Choice of .410 shotgun

Ed333

Ed333

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Not sure which sub-forum to pick, but here goes; when I sold my Governor, it left me with a pile of .410 ammo, which I did not get rid of, thinking that a around-the-house varmint shotgun would not be a bad thing to have. Today I saw a Winchester model 37 'Steelbilt' single shot .410 at a LGS, with an asking of $495. Decent shape, although maybe a little overpriced after looking at the Blue Book. The only thing I recall ever seeing in a .410 that really floated my boat was a lovely Model 42 pump, but that would be way more $ than I would want to spend on this piece. Any thoughts on what I should or could be looking at? Is the model 37 a decent choice? I am not hung up on any particular brand, a break barrel single shot seems to make sense for my intended use.
Thanks for any thoughts,
Ed
 
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If you are not looking for a gun that will increase in value Rossi makes a single shot .410 that sells for around $150 new. Or you could get a new Remington 870 Exp for less than the $495. Or a Mossberg 500 or 510.
There are many single shot used .410's that could be picked up for around $100.
 
Nice double always wanted one in 410, I have a Stevens in 20 ga, bought it used back in 64.
 
how_lede_001_howdah_whiteclosed_01s.jpg

Howabout a Howda?
 
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Yes, 37s are over priced just because they are Wins. A good
shape H&R, IJ, or Stevens can be had $150-200. Some of the
later models less. I just picked one up a couple weeks ago, a
H&R Bay State for $100. Trouble with 410s is they tend to be
passed down through families. Due to ammo costs a few are
beginning to come out of woodwork. Buy the older gun in good
condition and it will keep its value. I have worked on some of
the imported singles and don't have anything good to say about
them.
 

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You can get a Mossberg .410 pump new for less than $300.

Any old single shot H&R or NEF will be a good inexpensive choice.

A Savage or Fox Model B .410 if you can find one reasobly priced.

There's also quite a few bolt action .410s that will do the job.
 
Take a look at

the ATI Calvary series over and unders.

American Tactical Imports

These are made (nicely) in Turkey and imported by ATI. The 410 is especially sweet. VG fit finish, solid actions, great walnut stocks and 5 choke tubes for about $500
We've sold these at the shop for a while. One customer has over 6000 rounds through his with a combination of bunny hunting and skeet shooting. I'm accustomed with higher end doubles but was impressed enough with the quality /fit/finish that I bought one in 410 myself. ( BTW, Many, mine included, come through with beautifully figured walnut.)
 
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I have only one .410 shotgun, a 1953 vintage Winchester Model 42, 25" modified choke, in pristine condition with hang tag and original box. Picked it up in a three-way trade several years ago. Value is somewhere between what I paid for my first new car and what I paid for my first house. No way it is getting more than a few feet away from the big bad gun safe. Also, no way I am willing to pay the prices they want for .410 ammo these days (I'll stick to 12-gauge for shooting fodder, thanks anyway).

If your sole objective is to use up a stash of .410 ammo pick up a Mossberg pump or a good old single shot break-action, then pound them out to your heart's content.
 
The 37 Winchester were cheap guns when they were made, and way overpriced for anything but collecting in my opinion. A NEF single barrel would be fine for just burning up shells. If you wanted a nicer repeater, I'd probably look at a Remington 870.
 
Here's a Springfield single barrel that I got in a pawn shop several months ago for $60:
Springfield .410 (& a friend!):




Targets Guy got it right though. The Stevens SxS .410 is a wonderful well balanced little shotgun!







Besr,
Charles
 
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If you have a larger gauge single or double, you can get a chamber insert to fire 410. Probably not worth the trouble in a repeater though.

All boils down to what you want and what you are willing to pay
 
Another vote for the Stevens side-by-side. I can no longer hunt, but would love tp have one. My all-time favorite of the shotguns I've owned, just in terms of how it balanced for me and how I shot it, was a Stevens 311 in twenty gauge with the Sears name on it. I took a carload of doves and rabbits with that inexpensive little gun.

A .410 should be a joy.
 
For occasional use and enough quality you will get your money back some day an old Winchester Mod 37 Single Shot in .410. Can be picked up in the $150 to $250 range depending on condition, and you will get at least that out of it, if not much more, 20 years from now.
 
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