Mossberg "Home Defense" .410

[VonFatman]

Anybody have one of these?

I admit I do. I bought it new several years back and I regret it has not seem much use at my range/farm.

It's still pretty stiff (the action). The gun is pretty neat but I think it's maybe a little small compared to other home security shotguns.

It's more a novelty than a tool at this point since I keep a G-22 on the night stand and the .410 sits in the safe.

I admit I like the gun.

VonFatman

 

[Dave McCracken]

In my jaundiced and curmudgeonly opinion, there are good for the mission, if to be utilized by non shotgunners.

I'm no fan of the 410 on game, but...

At close range, the miniscule little skeet load packs more ME than most handguns this side of the 44 Maggie Numb. In fact, it roughly approximates the old 41 Mag police load. And, the package from Mossberg is easier to operate effectively than most folks can do with any handgun.

I'd be tempted to find a standard forend instead of that PG and go shoot starlings with it or something. Maybe skeet.

A suggestion. Measure the longest possible shot opp in your home, add a yard for GPs, and pattern at that distance with a few game loads of 6s, some of those 00 loads with two or three pellets and a few slugs thrown in for good measure. If the patterns are smaller than your palm, you've a viable weapon for inside your home.

 

[JShirley]

Have a friend who was shot at very close range with a .410 when he was a teen. Knowing someone who took a very close-range shot in the abdomen, and would have been able to keep fighting does not instill me with confidence in the round. Yeah, it was light shot, but still...

 

[Denny Hansen]

I've given a couple to two of my daughters. One still trusts hers. She lives in a rural area and keeps the HS-410 loaded with slugs.

Other daughter gave hers to my eldest grandson when she graduated to an 870 (with an LOP cut to match her rather small size) .

Denny

 

[VonFatman]

I'm thinking the Dave McCracken hit pretty close to home....the low recoil fits the "non-gun" user better than an old pushy 12 ga.

I actually was thinking it was a good gun for my wife (now ex) but she would not even come outside to try it out. Another "great idea" foiled by lack of foresight and planning!

I've offered it for sale a time or two, but never pursued the chase. I expect I will work on smoothing up the action and then see if my fiancé wants to give it a whirl. If she likes it, I'll stash it in the closet, if not, I'll find it a new home.

VonFatman

 

[kudu]

I remember about ten years back an excellent shooter that I knew got one to just play with. He shot 3 rounds of skeet with it while I was there and he broke a 74 out of 75. Not too incredible a feat, but he was hip shooting them all.

 

[SapperLeader]

When i graduate school and start reloading, Id like to start tweaking .410 loads for hd. I think this gun would be awesome for smaller woman and men, and older children. Or Just non gun people at all. I havent shot one yet, but was playing with it at a gun show. It fit my hands fairly well, though on the small side. A female friend with us that thought it was perfect though.

 

[VonFatman]

kudu,
Wow, from the hip! Now that's "hand-to-eye" coordination! Not in my wildest dreams could I ever do that.
I will have to take it to the range though, the Mosseberg rep told me the "spreader choke" on the gun would make it useless for anything but home defense!
SapperLeader,
I agree, I think when I get the action smoothed out it will be perfect for Karli! She likes guns, but has not shot a shotgun.

VonFatman

 

[kudu]

VF, At the time I was shooting AA in skeet but had never really tried hip shooting. So I tried it and found I had the nack. I never have run a straight 25 but I average 21 from the hip. Had many a 24 but have not got that one that got away. As a skeet shooter all the motion should be from the hips down for shooting. The torso and shoulders should not be moving other than what the knees and hips do.