Henry AXE 410 - Home defense??

dogtown tom said:
Yet Paul isn't using a Taurus Judge or a Henry Axe is he? ;)
His results are from shotguns with a barrel lengths of 18.5" and 20".
Click to expand...
Definitely not using a Judge but for some purely unknown reason the AXE appears to be a tad bit longer than a Judge. Or maybe it's just an optical illusion........ :cool:
 
kje54 said:
Definitely not using a Judge but for some purely unknown reason the AXE appears to be a tad bit longer than a Judge. Or maybe it's just an optical illusion........ :cool:
Click to expand...
I wasn't comparing the Judge vs Axe.........but what he's demonstrating in that video.
I think the Judge is one of the most useless revolvers in history, doing nothing another revolver or pistol could do better. The Axe is even less useful.
As many have pointed out you can spend a lot less $$$$ and have a better firearm.

Your thread is titled "Henry AXE 410 - Home defense??" not ".410 pump shotgun home defense??".
 
dogtown tom said:
I wasn't comparing the Judge vs Axe.........but what he's demonstrating in that video.
I think the Judge is one of the most useless revolvers in history, doing nothing another revolver or pistol could do better. The Axe is even less useful.
As many have pointed out you can spend a lot less $$$$ and have a better firearm.

Your thread is titled "Henry AXE 410 - Home defense??" not ".410 pump shotgun home defense??".
Click to expand...
While I agree concerning the Judge but of course everyone has an opinion. Doesn't make them right just makes them biased like we all are to one degree or another. Oh and it's not my thread, I'm not going to be buying one, I just like having fun with nay-sayers....... :cool:
 
dogtown tom said:
If homemade grape shot in a 12gauge worked, LE would have been using it fifty years ago. They didn't.
Its back page Soldier of Fortune magazine novelty ammo, along with "Dragons Breath" and "Fang Face" pistol rounds.
Click to expand...
The Handloader magazine did an article on the Tarus 45/410 where they did load some .410 up like that.
 
triplebike said:
I would think it would make a pretty decent home defense
Click to expand...

I fully understand being intrigued by interesting firearms, but I can't agree that this particular one is good for the purpose. There's a very good reason "Mare's Leg" long guns are not in serious use (and it isn't because they're something new).
The ergonomics on it are going to be far behind other guns chosen by professionals and when coupled with the gauge it can't make up for the handling/sighting.

If you have a grand to spare, buy if for fun, but don't bet your life on it.
 
A little note on old ammo. I inherited my grandpa's 410 and two boxes of ammo, one 2 1/2" length and the other 3" in 1964 or 65, i forget which year. I am still using that ammo for gophers and it seems just as potent today as it was then. That also attests that shots at gophers are few and far between. I have plenty of the **** things. They seldom show themselves during daytime.
 
doubleh said:
A little note on old ammo. I inherited my grandpa's 410 and two boxes of ammo, one 2 1/2" length and the other 3" in 1964 or 65, i forget which year. I am still using that ammo for gophers and it seems just as potent today as it was then. That also attests that shots at gophers are few and far between. I have plenty of the **** things. They seldom show themselves during daytime.
Click to expand...

I’ve never shot a gopher, but I’ve been astonished at how good most birdshot loads pattern from my full choke single barrels. As you said, they are almost like using a rifle. Winchester trap loads are extremely dense at 20 to 25 yards. Slugs and buck were usually disappointing, but the Federal 2.5 and 3” 000 has been great. I also dropped a lot of squirrels with a 410 in my youth, and it did the job. This doesn’t mean the Axe is a great choice for home defense, but people do underestimate the 410.
 
Well I tested buckshot out of my Mossberg Shockwave with its 14" barrel along with my Mossberg 500 with the 18.5" and 24" barrels. Guess what, 3" 410 buckshot loads work quite well out of both guns. The pattern does not really open up a whole lot until you get past 15-20 yards. And the 5 pellets of 000 buckshot out of a 410 still has plenty of penetration at 25 yards with an average spread of 12-14 inches.

Here are two threads I started while testing various 410 self defense rounds out of a smoothbore barrel.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/410-mossberg-shockwave-range-results.870140/

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...sberg-500-range-results.872726/#post-11602972

I personally do not have any problem using a 410 loaded with 3" buckshot loads for home defense. They will do the job. Now not all 3" buckshot loads are equal. Some are loaded to around 750-775 FPS while others are loaded hotter to around 1000-1100 FPS. The only difference between the hotter 410 buckshot loads and a 2 3/4" 12 gauge buckshot load is the number of pellets per shell.
 
Last edited:
Now to answer the OP's question about the Henry Axe. It would not be ideal for some people but will work just fine for others. I prefer the Mossberg Shockwave over the Henry Axe due to ergonomics. And once one of the local shops gets the Kel-Tec KSG410 in stock, I will be checking that out too. It is the same length as the Shockwave and you still get an 18" barrel while being able to shoulder the weapon.

Used the shorter NFA version of the Shockwave while in the Army. We mainly used them for breeching operations. The US Marshals and US military teach the push/pull method of shooting these types of firearms. It is a good technique that works well.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

W
  • Locked
Henry Side-Gate .410 Shotgun
Replies
21
Views
998
wiscoaster
W
whatnickname
  • Locked
Henry Lever-Action 410 - Followed me home
2
Replies
26
Views
3K
12Bravo20
12Bravo20
G
  • Locked
.410...what's it good for?
2 3
Replies
69
Views
4K
sig220mw
S
L
  • Locked
Anyone taking advantage of the new .410 ammo intended for the Taurus Judge?
2
Replies
42
Views
8K
KodiakBeer
K
G
  • Locked
28 gauge/410 bore
2
Replies
30
Views
2K
Virginian
V
Back
Top