.410 ga 3" 000 Buck vs 20 ga 3" 2 Buck?

IMO, I would go with the 20 gauge, but why a 3" chamber? I would think a 2-3/4" would suffice. It is not like you are shooting birds at 50+ yards.

I guess it depends upon the stature of the shooter. If the person is of small build and recoil sensitive, I think the .410 would be a good option. I prefer a full buttstock so the Cruiser version may not be the best answer insofar as .410 guns go, but I don't like the pistol grip fore-end on the other.

I have always wanted to procure a Mossberg .410 for just such use but never did.

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At any rate, a center-of-mass shot will produce a rathole sized wound at 7 yards or less with either the 20 or the .410. Even #6 birdshot at that short distance will produce the same result.

I don't have to choose. I have a Rem 870 Wingmaster 12 gauge 20" cylinder choke with a 2-shot mag extension. Yes, with 000 buck it will blow holes through even exterior walls, so penetration is a concern.

I mostly rely upon my 1911 .45. If I have a full-blown home invasion, that's where the 870 will come into play.

Just my $.02 worth.

Jim

Number one bk is best size for HD. Why 000 bk shot? Do you want to "kill walls"?

Many things to think about.

My mom, when she was older used my .410 mossy 500 with 2 3/4" #4 buck. More than sufficient for anti personnel work with manageable recoil.

I keep a Franchi model 48L 20ga with 2 3/4" #4 buck. Very manageable for my wife. And since I have taken deer with it I sure it will handle humans.

You don't need the longer shells with the attended increase in recoil for the ranges you typically encounter in a home defense scenario.

I think he's more interested in pellet count than recoil management. If so, the 20 ga. wins hands down. If recoil management is the issue, 20 ga. 2 3/4" # 3 Buck Federal Premium Persona Defense would be my recommendation. If you already have both platforms, load the .410 up with 3" 000 as a back up.

20 gauge for me.

I'd opt for the 20 gauge as well.

If you have a wife or people of smaller stature in your house, no doubt, get the .410. Better to hit with a .410 than miss with a 20, and smaller people have hard time handling even the 20 much less the 12, 10, or 8 gauge shotguns.

I like the .410. I shoot Trap with one (not all the time). I hunt with one.
For HD...20 gauge. The more pellet holes in the bad guys, the better.

I reload my own 410 shells and really like using 5 pellets of 00 buck shot in a 3" shell. I can put all 5 pellets into a pie pan at 20-25 yards with my Mossberg 500. I have no problems grabbing the 410 with my buckshot loads for HD since it will put 5 .36 caliber rounds in a nice tight pattern at close range. That being said, I'll grab either my 1911 or the 12 gauge loaded with 00 buck first.

I have a .410, but I have a loaded 870 20ga next to me as I type this...

DM

I would prefer the 20 gauge, simply for its greater payload. More lead is better when working with low velocities.

I do, though, think the .410 OOO five-pellet load has something to recommend it. It's common to load ten pellets of that size in 12 gauge 3" magnum, suggesting that the little .410 3" is fully half as good. That comparison is much more favorable to the .410 than one intuitively expects!

Ballistically, the .410 3" 5-pellet 000 buck loads are not so good out of a handgun like a Taurus Judge. They haven't the velocity.

Now out of an 18.5"+ shotgun bbl? That velocity is much much higher and the energy per pellet excellent. It would be like getting hit with 5 rounds of 9mm Makarov with one trigger pull, all with very little recoil and decreased blast effect over a 20 or 12 bore piece.

Interesting question.

My first response is why 20 gauge?

The .410 might be useful for people who can physically handled a heavier gun or tolerate much in the way of recoil. However .410 is not a scattergun as the 12 ga. is thought of.

12 ga. is superior in most respects to the 20 ga. The huge variety of shotshell loads makes it possible to select a load that a person can tolerate and find easier to shoot. Cowboy Action Shooters choose the 12 over the 20 for this reason.

Cooldill said:

If you have a wife or people of smaller stature in your house, no doubt, get the .410. Better to hit with a .410 than miss with a 20, and smaller people have hard time handling even the 20 much less the 12, 10, or 8 gauge shotguns.

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Wife is just a scosh over 5', soaking wet probably (women never tell) around 100#. She can handle the 20 ga like a bandleader does a baton.

jeepnik said:

Wife is just a scosh over 5', soaking wet probably (women never tell) around 100#. She can handle the 20 ga like a bandleader does a baton.

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That's good and I'm glad to here that, Jeepnik, because the 20 gauge is more effective. But there are older folks in my family that can't handle a 20 gauge loaded with buckshot. For them, a Mossberg HS410 would be ideal.

Cooldill said:

That's good and I'm glad to here that, Jeepnik, because the 20 gauge is more effective. But there are older folks in my family that can't handle a 20 gauge loaded with buckshot. For them, a Mossberg HS410 would be ideal.

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In an earlier post I mentioned that my mom use my old mossy 500 in .410. I don't particularly care for the vertical fore end of the HS, but that's easy to change.

I'd get the 20ga but use Rio 9 pellet #1 buck. If you can't find it feel free to send me a PM ... don't want to link to a vendor here.

FYI I only see Rio has it ... I'd consider any good manufacturer, just don't see any.

I think a closer match would be the 410 3" with #4 buck -vs- the 20ga load of #2 buck. At short range, I prefer pellet count to hole size as long as the pellets penetrate. #4B is about the minimum I'd want to go to ensure penetration. But then I like the Judge too as I think 4 holes of 35 caliber are better than one of 9mm per pull of the trigger.