School me on the SxS .410

[Londonshooter]

Ive found that when using shot larger than #7 more open chokes pattern more densely. I had once had a 410 choked improved cylinder that patterned 9/16" #5 shot so densely i could take bunnies and groundhogs at 40 yards

Many ppl will buy #4 shot size shells and shoot thru a full choke and get a wide pattern with holes all over and blame the gauge and not their shot size to choke choice. Full chokes are fine for smaller shot.
I grew up using a 410 and a 22lr with birdshot to shoot flying grasshoppers. The 410 was my primary choice for starlings and grackles and at one time red wing blackbirds
#8.5 or #9 patterns well and tight in full chokes and kills quite well. Its not meant for 40 yard crossing shots on pheasants but ive seen alot of ppl miss those shots with a heavy loaded 12ga too.
Each pellet has the same energy if the velocity and weight is the same no matter what gauge fires it.
Running hounds for cottontails a 410 and #6 shot works just fine

This is a revelation to me. As I said, I did not understand. Maybe I still do not understand how that works but take your word for it. I've sold off the couple .410's I've owned but never say never, might go that direction again.

 

[Londonshooter]

This is a revelation to me. As I said, I did not understand. Maybe I still do not understand how that works but take your word for it. I've sold off the couple .410's I've owned but never say never, might go that direction again.

I mean, it's not a revelation on the scale of discovering dried mustard or female pole vaulting on YouTube. But still...

 

[brybenn]

I mean, it's not a revelation on the scale of discovering dried mustard or female pole vaulting on YouTube. But still...

Lmao. Maria roberta. Fine athlete. Lol. Anyway it is similar to how buckshot often patterns better in more open choke. When i had a 410 with removable chokes the more open choke generally patterned bigger shot better.
The huglu i have now is actually for my daughter to grow into. Im planning on starting her off with a 9mm flobert

 

[conor_90]

Huglu is much nicer than yildiz in my experience but I had over under a. PR has cool prince of whales gripped 410s

I don’t know what all this expert talk is about, the 410 is really great in the niche of groundswatting spooked birds at close range. Very sporting, and a second round in case of a charge too

Sometimes if the wind is right you can close the gap from 22 sniping distance to 410 range on a mid haul road specimen. Ah the thrill of the hunt.

 

[Whitetail Junkie]

Prophet River has a beautiful SxS AYA No.2 in .410, exhibition AAA wood, English stock. Only $8,999.

That gun is far from exhibition quality wood ....maybe A+

 

[The Baron]

Cheap SxS's can be a crap shoot. We've got a Steven 311A .410 SxS. We love and enjoy the gun because it was Grandpa's, but the barrels are poorly regulated. Were you given an opportunity to buy a 311, I'd say they're a great gun but only if you can shoot it and see if the barrels are regulated properly. Our right barrel shoots about 18" left at 15m - far enough off to cause real issues on either clay or furry targets. Our left barrel shoots a bit high - not too bad, but that makes it oh for two in pointing the barrels the right direction.

I've not owned a recent Huglu SxS, but owned an early CZ (made by Huglu) in 20ga. It was a solid gun for the money, and although I never patterned it I seemed to have no issue hitting things so believe the gun was regulated OK. I would want to see a new Huglu in hand before buying, as I would expect fit/finish might vary slightly from gun to gun. All that said I do plan to buy myself a Huglu 200 in 28ga. someday, probably through Prophet River and just ask them to inspect it for me before shipping.

 

[Big Bad]

SxS .410s were fairly common at one time but the last one I looked at was at Sail and they couldn't even tell me how the barrels were choked. I therefore assume they were F and F, but it seemed to show a certain indifference to the consumer and I don't regard .410 as a useful gauge anyway.

 

[Falconflyer]

SxS .410s were fairly common at one time but the last one I looked at was at Sail and they couldn't even tell me how the barrels were choked. I therefore assume they were F and F, but it seemed to show a certain indifference to the consumer and I don't regard .410 as a useful gauge anyway.

Lots of firearm related stuff doesn't fall under the definition of useful.
The 410 is not something that one should run out and purchase before you have a 12 or 20, even a 28 but I think everyone should try one out at the clay target games at least a couple of times just see what reducing the payload to half an ounce does. As for hunting, there's no question that the majority of people are much better off with a larger gauge.

 

[Falconflyer]

Prophet River has a beautiful SxS AYA No.2 in .410, exhibition AAA wood, English stock. Only $8,999.

The wood on my #2 is arguably nicer than that and it isn't AAA.

 

[saskbooknut]

The problem with .410 at clay targets, is that you run out of pattern density at distances much over 30 yards.
Really good scores with .410 at Skeet are not impossible, particularly for serious competitors. Targets are no more than 22 yards away.
If you pattern your .410 at 40 yards you will see why it is hard to score well at Trap. Young eyes and fast reflexes help to get on the bird before the pattern is too thin.

 

[diananike]

I have packed a .22/410 M6 survival rifle on many adventures since I bought it 20 years ago. Like most 410s it has full choke.

In my experience the patterns are really thin with so little shot when you get out to 25yds. Especially if you use shot bigger then 7.5. This is accentuated by bushes or brush around the target.
This translates to wounded and escaped birds even when they’re shot sitting on the ground if the range is 25yds or more.
I have lost quite a few grouse due to shooting at what are quite moderate ranges that would have been in the pot with my 20 gauge.

Stick with short shots that are uncomplicated by brush and you’ll do alright.

 

[Falconflyer]

The problem with .410 at clay targets, is that you run out of pattern density at distances much over 30 yards.
Really good scores with .410 at Skeet are not impossible, particularly for serious competitors. Targets are no more than 22 yards away.
If you pattern your .410 at 40 yards you will see why it is hard to score well at Trap. Young eyes and fast reflexes help to get on the bird before the pattern is too thin.

Agreed. The 410 is the only gauge I'll use #9 shot in simply to get a more dense pattern. I always keep #8 loads in one pocket for targets beyond 25 or 30 yards though and sacrifice patter density for energy.

 

[Longwalker]

I agree with most of the comments on here, I have a .410 and enjoy it for some special hunting circumstances, and for skeet. Mine's a Browning Citori, but I have used a nice SxS belgian guild gun and a Savage / Stevens 311 too.
I agree that a .410 becomes almost useless with shot bigger than #6. The tiny bore just doesn't handle bigger shot well, and 7-1/2-8-9 are better for most purposes that require decent patterns. A load of #4 through a full choke will reliably kill a rabbit at 10 yards, but I mostly hunt birds with nickel plated lead #7's, and modified choke. It works surprisingly well on forest grouse on the wing within 10-30 yards. The hard slippery nickel plated shot slides through the tiny bore with less distortion and penetrates better in birds than plain lead pellets. In any case, premium, hard "magnum grade" shot is critical to reduce pellet deformation and pattern performance from that extremely long, uncushioned shot string.
The only times I've found a .410 to be good for training youngsters is when introducing the concept of pointing and pattern on stationary or slow flying straight away targets. It's so mild and light that beginners aren't scared of it. That's about it for advantages though.
My main shotgun for upland birds is also a Browning Citori, a 16 ga. I like that I have a pair of guns that fit, feel and handle exactly the same, but with a little weight difference. I don't have to train my self all over again when I switch to the .410.
If you want a .410, that's good enough reason to buy and try one. But don't expect it to punch above its weight, and feed it the correct ammo for best performance.
Sorry I can't help with advice on the particular model that you asked about. But then I don't know anything about dried mustard or female pole vaulters either ;-)

 

[stubblejumper]

I load only #9 for the 410 for clays, and when I did shoot a 410 on birds, I only used #7-1/2. The people that use #4 on grouse have likely never patterned the gun with those loads. I like shooting the 410 for skeet, but I no longer use it for birds, I much prefer the 28 gauge for birds. And if someone wants to ground swat grouse, a 20 gauge shooting high , is much more effective, and actually puts less shot in the breasts. And if the 410 SxS is not made on a scaled receiver, the 410 will actually be heavier than a 28 or 20 gauge based on the same receiver.

 

[Big Bad]

I remember shooting .410 slugs out of a friend's single barrel. What were they really good for I wonder? Of course in the States they sell shells for the Judge and Public Defender handguns and some of those are loaded with .40 calibre ball shot, four of them as I recall.

 

[brybenn]

410 slug will easily drop a coyote. Some of us live in caliber restricted zones and dont have a smaller caliber rifle. My buddy has a 410 and 300wm. He primarily hunts moose and grouse when further north but the 410 allows him to hunt small game and coyotes in sw ontario with me
1/4 oz at 1800fps is more than enough for 35lb coyotes and even deer

 

[BurlewLLB]

In Ontario .410 slugs are legal on Deer. Just be close and a good quiet hunter. I likean O/U .410 . Gives me a "double tap"

 

[dan belisle]

Hi guys, I have a nice upland guns in both 20 and 12 gauge.

I’m looking for a side by side .410

Anyone have any experience with the subject matter?

Thanks

I've owned a little Spanish 410 sxs since I was 10 or so. Got it for shooting grouse. It works well for that, and I just like sxs shotguns. Had an AYA for a while in the same set up, but a relative "needed" it more than me. Yes, shells are spendy. That's what reloading is for. - dan

 

[hunterhenderson]

Have you used the Huglu at all? What did you think of it?

I have many Huglu guns, have not had an issue with any,here is a 410 huglu upgrade with a 26 inch barrel and straight grip stock, its a beauty

 

[Johnn Peterson]

For MANY years, I had a single shot Ranger that was always present on Moose hunts to my cabin in the B.C. central interior. On the way back to camp after the days Moose hunt, it was placed on the dash and where it came into play was on 'ditch chickens', usually Ruffs. Supplied us very well over the years for camp meat and some battered and TASTY deep fried hors d'oeuvres for the trip home. I foolishly sold that little Ranger after I picked up a model 311 Savage SxS. The Savage serves the purpose, but somehow, it's 'not the same' as when I had the Ranger. I'll have to keep an eye open for a replacement when our gun shows resume.