[Okiecruffler]

I stumbled acrossed a Stevens 311 in .410. It's in like new condition, made in 1966 if I know my date codes correctly. Problem is, I just brought home my 9th 311 and The Wife grimaced a little. I just gave Her 3 bills to go shopping with, so I hope that has been smoothed over abit, but you just never know. I've always wanted one in .410 and feel that the collection can never be complete without it, but they are usually priced at double what a 12 or 20 is. This one is $289. I'm flat butt broke right now, so the best I can do is put it on the lay-away.

Now I know that the consensus around these parts is that the .410 is on the small side for anything larger than junebugs. Someone needs to come up with a good reason for me not to buy this little sister to go in the safe with all her brothers. And they need to come up with it quick.

Lord, lead me not into temptation. I know where it's at, I can find it myself. Man this hobby/obsession sure is expensive.

[Neal Bloom]

Not for me to keep a family apart. Reunite that little sister with her big brothers. You know you are going to do it anyway.

[Dave McCracken]

Can't provide much support,John. While no fan of the 410 when used on game, I'm as obsessive a collector as thee. And, the bitty li'l things are fun for clays and rats down at the landfill.

Get it if you want.Chances are Mrs Okiecruffler will not notice the addition.

[JohnBT]

Honestly, I'd wait and look for a better deal. :eek:

Ignore me, go buy the thing and be happy. I can't handle money either - I spent $269 for my new pocket knife, but it was marked down from $305.

John

P.S. - FWIW, the Blue Book says the .410 commands a 30% premium, but they're a lot more than that around here.

[Oleg Volk]

I am a fan of .410s in theory but not in practice. They are cute and easy on the shoulder but ammo costs more and they are surprisingly ineffective. I'd pass on it...something you'd want more and can actually use will come along soon. :p

[sm]

Okiecruffler: I'd get it.

You/We all know about the .410's payload and limits. You collect these, and enjoy shooting the 311 , and this will fill a niche.Dunno about about prices, sounds about right tho', and since on lay-a-way, you have it secured whilst you check around and see if a better gun/price avail.

Don't know if you have a Mec Jr. to load .410's but there's a gift idea for Mrs. Okie to consider for you :D

'sides, don't 311's take up less room than clothes and shoes?:)

Pride of ownership and fun.

[HSMITH]

I would put that sucker on the layaway NOW. 410 is the hard one to find and most expensive. Also the most fun to shoot. BUY IT!!

The 410 is amazingly EFFECTIVE in the hands of a good shotgunner, it is the rest of the people trying that make the 410 look bad.

[Okiecruffler]

I guess I'll go tomorrow and take a couple of snap caps with me to check the firing pins. Only a few bucks to put it back for me, and most of these I find are in the 500 to 600 range, can't let this one slip away. The Wife suggested I trade one, or even two, of the 12's for it.:rolleyes: She just doesn't understand. There's a long line of evil doers just waiting to get their hacksaws on my shotguns. I can't allow that to happen. Now if I can just find one of the allusive 10 gauges my collection will be complete and I will be happy. I promise. No really, I swear this time...

[ahadams]

I was 14 and didn't know any better - boy was my father surprised when I came back with that one! anyway, hey if they're all basically the same model, all you have to do is make sure she only sees the same number of shotguns each time, right?

okay that wasn't honest and as a lay minister I could get yelled at by my bishop for that, but none the less, I still think I'd buy the shotgun....

[sm]

HSMITH wrote:"The 410 is amazingly EFFECTIVE in the hands of a good shotgunner, it is the rest of the people trying that make the 410 look bad.".


:D I agree, all the more reason to get this .410. :D

"Good shooters are made, not born" -Misseldine.

So Okie get this thing and an keep the image of the shotgunner on a High Road...many of us have paid our dues...

Let us know if you need any additonal purchases "rationlized" ;)

[Okiecruffler]

I always come to the defense of the .410 due to the fact that I've never seen my father use anything else. He doesn't cripple, he doesn't miss, but he often refuses to take a shot. 3 inch #4 for duck and pheasant, 7 1/2 for everything else. The man is "give you nightmares scary" good. From everything I've heard, his daddy was better. He's been known to spend a few grand on a rifle to get it just how he wants it, but he's used the same Mossberg bolt action .410 for the past 25 years, it replaced the Sears and Roebuck that sits in my closet. To him, the shotgun is just a tool. But when it came time for me to get my first shotgun, he got me a 20ga. mossberg bolt action. He knew that the .410 wasn't a beginner gun, even if that's what everyone sees it as.

[sm]

quote:"...but he often refuses to take a shot."...
---
I think you nailed it right there.

Regardless of platform,many shooters did not learn this basic principle. At one time marksmanship/scatterguns were taught. Not being enforced, taught, or needed to fill the pot , these skills get lost in the pray and spray, or the equipement will buy me targets or game.

It's no secret I like the 28 ga a lot. Word is Bing Crosby only hunted with a 28, and if one was invited to hunt ducks, that was the largest bore one could use.

Many times we have hunted Doves and small game with only a .410, even single shots. Get back to basics, pick your shots, enjoy the hunt, the people...

I miss not getting out like I once did, I enjoyed all it encompassed, bag game or catch fish was a bonus.

[Powderman]

Take some snap caps to try it out? Brother, you're hooked--you're just in denial.

Just get it! Take it home, and put it in the gun safe, in good company.

As a sidebar, have you ever noticed that guns multiply like rabbits when put in the gun safe? I know this for a fact!!!

Want some real trouble? Put two guns in a safe. Close and lock it. Next thing you know, you'll have more guns inside.

Every now and then, two handguns eat real well, exercise a lot, and presto! A long gun appears.

Strange, ain't it?

:D

[Okiecruffler]

Alot of these old guns were shot very little and stored cocked for years. About a third of them that I actually try show some type of spring damage. One of these days I'm going to learn how to fix that.

I'm painfully aware of the gun breeding problem. I have a 10 gun safe that now holds 14. I bought a 5 gun cabinet, thinking I could keep an eye on them thru the glass. There's 7 in there now. And I'm ashamed to even discuss my closet, not to mention afraid to open it anymore. Remember folks, it's up to you. Have your firearms spayed or neutered.

[Dave McCracken]

870s do not breed,TTBOMK, but they do propagate.

John,I didn't even know there WAS a 10 gauge 311.

As for springs, does Numrich still have parts? Bet a few bucks invested in a new set will add a good half century to a 311's working life.

[Okiecruffler]

Little sister failed the snap cap test miserably. Very light ping on the left, and nada, nothing, zip on the right. Parts are easy to find, but I've never worked on a boxlock. But I am getting pretty good with my military surplus rifle repair, and I just finished a pretty decent trigger job on my Taurus revolver, so I'm not totally useless.But 3 bills is alot of cash to spend on something that won't go boom. I'm gonna let it set until I'm off Friday to decide.

Dave, as far as the exsistrance of the 10ga 311, I've seen them cataloged once, and I've talked to people whose sister's brother-in-law's best friend's dad had one. But I'd be lying if I said I've ever actually laid eyes on one. I'm no expert on the 10, but I'm pretty sure it won't fit on the 311 frame. All of the 10's I've ever seen were built on massive frames. I'm of the belief that it never exsisted, but I can still dream.

[Detachment Charlie]

The best things about goin' on a hunt and pulling out a .410 are the looks you get. Those who don't know look at you like your crazy. That that do know look at you with questioning respect ("If he can hunt with that, he's gotta be REAL good."). The best way I found to keep that respect is knowing what shots to pass on.
I learned on an old .410 double before anybody told me it was the most difficult shotgun to master.:rolleyes: