a 1/2 case of clays in the storage building -- may have to dust them off and invite my shooting buddy/thrower over.

I will not say the trigger is perfect at this stage -- it is very, very useable as-is but could stand further refinement. There's a spot of creep in the take-up, but the action is simple enough that disassembling it to address the issue ought to be fairly trouble-free.

Maybe I will tell my wife that the fun thing was just a joke. Really, I am planning to go on the squirrel diet in the fall...

Hatfield SGL – Hatfield Gun Company
__________________
Pisgah

Last edited by Pisgah; 07-08-2018 at 09:37 PM.
Reply With Quote
The Following 7 Users Like Post:
  #2  
Old 07-09-2018, 10:36 AM
gonerydin gonerydin is offline
Member
 .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 679
Likes: 371
Liked 859 Times in 372 Posts
Default

That is a pretty good value. I bought the 12 gauge version a bit over a year ago and modded it a bit.

Also check out the Midland Backpack sometime.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #3  
Old 07-09-2018, 12:16 PM
gwpercle's Avatar
gwpercle gwpercle is offline
Member
 .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 6,838
Likes: 7,394
Liked 8,052 Times in 3,652 Posts
Default

A decent utility shotgun is always useful around the house.
Nice score ,
Gary
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-09-2018, 12:20 PM
sigp220.45's Avatar
sigp220.45 sigp220.45 is offline
US Veteran
 .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 8,075
Likes: 27,790
Liked 33,581 Times in 5,253 Posts
Default

Great informative post!
__________________
“What you got, ain’t new.”
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-09-2018, 12:21 PM
Echo40's Avatar
Echo40 Echo40 is offline
Member
 .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,797
Likes: 7,511
Liked 7,271 Times in 2,479 Posts
Default

Out of curiosity, have any of you married guys ever tried giving your wife the reason; "Because it will make me happy and we can afford it." or something to that effect?

I'm just curious how they would respond to such a simple, direct answer.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-09-2018, 12:29 PM
OFT II's Avatar
OFT II OFT II is offline
US Veteran
 .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Odessa, Texas
Posts: 3,219
Likes: 4,024
Liked 3,698 Times in 1,466 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirty Harry Callahan View Post
Out of curiosity, have any of you married guys ever tried giving your wife the reason; "Because it will make me happy and we can afford it." or something to that effect?
No. At least not the ones of us that are still married.
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #7  
Old 07-09-2018, 03:00 PM
Echo40's Avatar
Echo40 Echo40 is offline
Member
 .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,797
Likes: 7,511
Liked 7,271 Times in 2,479 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by OFT II View Post
No. At least not the ones of us that are still married.
Try it sometime. What have you got to lose? For all you know she might surprise you, and if not, then at least you know where you stand and how important your happiness is to her in general.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-09-2018, 03:07 PM
max503's Avatar
max503 max503 is online now
Member
 .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: So. Illinois
Posts: 2,580
Likes: 1,377
Liked 3,295 Times in 1,414 Posts
Default

Now I need to go to Walmart.
I actually do need a single shot 20 ga but a 410 would do.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-09-2018, 03:09 PM
DWalt's Avatar
DWalt DWalt is offline
Member
 .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 33,483
Likes: 236
Liked 28,949 Times in 14,015 Posts
Default

My wife is not a gun person, and truth be known, she really doesn't like guns that much. But not once in over 50 years has she complained about my buying one. Likewise, I don't complain about her purchases.
Reply With Quote
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
  #10  
Old 07-09-2018, 04:24 PM
gonerydin gonerydin is offline
Member
 .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 679
Likes: 371
Liked 859 Times in 372 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by max503 View Post
Now I need to go to Walmart.
I actually do need a single shot 20 ga but a 410 would do.


There are 12, 20 and .410 versions. The weird thing about buying a gun at Walmart is that they walk you out of the store as soon as it is yours.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 07-09-2018, 04:32 PM
perryhd's Avatar
perryhd perryhd is offline
Member
 .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: AL
Posts: 586
Likes: 2,970
Liked 1,359 Times in 375 Posts
Default

When asked why I needed another gun my reply is I didn't need it I wanted it.
__________________
Old Age Ain't For Sissies
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 07-09-2018, 05:32 PM
BearBio BearBio is offline
Member
 .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Eastern Washington
Posts: 4,913
Likes: 3,226
Liked 6,813 Times in 2,543 Posts
Default

My wife is the one who encourages me. She says" You deserve it. Get it!"
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #13  
Old 07-09-2018, 05:57 PM
Ranger98's Avatar
Ranger98 Ranger98 is offline
US Veteran
 .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Houston,Texas
Posts: 969
Likes: 289
Liked 623 Times in 231 Posts
Default

"The weird thing about buying a gun at Walmart is that they walk you out of the store as soon as it is yours."

Academy Stores do the same thing.I always thought it was a bit strange since you can enter the store with as many pistols as you can carry..
__________________
JR
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 07-09-2018, 06:10 PM
Ivan the Butcher Ivan the Butcher is offline
Member
 .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Harlem, Ohio
Posts: 14,354
Likes: 23,195
Liked 26,159 Times in 9,069 Posts
Default

My wife usually does not complain about $2000 gun purchases, the $99 variety have never raised an eyebrow!

I was tossing and turning in bed one night, she wanted to know why. I told he a guy I knew had a $4000 sniper rifle I wanted and just didn't have the cash. Her solution was to take the money from savings, and get to sleep! I never bought that gun, but I've kept the wife 40 years now!

She has never expected rewards when I make big gun purchases, but she knows that the jewelry box didn't fill itself! Now days I have more necklaces on lay-away than I ever had guns! "Oh, you bought another shotgun. Is it for hunting or Sporting Clays? That's nice dear!" At the next gift occasion, "What am I going to do with this bracelet/ear rings/ necklace, Oh that's right it matches my smile!"

It may not be the best system for everybody, but it works for me!

Ivan
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #15  
Old 07-09-2018, 07:14 PM
Pisgah Pisgah is offline
Member
 .410 fun  
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 37
Liked 5,413 Times in 1,756 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by gonerydin View Post
The weird thing about buying a gun at Walmart is that they walk you out of the store as soon as it is yours.

They do that around here now at every big box store.

Walmart has the 12 and .410, but as far as I can find the 20s are unobtanium. The 12 looks just as good as the .410, but a 5 lb. 12 ga. with a skinny butt and hard buttplate will need a nice, new pad added before I'll go sportin' about with it!
__________________
Pisgah
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 07-09-2018, 07:50 PM
Echo40's Avatar
Echo40 Echo40 is offline
Member
 .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,797
Likes: 7,511
Liked 7,271 Times in 2,479 Posts
Default

It's really nice to actually hear some stories about wives who are supportive or at least not control freaks. Ivan the Butcher's story was particularly heart-warming given that it showcases a seldom-seen/spoken of example of a balanced relationship between husband and wife.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ranger98 View Post
"The weird thing about buying a gun at Walmart is that they walk you out of the store as soon as it is yours."

Academy Stores do the same thing.I always thought it was a bit strange since you can enter the store with as many pistols as you can carry..
I would presume it's just because they worry about other customers being made nervous about a gun walking around the store with a shotgun on him.
Also, Wal-Mart seems to overcompensate for their shady/dishonest/inhumane business practices by fronting a sort of family-friendly façade, hence why they outright refuse to sell certain media which goes over a certain age rating to the point that they actually carry censored versions of certain music and whatnot, ergo it's really not too surprising that they would go to such lengths as to escort folks who just purchased a firearm out the door on the off-chance that it may make other customers feel uncomfortable seeing someone carrying around a boxed up firearm which they clearly purchased inside the store, even when they're already open carrying another firearm.

Last edited by Echo40; 07-09-2018 at 07:53 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 07-09-2018, 09:33 PM
scooter123 scooter123 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Metro Detroit, Michigan
Posts: 6,919
Likes: 179
Liked 4,294 Times in 2,106 Posts
Default

I have two Turkish made shotguns and have been nothing but impressed by the quality of design and manufacture.

Number One is a 20 gage O/U by CZ USA, model is the Teal, a specific variation of the Redhead Premier made only for Cabela's. Out of the box the wood had what appeared to be a Urethane finish out of a rattle can. A bit of time spent with 1200 grit wet sandpaper followed up by an application of 3M Finesse-it produced a very nice gloss finish and some figuring in the walnut that almost puts it into a Class A grade. Basically a very pretty stock with a good looking figuring in the grain. BTW, started shooting Trap 6 weeks ago and last week did two rounds of Sporting Clays with my BIL and Nephew. Did the second outing with the 20 and scored 27 out of 50 with two solid hits on the rabbits at the last stand and one double on the report pair of a low flyer followed out by a rabbit.

Shotgun two is a 12 gage semi in a Cabela's specific color scheme also sold by CZ USA. Not wild about the green/gold matte cerakote finish but with the wood this color scheme would be nearly a camouflage finish in the woods. Recoil with target loads is a near perfect match to my 20 gage O/U and that long semi auto receiver yields a very long sighting plain. As a result many times I will shoot the 12 gage better than the 20. However on that first outing of Sporting Clays I only scored 23 out of 50.

Note, from time to time Cabela's will put these CZ shotguns on sale for about 480 bucks. So those interested in a lower cost entry O/U for Trap, Skeet or Sporting Clays keep your eyes on Cabela's if you have one in your state. The Teal is light enough that 4 much more experienced shotgunners at the range I shoot at have a Teal as a lighter alternative with their Browning Citori or Beretta Silver Pidgeon have worn their arms out a bit.

Point is do NOT look down your nose at a Turkish made shotgun. Those folks know what they are doing so you get a well made firearm at 1/3 the cost of the high end stuff and that "Turkish Walnut" is real actual Walnut.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 07-10-2018, 02:15 AM
swsig's Avatar
swsig swsig is offline
Member
 .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  .410 fun  
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: North Texas
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 8,114
Liked 10,478 Times in 2,966 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirty Harry Callahan View Post
Out of curiosity, have any of you married guys ever tried giving your wife the reason; "Because it will make me happy and we can afford it." or something to that effect?

I'm just curious how they would respond to such a simple, direct answer.
Surely you jest!
__________________
What, me worry?
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:45 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)