Pump 410s - Tell me about them

[danez71]

I don't know why... maybe because of RC's comments a while ago on the Mossberg 410 super mini Bantam ... but I'm interested in them.

It would be mostly a fun gun. My knowledge of shotguns is pretty limited and Ive only shot a 410 a few times on a couple of occasions.


I'd use mostly use bird and buckshot but I don't know anything about 410 slugs.

Generally speaking in terms of common calibers, what would a 410 slug be equivalent to? What kind of game at what distance?


Is there anyone else beside Mossberg that's still making pump 410's? Maybe with a cross-bolt safety?


Looking at Mossbergs website, can someone explain the difference between the 500, 500 youth, the 505, and 510? (Is it just a stock difference?, receiver difference?, barrel compatibility?)

And why would there be a +1 capacity between the two 510...type on their website?


500 24" Full/Fixed 6 shot

500 Youth Bantam 24" Full/Fixed 5 shot

505 Youth 20" Mod/Fixed 5 shot

510 Youth Mini Bantam 18.5" Mod/Fixed 4 shot (Mossy Oak model # 50355)

510 Youth Mini Bantam 18.5" Mod/Fixed 3 shot (Blk model # 50358)



Just looking for a campfire discussion.

Thanks for any help.

 

[rcmodel]

I think it's a typo on their website.

Same gun, different color.

The 510 bantam has a smaller receiver, and is noticeably smaller & lighter then the 500, or 500 Youth.

Not sure about the 505.

rc

 

[Candyman87]

I've got the Mossberg 500 in .410. Good little gun. As far as I know they're the only major manufacturer currently putting out a .410 pump.

Until not too long ago, Remington made the 870 in .410. But they're going for a pretty penny. I can't justify dropping $600 on a fun gun.

I'm an 870 guy over the Mossbergs. But dollar for dollar I think the current 500's are a better value than the 870's on the used market. Can pick one up at Wally World for around $350 or so last time I looked.

 

[witchhunter]

I have a couple of 870's one Wingmaster and one Express. I love em!

 

[Candyman87]

I have a couple of 870's one Wingmaster and one Express. I love em!

I'm quite jealous. They were discontinued too soon. Then again I'm sure there weren't that many people buying. Us .410 guys seem to be a bit of a weird bunch

 

[godale]

i let go of a mossberg 500 410 going through a divorce years ago very sad that i did.

 

[mothernatureson]

Mossberg 410

If you are an adult,buy the full size model with the 24" barrel. I have one and really enjoy using it. I paid about 300 dollars for mine 2 years ago at Mills Farm Fleet. The other mossy 410 models are quite small, meant for young shooters.well made and functions nice. Love it for dove hunting after rotator cuff repair.

 

[ford8nr]

The HOLY GRAIL of pump .410's ... WINCHESTER MODEL 42

Still looking for one priced that won't cause a divorce. lol

 

[AI&P Tactical]

Nothing fun about the cost of the ammo. Promised the boy I would take him Squirrel hunting but I only had a few rounds of .410 left as I have been using it for Gopher control. A 20 round box of 7 1/2 game loads was $16.89 plus over a dollar sales tax. So I am a few cents shy of $18 for 20 rounds of .410. I guess an occasional hunt that is OK but not for range fun. Good thing the boy is big enough for the 20ga as that is what he will use on the next hunt. I can get 50 rounds of 20ga for that much.

Yet, it is my pest control for Gopher Cong and a good option to start a youth shooting with. Just not fun for Grandpa at the cash register.

 

[danez71]

Thanks for the replies.

Randomly addressing some of the comments...

I'm on the shorter side of average - compacts, etc, often fit me best.

Yes, ammo is high for 410. That's a big part of why Ive never really considered one.

Id be hard pressed to go over the 20" bbl so that leaves the 505 and 510 unless the barrels are interchangeable.


Does anyone know if the barrels are interchangeable between the 500,505,510?

And, what would a slug be comparable to? Something like a 10mm or 45LC?



This began when I started wanting a 20ga. I have a Mav 88 security and bought another 20" or 21" barrel with removable chokes at a smoking price. I prefer the cross bolt safety just because of familiarity.

Im not blinded by loyalty in this case so I started looking at the 20ga 870 Compact & Compact Jr (those have cross bolt safety removable chokes ) and the Mav 88 Youth (Fixed/Mod with cross bolt).


While on the Mossberg site looking at the Mavs, I saw the 410 and remembered RC's posts and I thought I should be more opened minded.

The reason I ask about the slug is that if it isn't at least around 10mm or so, the whole idea looses some luster.

 

[ford8nr]

And, what would a slug be comparable to? Something like a 10mm or 45LC?

Some guns - READ CAREFULLY - are DESIGNED to shoot 45LC and .410. The Judge and TC Contender (with choke tube) to name a few. The .45 has a bigger bore diameter though. The .410 slug is actually smaller then .410 around .39 or 10mm if I remember correctly.

 

[BLB68]

Second paragraph of this article on .410 slugs may be of interest, comparing power of some slugs to 10mm:

http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2014/5/20/410-slugs-for-deer-hunting/

 

[longknife12]

During my skeet days, I've had Browning O/U, 870 and a win 42. The 410 is a most humbling gun! Of all, I thing the 42 was the most fun.
Dan

 

[12Bravo20]

I've had my Mossberg 500 since 1985 or 1986 and I've never had any problems with it. It has been my go to shotgun for small game (including quail and dove) from day one. I ended up buying a MEC reloader in 1996. Even with current prices for components, it's still way cheaper to reload .410 shells compared to buying factory ammo.

 

[natman]

Generally speaking in terms of common calibers, what would a 410 slug be equivalent to? What kind of game at what distance?

A 410 slug weighs between 88 to 110 grains. That's very light for caliber, which severely limits penetration. It's a gun, it fires a projectile, if you hit a deer in just the right spot it might even die. But then again it very well might not. At least not right away.

Hitting one in the right spot would be difficult, given the smooth bore and limited sights on most 410 shotguns. All in all the 410 slug is one of the worst possible choices for hunting almost anything. Almost any centerfire rifle round would be a better choice.

 

[Candyman87]

I've had my Mossberg 500 since 1985 or 1986 and I've never had any problems with it. It has been my go to shotgun for small game (including quail and dove) from day one. I ended up buying a MEC reloader in 1996. Even with current prices for components, it's still way cheaper to reload .410 shells compared to buying factory ammo.

And I'll have a MEC soon for .410 as well... my MEC 12 doesn't get much use due to the low prices of 12 gauge. But in .410 I can save a pretty penny, especially considering I already have all the components.

 

[Dirty Bob]

My adult-sized 500E now wears an 18-inch barrel, thanks to a phone call to Mossberg to order a barrel. They were quick. With its stock shortened by an inch and the 18-inch CYL barrel in place, my .410 pump weighs only 4-1/4 lbs. That's light enough to take almost everywhere!

+1 on reloading: the .410 really rewards the reloader with both cost savings and the ability to try new shot loads. The stocks of .410 around here are often somewhat limited, with more buckshot (for pistols) than anything else.

The 500E is light, quick, and fun.

Dirty Bob

 

[PabloJ]

The HOLY GRAIL of pump .410's ... WINCHESTER MODEL 42

Still looking for one priced that won't cause a divorce. lol

Look for field grade B.C. Miroku made for Winchester and Browning when they were both owned by "Coco Channel". There were very good quality guns and can be had for under $1000.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Dicks sporting goods where I live often has one of those Mossberg 410s. It is a dandy little shotgun. Nice and compact. At some point I want to get one.

 

[jeepnik]

My first shotgun was a Mossy .410. Still have it. Like most I graduated to larger gauge shotguns as I grew up.

Somewhere along the way I discovered the 20 gauge was perfect for a lot of the things one uses a shotgun for. Then I rediscovered the .410.

It's more challenging to use. And more satisfying when one uses it well. I have various single shots, O/U's, SxS', pumps & autos. Sadly I don't have lever action .410 I keep meaning to correct that situation, and I guess I should get back on the trail.

 

[kudu]

I've got a couple single shots, an 1100 skeet grade, an 870 Wingmaster, a Win M42, a Huglu SxS, and a .410 as part of my Kolar tube set in my Beretta 682.
As far a .410 slugs, I have always felt they were about on par with a .357 out of a handgun, just marginal for deer hunting here in Indiana.

 

[loose noose]

I use a Mossberg 500 .410 for dove and quail in the early season, mine has really got slick to use since shooting it quite a bit. Naturally I reload for it, as the lead, which is the most expensive component, takes very little to load a box of 25 shells. (1/2 OZ. of shot) I purchased the 18" rifle barrel (Cylinder bore) just to see how it performed. The rear sight was less than formidable, so I had to repair it to make it shoot much better (came with fiber optic sights). Now it shoots really accurate out to 25 yards, however much further than that is a crap shoot. I do enjoy shooting that little gun though, and you would be surprised at how deadly it is on quail and doves out to 20-25 yards, providing you do your part. It definitely makes you a much better shooter as far as shotguns go.

 

[danez71]

Thanks for replies. The caliber comparisons are really helpful too.


It kinda sounds like a slug is coyote at 50yds or buck shot for HD at living room distance as a point of reference.

I haven't hunted in 20 yrs and I'm not interested in using 410 slugs for hunting now either.


I use to shun the .410 thinking "Why?".

I originally wanted a 20ga but ended up with a 12ga for a few reasons.



Now that Im thinking of another purchase, I'm wondering "Why bother with the 20ga when I have a 12ga....Why not go with something that the difference will be more significant and get a .410 instead?".


Eventually Id like to get both a 20ga and .410.


(slightly derailing my own thread)

Could 12, 20, 410 and 9mm all be reloaded using 1 press or does the difference in length require two different presses?


Eventually Id like to get both a 20ga and .410.

 

[loose noose]

daniz71, I have the .410, 12ga as well as the 20ga, any more I generally use the 20ga. for bird hunting as the season progresses, and the birds flush at a longer range. I use the 12ga's for trap and the other clay games.

Generally speaking, you will need a shotgun press for each of the shotgun presses you mentioned, however the MEC presses are not that expensive, and you can usually find them used e-bay. For the 9mm and other metallic cartridges one press should do you fine, then all you need is the dies for specific cartridges, which are considerably cheaper than the initial press. Hope this answers your question.

 

[Crowcifier666]

I'm in the final stages of resurrecting an 870 in .410, and I agree with most stated above. A friend gave me the receiver and I've built it up from there. It's pricey, but interesting, and a lot of fun, knowing its limitations.