I am thinking of getting a shotgun in 410 for small game. This is incase the world goes to ****. I already have a good supply of 410 for use in my Governor and a couple Charles Daly's Honchos. The shot gun would provide a backup option for hunting where a 22lr is not practical.
Shotgun for small game in 410
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I've had a Stevens 410 single shot for over 40 yrs. Never let me down on squirrels, grouse, and occasional rabbit. Just understand and respect it's limitations compared to 12 & 20ga.
^^^^This. My first gun was a Stevens single shot (still have it), and quickly learned that 25 yards is about it, even with full choke and #4 or #6 shot and 3" shells.
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If you don't want to spend much, Mossberg pumps have a decent reputation. Mine has been working fine with my 2-1/2" reloads. I have to be honest and say I've never used it with 3" magnums.
I thought about buying one of the imported autoloaders but was advised against it. I decided to take that advice. It came from a fellow who runs a sporting clays range. He sees just about every imaginable shotgun from the least expensive on up, and he knows what works reliably and what is "questionable."
I see that you already have ammunition, but realize the .410 is not really much of a hunting shotgun. If you keep your shots on small game inside 25-yards it is OK, but a 28 or a 20 is a much better hunting shotgun. I'm sure others will disagree with that, but I have had considerable experience with the .410 and that's my opinion. I use the little Mossberg mainly for pest elimination, not hunting.
The older Remington 870 .410s are generally pretty decent shotguns, but they are VERY pricey nowadays. You can pretty much buy three new Mossbergs for the same money as an older Remington.
Finally, pattern whatever you buy. With a gun this small, you need to know WHERE it shoots and what shot size works well in your barrel. My recent production Mossberg shoots very flat for me. If I were using it for wingshooting, I'd want to try to get it shooting a bit higher.
All this is JMHO. Good luck with whatever you buy.
I thought about buying one of the imported autoloaders but was advised against it. I decided to take that advice. It came from a fellow who runs a sporting clays range. He sees just about every imaginable shotgun from the least expensive on up, and he knows what works reliably and what is "questionable."
I see that you already have ammunition, but realize the .410 is not really much of a hunting shotgun. If you keep your shots on small game inside 25-yards it is OK, but a 28 or a 20 is a much better hunting shotgun. I'm sure others will disagree with that, but I have had considerable experience with the .410 and that's my opinion. I use the little Mossberg mainly for pest elimination, not hunting.
The older Remington 870 .410s are generally pretty decent shotguns, but they are VERY pricey nowadays. You can pretty much buy three new Mossbergs for the same money as an older Remington.
Finally, pattern whatever you buy. With a gun this small, you need to know WHERE it shoots and what shot size works well in your barrel. My recent production Mossberg shoots very flat for me. If I were using it for wingshooting, I'd want to try to get it shooting a bit higher.
All this is JMHO. Good luck with whatever you buy.
If you can...............
try to get 7 1/2 lead pellets, since they have higher energy than the smaller 8's and 9's and will bag more game, over all.
A great load if you know it's limits.
try to get 7 1/2 lead pellets, since they have higher energy than the smaller 8's and 9's and will bag more game, over all.
A great load if you know it's limits.
Puller
Member
I grew up hunting with a Winchester model 42 but I believe they have gotten pricey too. I second looking at a Mossberg
My Savage Model 24 DL in .22/.410 put plenty of cottontail rabbits in my game bag back when I was a young teenager.
I currently have a Stevens Model 555 .410 O/U that I picked up for a decent price several years ago. I've taken it out after jack rabbits and it does a great job. It has five choke tubes which makes it pretty versatile.
Can't remember what I paid for it, but if I recall correctly, it wasn't a bad price...and it's a neat little gun.
EDIT:
Oh my heck!!! I just checked the current price of the Stevens Model 555 in .410. Needless to say, I was shocked!!! You might not want to get it. It ain't cheap...and I know for a fact I didn't pay anything close to the current asking price.
I currently have a Stevens Model 555 .410 O/U that I picked up for a decent price several years ago. I've taken it out after jack rabbits and it does a great job. It has five choke tubes which makes it pretty versatile.
Can't remember what I paid for it, but if I recall correctly, it wasn't a bad price...and it's a neat little gun.
EDIT:
Oh my heck!!! I just checked the current price of the Stevens Model 555 in .410. Needless to say, I was shocked!!! You might not want to get it. It ain't cheap...and I know for a fact I didn't pay anything close to the current asking price.
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I have a stevens M-30 pump I use for home defense as well as for small game. It came to me with a 28" ribbed barrel and I've added a 26" round barrel cut down to 18+ inches for HD. If you can find one it should not cost you more than about $250.00
A .410 is one of the great small shotguns for small game if you can find one.
A 20 Ga. is another option.
I like them both.
A 20 Ga. is another option.
I like them both.
I have a Browning 42 from the 1990s and my grandfather's Winchester 42 from the 1930s. If the SHTF, might as well go out with class.
These are my first choice when seeking birds and small game, never to be sold or traded. Going to family when I'm gone.
I love my .410s.
These are my first choice when seeking birds and small game, never to be sold or traded. Going to family when I'm gone.
I love my .410s.
I have a 50's vintage Stevens 410 22LR over and under. It has taken lots of rabbits and ptarmigan. Savage makes one in a take down version. Also available in 22 magnum.
My first shotgun was my late granddaddy's Stevens .22 LR/.410 with the Tenite stock. My grandmother told me that he bought the gun at the beginning of WW II to keep the bunnies out of his garden.
Back in the day, I took rabbits and squirrels with it.
Back in the day, I took rabbits and squirrels with it.
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SuperMan
Member
...I would recommend you TryBeforeYouBuy on that one...it is nothing compared to the original 24s and it is just cheaply made...
I have two 24 DLs in .22 Magnum/20 gauge that are great game getters...and have a FourTenner insert for using .410 shells. That said I recently purchased a Chiappa Double Badger in .22 LR/.410 and it is now my going camping gun... Great FO sights and very nicely made...and was less than $400...
The Mossberg 500 pumps are also excellent...
Bob
This is one I just picked up.
It's an old Mossberg 183 D C
It's a bolt action with internal magazine.
It can take different screw on chokes.
The one on it is full and throws a very nice tight pattern.
I think it may make a better hunting implement vs a single shot and can be found for around the same price.
Price was 150
The can was 22 yards away.
It's an old Mossberg 183 D C
It's a bolt action with internal magazine.
It can take different screw on chokes.
The one on it is full and throws a very nice tight pattern.
I think it may make a better hunting implement vs a single shot and can be found for around the same price.
Price was 150
The can was 22 yards away.
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dmthomp32
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Most vintage .410's are pretty pricey these days. I keep a Springfield M6 around for this purpose (just in case rifle). It's a survival rifle with a .22 barrel on top and .410 on bottom, break action, barrel selectable hammer, ammo storage in the stock. All M6's have gone up in price but are solid in construction. The lever style trigger is something to get used too. However there are newly manufactured and redesigned examples with a standard trigger and a variety of calibers.
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Ivan the Butcher
Member
I'm a big fan of 410 2 1/2 inch shells. You can fit quite a few in a pocket.
My long term in the woods gun is a Savage 24C (Camper) that is 22LR/20 gauge, it has a 20" barrel with Modified choke. I keep it in a tool box with a cleaning kit, 100 round pack of CCI Mini-mags and two ammo cases that hold twenty 20 gauge shells. I carry an assortment of ammo: 5-Slugs, 5-No 4 Buck, 5-#4 bird shot, and 5-#7.5 bird shot.
A similar set up could be done with a 410, but it would be more bulky.
Ivan
My long term in the woods gun is a Savage 24C (Camper) that is 22LR/20 gauge, it has a 20" barrel with Modified choke. I keep it in a tool box with a cleaning kit, 100 round pack of CCI Mini-mags and two ammo cases that hold twenty 20 gauge shells. I carry an assortment of ammo: 5-Slugs, 5-No 4 Buck, 5-#4 bird shot, and 5-#7.5 bird shot.
A similar set up could be done with a 410, but it would be more bulky.
Ivan
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Cabela's has this Charles Daly Triple Crown in .410 that I am oddly attracted too...but I get confused. Is it a side-by-side? is it an over-under?
Charles Daly // Triple Crown 3 Barrel Shotgun .410/26"BBL
Charles Daly // Triple Crown 3 Barrel Shotgun .410/26"BBL
