If you don't hunt birds, is a .410 completely pointless?

i am not a hunter, that said, .410 is pointless now. For 2 main reasons - cost of ammo and availability of ammo. it is averaging a buck a shot for trap loads and 2 bucks a shot for slugs....when its available. I recently spoke with two higher ups at winchester and that round is viewed as a niche round. years ago they said they couldn't sell it because few wanted it, now its demand driven not commodity driven. Sad because it is a good round for beginners and smaller statured hunters.
 
I started on a .410 and used it from about age 6 to 10 when I got a 20 gauge. Haven't fired a shot out of a .410 since. Ever since the ammo for the .410 went through the roof in price I have failed to see any reason to own one. In the old days when ammo was cheap it was a good option to start small kids on, especially a simple hammer-fired break action Cooey, but anymore I don't really see the point.

Which reminds me, I need to box up the little .410 that I started on and send it out to my Brother for his little guy to learn on. Probably the most well-traveled .410 in history!
 
A 410 is great for getting grandkids started, or smaller statue people and lady’s , because it’s doesn’t kick the hell out of them , I have a small double 410:: it’s great to teach people about shotguns with out them getting deterred by the kick of say , a single shot that can kick them and end they interest in shooting
 
I use a Savage 24 .22/.410 back when they actually regulated barrels. With Stretch wads it is an honest 30 yard upland gun.Another over choked keeper is the Baikal single shots. The .410 is both a beginners gun and an experts. I do love my 28 and 20 ga for pheasants.
 
Boltgun said:
i am not a hunter, that said, .410 is pointless now. For 2 main reasons - cost of ammo and availability of ammo. it is averaging a buck a shot for trap loads and 2 bucks a shot for slugs....when its available. I recently spoke with two higher ups at winchester and that round is viewed as a niche round. years ago they said they couldn't sell it because few wanted it, now its demand driven not commodity driven. Sad because it is a good round for beginners and smaller statured hunters.
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410 slugs aren't even legal for big game in some Provinces. As for trap, I see no point in the 410 for trap, what I do see is young shooters being given a 410 to try trap, then they hit nothing, and lose interest in wingshooting. I do shoot about 3000 rounds of 410 every year at skeet, and I enjoy the challenge, but I would never start a new shooter with a 410, a gas operated 20 gauge is a far better choice, as they will actually hit some targets, and enjoy themselves. As for cost, I load the 410 for about $9/box, which is actually cheaper than loading 12 gauge. For bird hunting, the 28 gauge is far superior for wingshooting.
 
I am by no means going to suggest you not get a .410 as many of the skeet shooters at our club actually use them to make the game even more challenging. Personally I have enough trouble doing it with standard shell sizes. Like you I do not hunt birds, sometimes the occasional rabbit but most of my shooting is at the range...Trap...Skeet...Action shooting which I don't take too seriously just out for the fun. I also wanted a light weight shotgun to mess around with. For me I went with 20ga as I already had one that I shoot with so decided not to get into a new shell. Anyways I found there is quite a bit of variety in what is available in 20ga and its fairly comparable in price to 12. I started out with the Mossberg Bantam but found it needed an adult stock to be comfortable to shoot which I later sold to a friend who's kids were getting to the age they needed a gun to learn with so decided it would be better in their hands. It was a well made gun but think it would have been better in 410 as it had quite a bit of recoil in 20 although he said his kids were good with it, keep in mind recoil is sort of based on gun fit. I picked up another 20ga a couple years ago a Remington LW Special with 20" barrel, scaled down mag tube and forend with English stock. For me it is a great fit is comfortable to shoulder and fire and is as light as a .22 rifle to carry around it is by far the favorite shotgun that I own and would never sell it. Although if I did not shoot 20ga already I would be just as happy with one in .410 good luck on your quest.
 
I have owned several when I started hunting upland birds. But honestly a 12g with target shells is cheaper to shoot and more effective. I don't care about kick as when I shoot at a bird I rarely notice. My father-in-law shoots grouse with a 410 and always gets mad with my using a 12g due to pellets in the meat. Funny thing is I usually have less when we clean the birds.
 
stubblejumper said:
410 slugs aren't even legal for big game in some Provinces. As for trap, I see no point in the 410 for trap, what I do see is young shooters being given a 410 to try trap, then they hit nothing, and lose interest in wingshooting. I do shoot about 3000 rounds of 410 every year at skeet, and I enjoy the challenge, but I would never start a new shooter with a 410, a gas operated 20 gauge is a far better choice, as they will actually hit some targets, and enjoy themselves. As for cost, I load the 410 for about $9/box, which is actually cheaper than loading 12 gauge. For bird hunting, the 28 gauge is far superior for wingshooting.
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Exactly right. If a .410 is the gauge experienced shooters use to make clay targets more challenging it is an abysmal choice for new shooters. I use a 20 gauge semi-automatic with a shorter stock for young shooters. I double up on hearing protection because in my experience it's the noise of the shot that affects them more than the recoil.
 
I have a bunch that I use for grouse, but I also reload for 410 with a simple reloading kit. I also keep a Savage .22/410 at the cottage or when camping. If you aren't going to reload I'd pass, on the plus side their seems to be alot of 410 shotguns for sale cheap due to ammo costs.
 
Bought a 410 mossberg 500 years ago even though my dad told me "ammo is expensive" the old man was right but I did find some
7 1/2 Going to use them for 5 stand and maybe even try 16 yard trap, why not, I also love the 16 gauge and same problem ammo is hard to find and pricey but what can you do, reload? Maybe or just wait for sales.
 
In my opinion it’s fairly useless unless you’re hunting small game. If you had a Taurus judge and could pack the same ammo then it would be cool. I have never owned one, I’m a 12ga guy but as a grouse hunter they have definitely gained my interest.
All the grouse hunters up north use them.
Consider a 20ga as it’s more versatile?
 
Love grousing but ended up hating the 410 I picked up, it was bolt action and not great at it, so I ended up giving it away. It shot fine but just felt it could have been more elegant to operate. I was back and forth between wing and neck shooting, but 22 neck shooting is all I do now for grousing. Don't remember ever second guessing giving the thing away.
 
I feel sorry for anyone who has not experienced the joys and frustrations of shooting .410 skeet. If you reload it is the cheapest shell use.
 
pc9 said:
Best answer
A ) because one can
I don’t hunt but I own many 410 guns. I enjoy shooting every one of them.
Yes ammo is expensive but so is everything else.
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^agreed. I had an old 84 in 410 which wasn't nice to carry or shoot. It was a family gun but I liked it less every time I picked it up. Tried trap with it and hit nothing. (average score with a 12 those days was about 21/25) Got sold with no regrets.

Years later, after a few fruitless....warm October grouse hunts lugging a 20ga and a 16ga around and never pulling the trigger...I literally thought "if I'm going to get skunked anyway, may as well be with a lighter gun" I always liked pumps, liked those older Lakefield/Mossberg models with wood stocks and VR=picked one up. Gun was nicely broken-in, obviously well used with a slightly dented VR in one place, but what a pleasure to carry. Eventually spotted a spruce grouse, and other than pigeons..I'd never shot any wild came with .410. At least a 25 yard shot with that FC barrel, I put the bead on it's noodle and lifted until the barrel just blocked it and "crack!". Perfect/clean hit and instant result. My nephew popped a couple more that day with it too, a couple grouse flushed a short distance into the bush and hitting them in that thick brush=shooting through some twigs/small branches. Got /em both!

So, for clays-I might do a little better these days trying with .410...but no thanks. lol I'd rather miss with 12/20 and the cost tied to that. I was impressed with what .410 can do in that job, and you could carry that 410 for a week with no trouble. I wouldn't start or learn with 410, but a fun addition if you're already covered-off on more useful gauges.
 
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