Is .410 right for me?

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CmpsdNoMore

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I've been wanting to get into trap and/or skeet shooting since the first time I shot clays last summer.

I have a physical condition called "costochronditis". To put it simply, when I'm stressed, lift/pull something too heavy or shoot a lot, I get sharp pains in my chest that feel like a heart attack.

I don't shoot a lot right now, but I know shooting about 15 factory loads of 8mm Mauser out of my K98 can make my sore and tired for two days.

I have a 12 Gauge shotgun which is ok to shoot, but not a lot.
I've been thinking about getting a 20 Gauge semi-auto shotgun (Remington 1100) but I'm not sure if shooting a lot would be too much for me.
I'd like to eventually get good enough for competition, but this is mainly just for a hobby and recreation.

So, I've been thinking about getting one of those .410 single barrel guns from H&R/NEF.
I've heard that patterns with .410 can be "bad" and that they're hard to hit clays with.
The few times I've shot trap and sporting clays I did pretty good (60% - 80) with a 20 gauge and I would consider that pretty good for being my first couple times shooting clays, not to mention my first time with shotguns.

Any help and suggestion will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
 
Lots of good one out there.

Hey there:
There so many good choices. But in your case I would stick to an auto loader to get rid of the recoil. The 28 ga. is OK then the 20 ga. The 1187 will recoil even less then the 1100. There are 2 gas ports in the 1187. Only one in the 1100. There should be a light weight model also. With trap legal loads recoil will be very low. The 1100 is still a good choice. Any of the straight stocked guns like the H&R you mentioned will have more recoil then the autos.
Good luck. and have fun.
The .410 will be hard to master in that game.
 
Any of the straight stocked guns like the H&R you mentioned will have more recoil then the autos.
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Yeah. Couple years back a buddy and I shot two rounds of trap with NEF 20 gauges. We both had bruised shoulders after that.

Light gun == heavy recoil.
 
I can't comment about the Remington autos(never shot one), but there are other ways to cut recoil, too. Definitely put a good recoil pad on the above autos, or think about getting a Knoxx SpecOps recoil reducing stock on a 20 guage. I've shot 75 rounds of 12 guage through my brother in law's 870 with one of those on it, and it hardly hurt at all. I have to think that one of those stocks on a 20 guage would be about the lightest recoil you're gonna get in a shotgun that would actually be effective, too. Those stocks are getting fairly common, so see if you can find a friend with one (it'll probably be 12ga) and put a light load through it. If that's ok for you, a 20 guage will be even better.
 
JSD said it before I could throw it out there. The knoxx specOPs stock has had some really good things said about it. As far as reducing felt recoil. Abot the onlt negative I have heard of is getting used to the feel of it.
 
Great advice so far.
I wouldn't be able to get the spec ops stock from Knoxx because I'm moving to California (boo) this fall and you can't have anything fun (pistol grip) on an auto-loader.

I'll probably just get a recoil pad and a padded shooting vest.
 
I wouldn't be able to get the spec ops stock from Knoxx because I'm moving to California (boo) this fall and you can't have anything fun (pistol grip) on an auto-loader.
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You're not out of luck. Knoxx also sells a stock for shotties that is recoil absorbing, and looks like a normal stock (no pistol grip.)

http://www.knoxx.com/products/CompStock.php

The ony issue is that they don't suggest any of their recoil-absorbing stocks for autoloaders, only pumps.
 
My 1100 in 28 is a lot of fun to shoot.....I'm used to a 32" 12 O/U, so I had to add an 8oz. mag cap weight to smooth out my swing, and now it's even better and softer shooting....the only drawback is the price of 28 gauge ammo - best if you load your own...
 
The .410 isn't right for you. It's a very frustrating gauge.

What is right is a 28 gauge Remington 1100 Sporting. Put a thicker recoil pad on it and it is very soft shooting and will hit targets better than a .410.
 
The H&R in .410 is simple, light, inexpensive, and has almost no recoil. Everybody should have one for when you just feel like messing around in the woods. Probably not a good choice for clay shooting unless you just do it for fun and are pretty casual about it.

To minimize recoil if you're a little more serious about shooting it's hard to beat an auto in 28 or 20 gauge.
 
Never was sure what I'd do with a .410. Trapshooting wouldn't be one of the things I'd try.

I know a couple guys who had a friendly bet: who could shoot a straight at the 16 yard line with a .410. Note that this is not difficult with a 12 Gauge, for someone who has shot trap for 25 years, like these guys. They both managed to do it. Each of them spent $1500 in ammo, trying, and that was when ammo could be reloaded for about 2 bucks a box.

That's how hard it is.

28 would be a much better option. Or 20 Gauge handloads.
 
There are 3 main factors I see here that determine recoil. 1. The energy of the ammo. 2. The weight of the shotgun. 3. The type of recoil pad you have.

I'd say that if you can find light recoil ammo, the extra weight of a 12 guage would actually be an advantage. I was quite surprised to find out that my slightly lighter 20 guage kicks as much or more than my 12. I've never tried very light recoil ammo, but if you already have a 12 gauge sitting around, i'd give it a try. Maybe someone with experience with light recoil ammo can chime in, but I see on the internet there is "Federal Premium Gold Medal Extra Lite Low Recoil" 12 guage birdshot. "Extra Lite Low Recoil"... sure sounds promising.

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=73655


As far as weight is concerned, it's a good thing in terms of reducing felt recoil, but a bad thing if the gun is to heavy for you to carry or aim or track targets.

As far as recoil pads go, there is absolutely no shame in adding a nicer recoil pad to your shotgun. In fact, you could double up a butt recoil pad with a shoulder worn pad... I'm sure that you could shoot all day if you did that.

Basically .410 is pretty widely recognized as really darn hard to use. It's touted as a beginners caliber, but it just doesn't have the shot spread to be effective in anything but the hands of a pro. At least that's what the lore says, I haven't shot it myself. :rolleyes:
 
BTW you can get 7/8 oz. wads for 12 Gauge. You'll probably have to load them yourself, but it's not hard. It takes a lot less fiddling than loading brass ammo -- in fact, essentially no fiddling once you're set up. Just pull a lever and position the hull and wad, repeat.

7/8 oz. of #8s actually works quite well for trapshooting, and the recoil from a full-size 12 Gauge is very light. With a good recoil pad, the felt recoil is zero.
 
I know a couple guys who had a friendly bet: who could shoot a straight at the 16 yard line with a .410. Note that this is not difficult with a 12 Gauge, for someone who has shot trap for 25 years, like these guys. They both managed to do it. Each of them spent $1500 in ammo, trying, and that was when ammo could be reloaded for about 2 bucks a box.

That's how hard it is.

28 would be a much better option.
Click to expand...
The first time I shot my 28 gauge o/u at trap I ran 25 straight. Then I shot the second round and hit 24.:)
 
Of all the guns I own, my .410 tamer is the most useless one by far. I still love it. It's a great little gun to throw in the jonboat while fishing, a great camp gun. The .410 is not a trap cartrige. It is a viable round with buckshot or slugs for self defense, and with 4 shot it will take most small game at close range.
 
The .410 is for perfectionists. Fun, but very frustrating.

Remember Newton's Laws - for every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction. That governs recoil, too. Heavy loads or high velocity going forward or a light-weight gun going backwards translates to high recoil.

The heavier the gun, the less the recoil. (There's a reason the old elephant guns weighed 16 or 18 pounds!) Find a 20 gauge (28 if you are either really good or a show-off) weighing the same as your present 12. Stay well away from light weight versions; they are designed for ease of carrying, not recoil reduction.

Go for light loads at relatively low velocities.

If your gun doesn't already have a good recoil pad, get one installed. They're cheap enough.

If all that doesn't work and you have the cash, talk to a good stockmaker and get a stock fitted to your own body. Pricey, but it's amazing how well a really well-fitted stock feels.
 
I'm a lifelong hunter and not a clay shooter, but I've shot hundreds of grouse, rabbits, woodcock, and squirrels with a .410. Within a range of 25 yards and using 3" shells with #6 or 7 1/2 shot it's deadly on these critters. The lightness of most .410's gives them an advantage over heavier ones in tight cover where you either get a quick shot or none.

They are totally inadequate as a long range gun, and certainly not for everyone. OTOH people who think they useless toys must never have seen them in action in their proper domain.
 
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