question for small game hunters with .410 ?

CR, just about every time the .410 is discussed there is always someone who has is so convinced of his own shooting magnificence that he boasts about taking the pissant little cartridge out to hunt geese. I guess he thinks it impresses the rest of us. :rolleyes:

I've done the patterning on the .410. IMO, going after Canada geese with the .410 requires the ability to call them in to 25 yards, a damn fine retriever and a complete absence of anything resembling hunting ethics.
 
For the record I have taken two geese already with a .410, I live in an area where geese are sufficiently populous that during the early season I can be very picky of my shots and take those within 20 yard, as anyone who field hunts Canadas and you will find that alot of the time if you do your job you can very nearly kill them with a handful of rice. As far as hunting ethics goes I don't believe that you can rightly judge my hunting ethics based on the fact I want to pursue Canadas with a .410 .

I don't need to impress anyone, but I happen to like the .410 and it like alot of things gets bashed alot for no reason. The .410 is at it's best for birds under 30 yards and it is almost always choked to tight to work effectively at that range. I believe that this combination of poor choking and the tendancy it has to blow patterns especially with 3 inch magnum loads lead to it's poor reputation.

Sorry to the OP for the circus this thread has become.
 
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Saiga.....is awesome... it's simi auto, and you can get 10 round Mags.
I do have an NEF single shot that I use for squirrel and rabbits.
 
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Claybuster said:
CR, just about every time the .410 is discussed there is always someone who has is so convinced of his own shooting magnificence that he boasts about taking the pissant little cartridge out to hunt geese. I guess he thinks it impresses the rest of us. :rolleyes:

I've done the patterning on the .410. IMO, going after Canada geese with the .410 requires the ability to call them in to 25 yards, a damn fine retriever and a complete absence of anything resembling hunting ethics.
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CB,
I have allready put turkeyslayer in my expert file.;) He talks like his 410/goose thing is like the completion of the African big 5 or some type of grand slam. It may surprise our expert to here that I know a few that have killed Canadas with the little gun. Some admit that it was a stupid thing to do:redface: and others learn not to talk about it. I am sure that our expert will realize his goal and can not wait til he post his boast of the great event:rolleyes:
 
Covey Ridge said:
I takes a clown to make a circus!
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There seem to be two in this thread. :)

I am sorry that my thoughts do not run parrelel to yours and I in voicing my contrary opinion I have offended you both. Maybe someday we can hunt waterfowl together or shoot some clays and you can show me the error in my shotgunning way.

It is unfortunate that we turn on each other so quickly.
 
Covey Ridge said:
CB,
I have allready put turkeyslayer in my expert file.;) He talks like his 410/goose thing is like the completion of the African big 5 or some type of grand slam. It may surprise our expert to here that I know a few that have killed Canadas with the little gun. Some admit that it was a stupid thing to do:redface: and others learn not to talk about it. I am sure that our expert will realize his goal and can not wait til he post his boast of the great event:rolleyes:
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Did they do it in the days before the lead ban?

If a shooter is using factory non-tox in .410 the options are limited. Federal and Winchester both offer steel #6, 3/8s of an ounce. That's 118 pellets per round or less than 1/3rd of the shot charge of a 1-1/4 ounce load and #6 isn't enough for geese IMO so going to larger shot means even fewer pellets.

Reloading is an option but whether it's Bismuth or Tungsten pellet counts in .410 in shot large enough to drop a Canada cleanly puts this into the category of a sorry ass stunt and something any ethical hunter should be ashamed of.
 
Smells like Powder, you would be well served by a 20ga, in whatever form feels best to hold and swing. I've used 20ga single shots for years on grouse and never had an issue with meat loss. I picked up a nice little Browning Citori Featherweight O/U this summer, which swings a little nicer than the single shot.
 
Claybuster said:
Did they do it in the days before the lead ban?
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Before and during the ban with lead shot! I have not heard of any using steel shot. I know one who claims to load bismuth. The point I was trying to make is that yes one can kill with a 410, but that does not make one an expert. The problem I see is that somewhere, sometime, someone, probably a gun writer said that the 410 is for experts. He should have said that only fools use the 410 to kill game other than fool hens.
 
If your just hunting grouse that are not flying a 410 is perfect. It is all I ever use. I have an old stevens SxS in 3 inch and love it.

If you are trying to hit flying grouse or rabbits on the run etc, I would suggest a 20 gauage. I would also go for a o/u if don't mind paying a little more, or an old SxS which would be a little cheaper.




Smells like Powder said:
Hi all,

I was wondering which shotgun in cal .410 would be best according to your experiences in the woods for bunny and partridge hunting (small game in general)?

break action vs pump action
handling, weight etc..
multiple type of shells accepted...
pros/cons...
price...

a lot of my friends try to convince me that it is the best caliber to preserve the meat on small games (?)
thank you very much for your answers

Powder
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Covey Ridge said:
Before and during the ban with lead shot! I have not heard of any using steel shot. I know one who claims to load bismuth. The point I was trying to make is that yes one can kill with a 410, but that does not make one an expert. The problem I see is that somewhere, sometime, someone, probably a gun writer said that the 410 is for experts. He should have said that only fools use the 410 to kill game other than fool hens.
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CR - The topic of shooting Geese aside, I feel that the highlighted section is an unfair blanket statement. If memory serves, one of the forum members here - doubleman? - regularly uses a CZ .410 sxs to take woodcocks/grouse on the wing.
 
Ahsan Ahmed said:
CR - The topic of shooting Geese aside, I feel that the highlighted section is an unfair blanket statement. If memory serves, one of the forum members here - doubleman? - regularly uses a CZ .410 sxs to take woodcocks/grouse on the wing.
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I doubt if it is doubleman, he lives in Athabasca - far removed from woddcock country!:D
I occasionally use an O/U FAIR Jubilee and a Fox SXS 410 for ruffed grouse, but not in the last several years, my main ruffy gun is a SXS 28.
Cat
 
catnthehatt said:
I doubt if it is doubleman, he lives in Athabasca - far removed from woddcock country!:D
I occasionally use an O/U FAIR Jubilee and a Fox SXS 410 for ruffed grouse, but not in the last several years, my main ruffy gun is a SXS 28.
Cat
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Looks like I got the username wrong. The individual I'm talking about is from ON as far as I can remember.

EDIT: The username is correct....quite glad to realize that memory cells still function reasonably well. :D

Please refer to post #71 of the following thread.....

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=362527&page=8
 
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Ahsan Ahmed said:
Looks like I got the username wrong. The individual I'm talking about is from ON as far as I can remember.

EDIT: The username is correct....quite glad to realize that memory cells still function reasonably well. :D

Please refer to post #71 of the following thread.....

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=362527&page=8
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OH CRAP!!:eek::redface:
It was I who had the WRONG NAME!!!:p
I was thinking of doublegun, NOT doubleman!
Your memory may be okay, good friend, but it looks like mine is wobbling!!:D
Cat
 
Ahsan Ahmed said:
CR - The topic of shooting Geese aside, I feel that the highlighted section is an unfair blanket statement. If memory serves, one of the forum members here - doubleman? - regularly uses a CZ .410 sxs to take woodcocks/grouse on the wing.
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AA,
Long before gun nutz and internet discussions, way back in my miss spent youth, whenever the little gun was mentioned, it was often said that the 410 is an expert’s gun. This was way back when Jack O'Connor and Ted Trueblood and other gun dudes were read by the gun nutz of the day. I don't know who should get credit for originating this statement. That does not matter. I think that the original intent of this statement was meant to be a word to the wise and I think that there are some experts who know how to shoot within the limitations of the little gun. I think that for the most part this statement is an invitation for the wanna bees to spout, which in turn gives the newbie bad information.

In light of my statement that you were so kind to put in bold, I think you are correct and that I may have spread my blanket too wide. I would revise what I said and say that there are experts and there are fools. The experts know their limitations, but the fools always think they are experts.
 
I recently went bird hunting for the first time. I took a model 42 skeet (410) 3" #6. I fired eight shots and killed seven birds. The one I missed I would not have hit with a 12, I was that far off. I shot from an ATV because I am disabled and licenced to do so. If you have never shot seated you should try it, it really makes it hard to swing. I was afraid that I would hit nothing with the 410 but after doing it I can't imagine taking anything larger. I am certainly not an "expert" and although I have shot some skeet over the years I currently shoot it about once a year and usually take a 410. If I were to shoot a round of skeet with a 410 right now I might break 18.

I don't think poorly of someone that misses or wounds with a 12 and I hope that I am not thought poorly of because I used a 410 with success. It would seem that a 410 is within my capabilities.

As to the original question, if I were buying a 410 I would be looking for an OU, for hunting or skeet
 
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