Anyone else bitten by the .410 bug?

[pps]

The last few months I've been on a .410 shotgun kick. Dusted off the old break action winchester Model 37 a few months ago to get rid of some pesky Blue (scrub) jays and pigeons and have been hooked...again. No kick, quiet and a challenge with trap.

17 dollars per box of 25 though...I'm even considering reloading for this diminutive little shotgun. Am I crazy, or has anyone else been bitten with this diminutive little pest killer?

 

[GatorFarmer]

Where are you buying your ammo? Walmart has gameloads (2.5") for 7.97 around here.

I used to have an NEF Tamer. That was a fun little gun. I killed many a Dixie cup with it.

These days the only .410 that I have is a Bond Arms Derringer. I should pick up another Tamer or similar gun. They're a lot of fun. Plus if "Night of the Lepus" ever comes to pass, it'd make a fine anti rabbit gun.

 

[pps]

Where are you buying your ammo? Walmart has gameloads (2.5") for 7.97 around here.

I used to have an NEF Tamer. That was a fun little gun. I killed many a Dixie cup with it.

These days the only .410 that I have is a Bond Arms Derringer. I should pick up another Tamer or similar gun. They're a lot of fun. Plus if "Night of the Lepus" ever comes to pass, it'd make a fine anti rabbit gun.

These are 3" game loads from Federal (25/box) at big 5...Wally world was out. I'll probably end up reloading for it. My little 11yo girl has started busting some clays with it. It's fun to see her enjoy shooting the same shotgun I learned on. No telling how many doves I've taken with it.

Lately even shotgun ammo (other than 12ga) has been hit and miss around here.

 

[OKFC05]

"I'm even considering reloading for this diminutive little shotgun. Am I crazy, or has anyone else been bitten with this diminutive little pest killer? "

Been reloading .410 for decades. Anytime I get to feeling overconfident, I get out the .410 double for a round of skeet. That usually humbles me right down.

 

[GatorFarmer]

There's a reasonable supply of the 2.5" shells around here. The 3" shells were always more expensive though. Mine gun won't take them, so I haven't checked to see whether they were in stock.

A quick search of Midway just now showed 2.5 and 3" .410 as among most popular in shotgun. Guess other people are going back to .410s too, though handguns so chambered might be part of the popularity as of late.

If you're willing to order online, Natchez has prices that beat what you're paying locally, and also has the "Rio" brand offerings in stock for under 8 bucks a box - http://www.natchezss.com/ammo.cfm?contentID=ammoGroup&ammoGroup=3&searchBy=size&ammoSize=289

Midway seems to be out of stock on many .410 loads, but has case prices on Remington that might save you a bit.

 

[Glock 'em down]

I killed many a bird with my dad's old pump action .410 he got from Montgomery Ward way back in the 70's.

 

[M29since14]

Lots of skeet shooters have the bug. I am not the greatest with mine but I shoot it as well as about any other gauge, and since I think I am saving money(being basically cheap), I enjoy it a lot. No need for a shellbag. 25 shells fit in the pockets of my winter shooting coats.

Reloading the .410 is much maligned, for no good reason. I don't know how many thousand 2-1/2" target loads I've made using two MEC Grabbers. It's just like loading the other gauges. There's no reason to avoid it.

Great thing about the .410 is that your buddies shooting bigger gauges usually cut you some slack when you miss a target, whether you deserve it or not.

 

[pps]

Lots of skeet shooters have the bug. I am not the greatest with mine but I shoot it as well as about any other gauge, and since I think I am saving money(being basically cheap), I enjoy it a lot. No need for a shellbag. 25 shells fit in the pockets of my winter shooting coats.

Reloading the .410 is much maligned, for no good reason. I don't know how many thousand 2-1/2" target loads I've made using two MEC Grabbers. It's just like loading the other gauges. There's no reason to avoid it.

Great thing about the .410 is that your buddies shooting bigger gauges usually cut you some slack when you miss a target, whether you deserve it or not.

My hunting buddy gave me a Ben Franklin a while back for loosing a round of trap where he was using a 12ga. He's not in a mood to cut me any slack...lol

 

[straightshooter1]

The 410 is great fun. I have a Winchester Model 42, skeet, and a Verona O/U by Rizzini.

Both are great skeet guns. Reloading the 410 is pretty easy. They get a bit of a bad rap from progressive presses since when the shell plate rotates, they sometimes toss a little shot out. If you are smooth with those presses, they work fine. Grabbers and single stage loaders are fine.

I shot my O/U Sunday with BadgerBob and his son. My scores were respectable , but not as good as when I use the 28 or 12.

Bob

 

[Class III]

I own five 410's that I shoot on a regular basis. A High Standard Flite King, Winchester 42 Field, Remington 1100, Remington 870 and a Sears/J.C. Higgins Single Shot. All of the above are 3" chambered guns.

No problem finding shells. I usually buy them by the case. My local dealer gives a discount when you buy case lots.

Class III

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I have a 10" T/C Contender barrel in 410/45 Colt. It's sort of fun to try to hit clays with it, even more to actually do it on occasion! It will throw a pretty decent modified pattern out to 17-20 yards or so with 3" 7 1/2 loads before the rifling imparted spin disintegrates the pattern. I took it quail hunting several years ago and got 2, and a squirrel with #6s. It has crossed my mind on occasion to get a 24" smoothbore shotgun barrel for the frame; I have a buttstock for it.

 

[M29since14]

My hunting buddy gave me a Ben Franklin a while back for loosing a round of trap where he was using a 12ga. He's not in a mood to cut me any slack...lol

I can understand. That's way to much money to lose over a clay bird or two. Would take all the fun out of it, for me!

 

[Bullet Bob]

.410's are a real love/hate thing for a lot of people. I have a lot of fun with mine, a Browning repro of the Winchester 42 (bottom gun):

 

[pps]

I can understand. That's way to much money to lose over a clay bird or two. Would take all the fun out of it, for me!

I've lost some similar bets to him in the past.

 

[Tijeras_Slim]

My favorite shotgun is a .410. It's a Winchester 101 choked SK/SK that I got from that fine gentleman bdgreen. I've run thousands of rounds through it, and just last Saturday shot a 96.

I also have one of the Browning repro 42's and a CZ SXS.

Fun little guns, plus cheap to reload for... 800 shells from a bag of shot.

 

[10-12]

There was a time when I had little use for a .410 or anything made by Mossberg. That has changed. In an urban environment, I find the little Mossberg .410 pump to be just about ideal for repelling boarders. It has all the pep you need at "across the living room" distances and you have little worry of accidentally taking out your neighbor along with the bad guys. With the optional riot barrel it is about as handy as an M1 Carbine yet a lot more effective at close range. Depending upon the environment, with the various ammo options available ( pre Obama) it would be in consideration for an all around survival piece. About the only place it might not work would be the boonies in the North West or Alaska or anywhere one expects to encounter really big and aggressive game. Then a 12 gauge might be called for. Otherwise, a .410 is tough to beat.

Bill

 

[2152hq]

I still reload for 410 on a MEC single stage. No different than the bigger gauges and the cost savings is far greater. They really charge you for 410 (and 28ga) shells & reloading can cut the cost down dramaticly.
I only load the 2 1/2" version and have used them in a Winchester 42, Browning 42 (should have kept both!), a no-name Belgian SxS and a British Lee Speed Sporter Rifle rebarreled to 410.

I use Lil' Gun powder, CB4100 wad, 1/2oz shot, Win209 primer. I load the same load in Win, Rem and Federal cases. A bit of ricecrispies on top of the shot to even things off and provide a good crimp. The Federal hulls are the deepest and surprisingly last the longest,,at least for me.

 

[TXSWFAN]

I recently picked up a Saiga .410. I'll convert it so it'll be 922 compliant. I'm trying to figure out a way to shoot non wad shells so I can put my .45 suppressor on it. I need to get the barrel re-threaded first.

It should be fun.

 

[smith revolver cop]

One of my "fun guns" is a Winchester 9410. It's a tack-driver with slugs, feels like shooting nothing with birdshot, and groups 3-ball buckshot very nicely. Plus, it looks really cool!

 

[medxam]

.410 Shotguns

Since my recent multiple surgeries for a detached retina in my eye, it has been suggested to me by my surgeons that I should seriously consider limiting my scatter gun shooting to .410. I have not used one, except for occasional squirrels in 40 years. I have a Winchester Model 42 which is well used and most of the finish is gone but it is all original. If I am going to shoot it, I would like to have it professionally restored. The current prices are "out-of-sight", even for restored models of this gun. Of course, Doug Turnbull would be the "holy grail" of people to restore it but I was wondering if anyone here has any experience with other first class restorers?

Also, having never shot one, how much recoil does a 28 Gauge shot gun have in comparison to a .410?

Many thanks from an old 12 Gauge shooter who may have to unload a cabinet full of Browning's and Winchester's.

medxam