hello. i am thinking about adding a h&r 410 shotgun to my collection. i have always liked the looks and relative simplicity of these shotguns, but have no experience with the 410. i would mainly use this shotgun for pest control, plinking, and the occasional rabbit, squirrel, or grouse. my dog is a bit gun shy so i am hoping this may work to get him used to gun shots. i guess i have several questions about this shotgun. Can i expect to take small game cleanly under 25 yards? Can i shoot slugs, or the 3 pellet buck shot through this shotgun for raccoon sized varmits? thank you for your advise
410 shotgun honestly
1 - 20 of 31 Posts
A .410 is definitely up to it, the rest is down to you.jhammer said:
I've had one since the age of 10, they will kill OK but you do need to be a reasonably good shot with one. Not much more than a kiddies gun really and a good introduction to shooting from that point of view.
Over here in the UK I would say a 20 bore would be a more usual choice for anything not 12G.
i suppose that is what i am trying to decide. i have a twelve gauge and am looking for something lighter in the hand as well as the shoulder. maybe i would be better served with a 20 gauge, but the 410 really appeals to me for some reason
thanks again
thanks again
Joined
·
12,270 Posts
Wrong, buddy! The .410 will kill just as good as a 12 ga. It just has a lot less pellets and as Apples said it take good shot placement. My uncle never used anything else but an old H&R single shot .410 for rabbits, squirrels and grouse. It's a good gun, but you have to know it's limitations.Unaverse said:
I would also say it's not the best gun for a youngster because of the above issues.
Joined
·
449 Posts
I agree with halwg. It kills just as good as anything else. A slug will kill small game too. Id hate to get shot with oneHalwg said:
i do have a stainless single six that does a lot of pest control, plinking small game. i guess i see a 410 as a good counterpart. i don't mind limitations, just want to be sure that the gun can handle this. i plan to spend some time patterning and finding the right ammo but will probably reload. i already do for 12 gauge.
I used a single-shot .410 to hunt grouse in northern Idaho years ago. It did the job, within 25 yards. No problem. I used No. 6 shot because I was hunting in heavy cover.
I gave it up, though, when I purchased a Remington Model 870 Youth Model pump shotgun in 20 gauge. It's a magnificent shotgun for hunting small game in the hills, where a lot of walking is required. The handiness and light weight are appreciated. And with a slug or buckshot, you can still take deer or defend yourself against predators -- four and two-legged.
Mine has a 21-inch barrel with interchangeable chokes. It's a Plain Jane model with hardwood stock and Parkerized finish. No fancy wood or finish to agonize over if it gets a ding or scratch.
I went to the 20 gauge because I occasionally had to make shots longer than 25 yards, as grouse flew down the length of a logging road. The .410 just didn't have enough pellets to reliably do the job.
I added a black nylon sling. Makes it handy to sling over your shoulder if you need both hands for climbing up a hillside.
But I well understand your attraction to the .410 shotgun. They're cute and scream FUN! I gave my single-shot .410 to my brother. Later, I was given an old Marlin 410 lever-action shotgun made about 1929. I bagged two grouse with it some years ago.
The .410 will do the job on small game, within 25 yards. Beyond that, the pattern gets thin by virtue of having relatively few pellets compared to other gauges.
I've always liked the looks of a .410 double. You may wish to consider this, instead of a single shot.
I gave it up, though, when I purchased a Remington Model 870 Youth Model pump shotgun in 20 gauge. It's a magnificent shotgun for hunting small game in the hills, where a lot of walking is required. The handiness and light weight are appreciated. And with a slug or buckshot, you can still take deer or defend yourself against predators -- four and two-legged.
Mine has a 21-inch barrel with interchangeable chokes. It's a Plain Jane model with hardwood stock and Parkerized finish. No fancy wood or finish to agonize over if it gets a ding or scratch.
I went to the 20 gauge because I occasionally had to make shots longer than 25 yards, as grouse flew down the length of a logging road. The .410 just didn't have enough pellets to reliably do the job.
I added a black nylon sling. Makes it handy to sling over your shoulder if you need both hands for climbing up a hillside.
But I well understand your attraction to the .410 shotgun. They're cute and scream FUN! I gave my single-shot .410 to my brother. Later, I was given an old Marlin 410 lever-action shotgun made about 1929. I bagged two grouse with it some years ago.
The .410 will do the job on small game, within 25 yards. Beyond that, the pattern gets thin by virtue of having relatively few pellets compared to other gauges.
I've always liked the looks of a .410 double. You may wish to consider this, instead of a single shot.
Joined
·
6,612 Posts
My first shotgun was a savage 30 it was a beautiful shotgun I love it for rabbit hunting in long island and quil. But before you buy a 410 bore single shot look in to a Mossberg 500 410. The 410 shot shells come 20 to a box and cost more than 20 ga. or 12 ga. which is 25 to a box. for the same price of a 410 you can buy a 20 ga. and the 20 ga. will cover what the 410 and the 28 ga. can do. I now own two 12 ga. If the marlin lever action shotgun came in a 20 ga. I would own one. Can't hunt deer with a 410 bore in NYS it's 20 ga. and up. But if it's a 410 bore you want get it you can always buy a 12, 16, 20, 28, gauge to add to your collection. Life is just a bowl of cherries.
T
NY
T
NYyou raise a great point Gatofeo. i would love a 410 double, but i don't have a fortune to spend. i would appreciate any suggestions for a reasonably price gun to keep an eye out for. (less than $1000). to be perfectly honest i would like to find a shotgun that shoulders as naturally as my 336.
thank-you
thank-you
Joined
·
13,737 Posts
If it's under $1000 I would go with the Marlin 410 lever. I don't own one yet but I will. Repeater with a lever can't be beat. You can still get them at Cabela's. Wish there was a store in Florida..........
Joined
·
449 Posts
I like rabbit hunting with mine(1895 410) so much I think I'll send it to briley's for some screw in chokes this summer. Just for some extra range ya know. I dont shoot many slugs out of it anyway.
I used a .410 for years with good results on grouse and rabbits. Those shells are never on special though but 20g often is. That is why I use a 20g now. I feel little or no difference in recoil between a .410 and a 20g standard load.
Sincerely,
JDP
Team 35 # 88
Team 30-30 # 82
Team 39 # 31
Sincerely,
JDP
Team 35 # 88
Team 30-30 # 82
Team 39 # 31
Joined
·
3,240 Posts
with the cylinder bore lack of choke, it is an absolute must if you want to use it hunting. I bought mine to squirrel hunt, but the trees on the farm are old and the squirrels are more than 20 yards away in the trees. At 25 yards I only place 2 pellets of #6's on a squirrel sight in target.jnicol6600 said:
Joined
·
3,462 Posts
410 is probably my favorite gauge for rabbits and squirrels. I've got three different Stevens single shots and recently traded off a Tri-star Brittany sxs that I paid under $600 for. Beautiful little gun with screw in chokes but didn't quite fit me. I bought it off gunbroker without ever getting to handle it so it was just a tough break.
My load of choice for bunnies is 2 1/2" shells with #4 shot. 2 1/2" shells with #2's is even better but nobody makes them any more. A buddy of mine turned me on to this combo and it works amazingly well. I've rolled bunnies out to about 35 yards or better many times. Usually they only have 3 to 6 pellets in them but that's plenty for a bunny and I've never lost one that I knew I hit. They don't take much killin'. They eat better that way too. I used to hunt them with my 12 and the norm was bloodshot meat and pellets on the plate when you were done eating.
The .410 is pretty lethal on squirrels too. Here in MO we have a lot of the big red fox squirrels and they DO take a lot of killing. 25 yards if very doable and I once tried one at close to 40 yards just to see what happened. I'd been killing them so nicely at normal distances I was getting a little cocky. I hit him but needed a follow up shot. I won't be shooting any more at that distance but treetop high or 25 yards or a little more on the ground and I'm all over it.
Tomorrow morning I'll be taking my 6 year old out on his first turkey hunt and he'll be shooting the 410. I've killed one turkey with the 410 myself and know it will do the job at close range. Specifically I'll want the bird inside 20 yards and a clear head and neck shot. Heck, my buddy who got me to try the 410 in the first place once dropped a turkey cleanly that he flushed while sneaking in the woods hunting squirrels.
Now, I will say though that if you're gonna hunt with a 410 you have to be a decent shot and know it's limitations. I do actually kill a higher percentage of rabbits when hunting with my 410 than when using my 12 gauge. I'm sure it's because I know I have to be precise and take just a split second longer to make sure I'm "on" before I pull the trigger. Sure seems to work for me. In the morning when I take my boy out for turkey, I'll be sitting shoulder to shoulder with him and will whisper to him what to do and when to shoot. I'll also have my 16 sxs along for a quick follow up if needed. If he shoots a turkey like he's shot in our practice sessions I won't have to help him out but on the chance he gets a case of nerves and doesn't make a perfect shot I'll be ready. Maybe I'll be able to put up some pic's tomorrow night!
My load of choice for bunnies is 2 1/2" shells with #4 shot. 2 1/2" shells with #2's is even better but nobody makes them any more. A buddy of mine turned me on to this combo and it works amazingly well. I've rolled bunnies out to about 35 yards or better many times. Usually they only have 3 to 6 pellets in them but that's plenty for a bunny and I've never lost one that I knew I hit. They don't take much killin'. They eat better that way too. I used to hunt them with my 12 and the norm was bloodshot meat and pellets on the plate when you were done eating.
The .410 is pretty lethal on squirrels too. Here in MO we have a lot of the big red fox squirrels and they DO take a lot of killing. 25 yards if very doable and I once tried one at close to 40 yards just to see what happened. I'd been killing them so nicely at normal distances I was getting a little cocky. I hit him but needed a follow up shot. I won't be shooting any more at that distance but treetop high or 25 yards or a little more on the ground and I'm all over it.
Tomorrow morning I'll be taking my 6 year old out on his first turkey hunt and he'll be shooting the 410. I've killed one turkey with the 410 myself and know it will do the job at close range. Specifically I'll want the bird inside 20 yards and a clear head and neck shot. Heck, my buddy who got me to try the 410 in the first place once dropped a turkey cleanly that he flushed while sneaking in the woods hunting squirrels.
Now, I will say though that if you're gonna hunt with a 410 you have to be a decent shot and know it's limitations. I do actually kill a higher percentage of rabbits when hunting with my 410 than when using my 12 gauge. I'm sure it's because I know I have to be precise and take just a split second longer to make sure I'm "on" before I pull the trigger. Sure seems to work for me. In the morning when I take my boy out for turkey, I'll be sitting shoulder to shoulder with him and will whisper to him what to do and when to shoot. I'll also have my 16 sxs along for a quick follow up if needed. If he shoots a turkey like he's shot in our practice sessions I won't have to help him out but on the chance he gets a case of nerves and doesn't make a perfect shot I'll be ready. Maybe I'll be able to put up some pic's tomorrow night!
Joined
·
3,240 Posts
I use a 10ga for turkey hunting!! :
1 - 20 of 31 Posts
