anyone have .410s?

I bought a little .410 single shot break action, because I thought it would be fun for grouse... and it is! But, one incident reminded me why it is not my serious hunting shotgun.

I was out with my buddy and his dog, and as I walked up an old logging road, his dog went ahead and then veered left into the bush. Next thing I know, there is a great crashing in the bush from that direction.

Now, I am standing in the middle of the road with a little .410 loaded with a single round of birdshot, and this huge thing is coming out of the bush at me :eek:

Turns out to be a big cow moose, which runs across the road about 12 feet in front of me, and disappears on the other side.

At least, even with a 20g o/u, which I normally carry for birds, I would feel more comfortable popping out the shot and loading up a couple of slugs, in case it turned out to be a bear or something coming at me.

(I wouldn't have had time to unload and reload in this case, but still....)
 
I split the differance,i bought a 12 gauge SxS with the barrels cut to 20 inches.Then i bought a savage 410er insert off ebay for the left barrel and the choice of a 12 gauge brenneke slug or birdshot in the right barrel.
I just have to remember which trigger fires the 410 shell and gets yogi mad or one that leaves a big hole in my grouse.
 
I bought a Mossberg 500 .410 with two barrels. A 24" full choke ribbed and a 18" cyl bore plain. Both throw effective patterns to about 30 yards. The cyl bore tube just is a little wider. I am really starting to like the little gun. It is perfect for snowshoe hares and grouse. Hope to shoot some woodcock with it this fall.
cheers Darryl
 
anyone have .410's

Here in my area, people use .410's for ruffed grouse hunting. Much of our hunting territory is thick with brush; so most shots are at close range. Its a great gun when used for its purpose. Most of the guys just use the 2 3/4 shells and not the 3 inch magnums. People on the mainland of Nova Scotia laugh their heads off; fore they mainly use 12 gauge shotguns. A 12 gauge will certainly shot further, but if you misjudge your shot, there won't be much of your bird left. A .410 is also good for hunting snowshoe hares in brambles.

I myself own two, a coey single shot and a savage over under with two .410 barrels.

So don't let the 12 gauge crowd make fun of this fun little caliber; when we hunt ruffed grouse we use the .410; when we hunt ducks we use the 12 gauge.

Just my two cents worth:D
 
I have an old Cooey single break action that I use for Ruffies, usually don't end up having to shoot them on the wing. I like it cause its easy to carry in the crook of my arm when walking, just load a shell and leave the action open, when I see something I want to shoot, just snap the action closed, shoulder and shoot. I am going to pick up a Mossberg 12 gauge with interchangable barrels for playing and taking when we go quadding in the mountains. And cause I just want one.
 
The issue isn't if the 12 is better than the .410 . Of course the 12 is more versatile. I am not arguing versatilty. I am suggesting that the .410 is a practical short range small game shotgun. Not to mention a joy to carry and shoot. And remember having fun is a full time job.

cheers Darryl
 
The .410 can be a very frustrating gauge. I played with the gauge during a time when I owned a three-barrelled skeet set and it drove me insane. I could hit reasonably well with the 20 and 28 but was never consistent with the .410.

The 28 gauge however is another story entirely. :)
 
When I was about 10 years old my grandmother's cousin passed on a "Ranger" SXS .410 (made by Savage) that was one of the guns her deceased husband used to use for skeet. My grandmother used to buy me shells and I shot pigeons for her to make pigeon pie. It was a no-no to shoot pigeons on the barn roof, so I trained my sister to throw pebbles up on the roof to scare them off so I could shoot them on the wing. I still have the gun. It is nice and short to carry in the cab of the pickup truck on bush roads and use to shoot grouse when you see them. My wife used it to shoot her first grouse. If I am just grouse hunting I use my 20Ga. O/U, but the .410 is handy as a second gun.
 
Claybuster said:
The .410 can be a very frustrating gauge. I played with the gauge during a time when I owned a three-barrelled skeet set and it drove me insane. I could hit reasonably well with the 20 and 28 but was never consistent with the .410.

The 28 gauge however is another story entirely. :)
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I know this is a hijack but... Is there any reasonably priced 28ga shotguns out there (under $1500)

also, where do you find shells?
 
I've been using a Springfield .22/410 for a few years as a Mountain biking takedown gun that fits in my backpack. It sure is hard to hit grouse on the wing with it as the stock is really wierd. It sure is fun to let off a 3" magnum in a gun that only weighs 4.5lbs.
 
Savage 24 Over/Under .410/.22 is what I use for grouse and snowshoe hare. Pappy told me it cost $39.95 in 1952 or 3. Have seen a lot of .410s used by trailer folk in cracker country. They cut'em down to 16"- 20" and use for a snake gun.
 
oldbcshooter said:
I know this is a hijack but... Is there any reasonably priced 28ga shotguns out there (under $1500)

also, where do you find shells?
Click to expand...

Baikal (Russian) around $589+tax or CZ (Turkish) around $999+tax.....variety of 28ga shells available in the GTA.
 
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