410 Confusion

[lizziedog1]

Why do some folks insist of adding the word gauge to 410. A 410 gauge shotgun would be a rather useless weapon. It might handle dragonflies, but not much more.

Also, why didn't they use a gauge number for this bore size?

 

[BADUNAME37]

http://www.google.com/search?q=why+...d=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&ie=utf8&oe=utf8

...and here: https://forums.cabelas.com/archive/index.php/t-18437.html (go down nine posts to Citori's Post - and also check Citori's post two down from that - eleven posts from the top)

 

[oneounceload]

You could use the word "bore" for any of the various shotgun barrel sizes from 4 to 67 "gauge"

 

[Milkmaster]

Why do some folks insist of adding the word gauge to 410. A 410 gauge shotgun would be a rather useless weapon. It might handle dragonflies, but not much more.

I have wondered the same thing. I reconcile myself to it this way...

It is for the same reason some people pronounce "Alzheimer’s" as "All Timer's" or "Old Timer's". Some just do not know any better. That is why we tolerate and forgive them as they do for us and our short comings.

 

[mopar92]

I have some very old Winchester shells that say .410 gauge shotgun .

 

[PapaG]

410 gauge has become common for what was formerly referred to as the 410 "bore", the true diameter its bore. 67 gauge is what it would be if properly called by gauge nomenclature.

For what it is worth, there was no "410 3" Magnum" until Taurus started calling its Judge in 3" chamber a "magnum". There were only 2 1/2 and 3" 410 shells.

Kind of like the 45 Colt morphing into the 45 "Long" Colt. Couple of guys at the shop had quite an arguement on that one a few weeks ago..All my old boxes of 410 3" shells are called 410 3" shotshells and all my old 45 Colts are called 45 Colts...not a magnum or long Colt in the bunch, nor do any of my fifty or so loading manuals refer to either as a "magnum" or a "long" anything.

 

[45crittergitter]

Let's not forget calling a single instrument "binoculars," a rifle a "gun," an LED diode a "bulb," etc.

 

[JohnBT]

a) because that's what people call it.

b) because that's what Winchester/Olin calls it:

"410 ga. 2 3/4"" Xpert® Xpert® Steel Loads"

http://www.winchester.com/Products/shotshell-ammunition/xpert/xpert-steel-loads/Pages/WE413GT6.aspx

Gauge: 410
Shell Length: 2 3/4"
Velocity: 1400
Shot Size: 6
Dram: Max
Oz. Shot: 3/8

 

[Janos Dracwlya]

+1 to Milkmaster.

 

[Bud Tugly]

IMHO it would make more sense to scrap the gauge system and just refer to all shotguns by bore size. The antiquated gauge system is just confusing, especially to beginners and non-gun types.

10 gauge = .775" bore
12 = .729"
16 = .663"
20 = .615"
28 = .550"
.410 = .410"

 

[ldhulk]

Where would all the fun be if you started doing things in a way that made sense? When a .308 is smaller than a .303, a 38 special is actually a .35, but a 38-40 is a .40, 44's are really .43, a .256 Newton is actually .264, a .404 Jeffery is .423, etc, etc, it makes it all interesting. Besides, between backboring and extra full chokes, its hard to say what the real size should be.