.410 Questions - Do's and Don'ts

[rory1957]

Just purchased a NIB Springfield M6 Scout 22LR over .410, breakdown survival rifle (parkerized), and have NO experience at all with .410 ammunition. I'd like to use this gun for hunting and, secondarily, for SD.

1. What are some of the do's and don'ts with .410 ammo, as compared to 12 gage ?
2. What is .410 ammo good for - what can it take down, and what can it **NOT** take down ?
3. I see that 3" shells in 00 or 000 carry 11/16 of an ounce of lead (i.e., 300 grains), whereas 3" slugs only have 1/4 - 1/5 ounce (88-110 grains). Why is this ?
4. Are there any 3" slugs out there commercially (I don't reload, yet) that have a heavier slug, as in 1/2 ounce or so ?? And if so, would I want to use such a slug for hunting/defense ?

Thanks in advance !
Rory (619-807-5382)

"Where is the weapon with which I enforce your bondage ?
You give it to me every time you open your mouth..."
--Frank Herbert

 

[kudu]

Well, a .410 is usually only good for small game and clay targets. That being said they are a legal shotgun for deer hunting here in Indiana. Keep in mind that we cannot use rifles for deer hunting. It's OK to shoot groundhogs and other varmints with a .50BMG or other smaller rifle if you want, but not deer.

In your package of an M6 I would stick to maybe #5 or #6 birdshot for taking small game, and maybe have some of the 2 or 3 piece buckshot loads for protection. The slugs are capable of quite good accuracy out of a .410 in a proper platform, but the M6 is questionable with it's squeeze type trigger. Try out some different loads and see what you and the gun likes.

 

[Fred Fuller]

See the following:

http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/v-shrake/m6.html

http://milesfortis.sixshootercommunity.org/church/akc13.htm
-with several links, including to the page listed above

========

I have far too little experience with a .410 to offer much help, it's a much smaller bore than I am used to. Hope the links help,

lpl/nc

 

[sm]

It's OK to shoot groundhogs and other varmints with a .50BMG or...

I wanna party with kudu.

I have this thing about single shot .410 shotguns. I know all about the ineffectiveness of .410 in various matters - like skeet.

Now I gave all mine away to folks in need, kids and whatnot, didnt' keep one for me. Perhaps in Tulsa I will find one I want for little money.

I like using the slugs for all sorts of stuff, from critter control, to just lobbing way our yonder to hit paint cans and busting rocks. These are akin to a .41 mag. I have never even considered looking for a 3" slug.

Now I use the 2.5" shells loaded like skeet loads in #8.5 shot for doves , and when we had quail here - for quail.

3" I use the #6 and # 7.5 shot for squirrels. #4 for Wabbits.

Truth is - I used mostly the 2.5" shells as I reloaded these and too lazy to change my MEC to do 3" hulls. I had a friend that had one of his MECs to do 3" hulls - so we did for each other , horsetraded and such.

Fiochhi shells are really really good, these in 3" patterned more consistent than most any other load. Federal was next.

In reloads, I had mostly AA hulls and some Rem. These were the OLD AA compression formed hulls we had for forty years - not this new two pc HS crap Win is putting out...[pissed smiley here].

Do realize a .410 will throw the same pattern size as a 12 ga. Seriously - pattern both at 21 yds. Difference is - pattern density, 1/2 oz shot in a target load of .410 vs a 1oz loading in 12 bore target loads.

So do pattern and KNOW the effective range of patterns. Just stalk better and use more woodscraft skills - makes it a challenge and fun - especially with only one shot.

Have fun! I always do.

 

[mr.trooper]

Well, a .410 is usually only good for small game and clay targets. That being said they are a legal shotgun for deer hunting here in Indiana. Keep in mind that we cannot use rifles for deer hunting. It's OK to shoot groundhogs and other varmints with a .50BMG or other smaller rifle if you want, but not deer.

In your package of an M6 I would stick to maybe #5 or #6 birdshot for taking small game, and maybe have some of the 2 or 3 piece buckshot loads for protection. The slugs are capable of quite good accuracy out of a .410 in a proper platform, but the M6 is questionable with it's squeeze type trigger. Try out some different loads and see what you and the gun likes.

*sigh*

i feel ya' Kudu.

.410 CAN take an Indiana Whitetail, or anything smaller. Twelve year old boys have been doing it for decades. Just keep it under 25 yards and MAKE SURE you hit vitals.

Winchester makes a good 3" slug. Its 1/4oz @ 1800fps, as aposed to the 1/5oz @ 1860 typical of the 2 1/2" slugs.

For shotshells i like Remington Express, 3" with either #6. or #4 shot. My Mossberg 500E eats them like candy.

Also, Sellier & Bellot makes two good buckshot loads. They have a 5 pellet 00 Buck load, and a 3 pellet 000 Buck load.

 

[Skoghund]

.410 has the same power and range as a 12 bore just less shot. Used to carry one on my bike to work in my youth when i worked on a farm and shot loads of rabbits and the odd pheasant with it. wish i had the .22 barrel as well.

 

[mp510]

With 6 shot in a 3" shell, I have found the .410 to be great for taking squirrels.
The small quantity of shot help keep the squirrel from getting over peppered.
I have only fired 5 .410 slugs in my life, through an HR pardner (with a full choke- not recommended) at a 25 yard pie plate. I was able to keep them all in there. The slugs I used were the 2.5" Remington rifled slugs.

 

[sm]

.410s are still ...

...Cute little buggers aren't they?

HBR got herself a single shot..."this cute little thing is too much fun!"

While not as effective as a 28 ga , there is a place for these .410s , in various platforms, including the single shot.

As I have said before, you are supposed to collect the whole set - of firearm stuff - glad to see the .410 is still being used, and discovered by folks.

 

[gp911]

Congrats on joining the .410 club. They're a unique little critter, with plenty of quirks. Plenty of meat has hit the dinner table from these underrated little guns. Have fun patterning different loads, as they can vary widely in a given gun. Some pattern downright awful, but when you find the one that works in your gun you'll learn to love it.


gp911

 

[Gordon]

In my M-6 (and my son has a stainless) we use #6 3" for bunnies and roosters and #7.5 for smaller birds birds. We like the 1/4 oz Brenneke slugs which can hit dog sized targets to 50 yards as well as most magnum pistols can. The 5 00 buck shot loads make a good defense round, being not too far behind a low recoil 12ga 8 pellet 00 load!
I use #8 or #9 in my Citori Lightning Skeet gun for skeet and quail. I keep a .410 single barrel loaded with #6 in the barn for whatever. I don't shoot my Wichester model 42 anymore

 

[Savage.250]

I also like the .410. I have an old Winchester model 37. Don't shoot .410 much any more. Seems so expensive . They seem to be upwards of $8 or $9 a box while a box of 12 ga. had risen very little over the years. It's still only $5 give/take for Winchester AA.

 

[461]

It's a reloader proposition unless you have gobs of money to throw at it. When I bought my M6 I was having so much fun I had to go out and get a MEC single stage to start loading for it which became a whole 'nuther hobby. Don't have much advice other than to just shoot the heck out of it and find what works best for you. Once you get used to the trigger it's a neat little gun(pull it from the rear and it's almost like a regular trigger). Keep an eye on it for rust as it will rust up quick on you. Good luck and have fun.