Trading in my 20 ga for a .410???

[Aaryq]

Howdy, folks. I've got this bolt action Mossberg 20 ga which was my very first firearm that I paid for with my money (back when I was a kid and needed a bird gun). Now that I'm grown (21 but grown enough), I see no need for this gun. I'm a lefty and the way I've been taught bird hunting is far from 1 shot 1 killl, it's more like, "BOOM BOOM BOOM, Hey, I got one!" Now granted a .410 is far from the ideal bird gun, it would be a great starter for my daughters when they're old enough to shoot. Also I will miss this fall's bird season because I will be in Iraq, so with my "war money" I intend on getting myself a good 12 ga. I'm not sure about the price comparison between the 2 rounds, but a .410 seems kind of fun to shoot (.410 fever maybe??). So do you think I should keep my 20 ga or sell her off and get a .410?

**EDIT** For those of you who would recomend a .410 bore, keep in mind I'm a poor Corporal of Marines with a wife and 1.5 kids so my gun purchases must be...budget minded (under 300 prefered, can stretch up to 500ish).

 

[briansp82593]

i would highly recommend doing so... more shooting fans... more nra members .... more people to fight the communist gun laws

 

[gezzer]

Get an NEF 28 Gauge, They kick about the same as a .410 but as far as I can tll at skeet and birds shoot as good as a 20.

 

[Fred Fuller]

One more vote for the 28 ga., till sm gets here to REALLY make the argument. The .410 is a pro's gun, not a beginner's. Patterns are too thin with too many holes.

The 28 ga. on the other hand seems to have all the juju working in its favor and is far more effective than its bore size and shot load would seem. Doesn't kick enough more than the .410 to be an issue but is far more effective.

lpl/nc

 

[theCZ]

I'd recomment very much against selling the first gun you bought! It could haunt you forever! As for the .410, I think it's a terrible gun for anybody to learn on, unless the goal is to discourage them from having fun! A 28ga is the best of both worlds, low recoil, great patterns! Cost about the same per box, somewhere around $7-$8 if I recall. I reload 28ga now, talk about a money saver! You may enjoy the .410, I know some certainly do. I enjoy shooting skeet with it, but it's a huge challenge.

 

[Aaryq]

I didn't shoot skeet until I was in the Boy Scouts. I've been hunting every fall for all of junior high and high school plus a few times since I've been in the Corps. I had my 20 gauge and my buddy "Matt" had a .410. We'd take turns with the guns and neither of us had a confirmed kill until our senior year. We had plenty of fun out on the hunt. I see your point for not selling my first gun but it's just an unwieldy gun and my old man's 870 12 gauge has less recoils than my Mossberg. Sentimental value is limited. The .22's that my dad "loaned" me until this year have more value...heck the JC Higgins he gave me doesn't even have an andjustable range sight on it and I'd never sell that, and my Marlin has a brutally beaten up scope and when inspection ready cleand will start to jam 1-9 times after about 100 rounds and I'd never sell that...I'm just saying that the Mossberg isn't too sentimental to me.

Also, if I bought a .410, then I could use the same cartridges in the .45LC/.410 revolver I'm getting with next year's tax returns.

 

[LHB1]

You might want to check the price of .410 shells vs 20 gauge in your area. Around here, the .410's are MUCH more expensive (like about twice as much, I think) than the .20's or 12's.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[mnrivrat]

For the $50 or so you might get for that 20ga. in trade you might want to think seriously before you sell it.

Sentimental value realy doesn't strike many folks until they are at least in their 40's , but I assure you ,that at some point, you will regret not keeping it .

 

[obxned]

Go with a 20. The ammo is cheap and there are available loads for the 20 that match the standard 28ga loads and there are loads for the 20 in 3" that match all but the heaviest 12ga loads. It's versital, cheap to shoot, and actually gets the job done.

Rather than a beginners gun, the .410 is better used by an expert shotgunner. The paterns are so small at close range given the usual full choke, and so thin further out, that it is tough to kill anything cleanly. This is going to be very discouraging to a new shooter.

 

[Aaryq]

AAAAAAARRRRGH! I hate this "youth and enthusiasm" that these crusty old SNCO's talk about. I want to skip straight to the knowledge and experience. If I could look into the future and see if I would regret it later...and yes, it's not worth a whole heck of a lot...but I want to get a Mosin Nagant first and I have to wait until they go on sale... Well folks, you talked me out of selling my mule-kickin' 20 gauge, but I still want a 410. What company would oyu recomend for a CHEAP double barrel .410 bore shotgun?

 

[txgolfer45]

Stick with the 20 ga. Cheaper ammo. .410 really is for experts not beginners.

 

[SeekHer]

For info try these two sites:

.410 Gauge.com
16 Gauge Society

Although at the other end of the spectrum from each other they both have a niche marketplace...

The .410 as the teacher of children but the world class shooter [strike]dislike[/strike] hate because there is far fewer pellets to hit with and it allows for more misses, which isn't good in a beginner shooter...

My first shotgun experience. at age 8, was with an old Long Tom 36" barrelled bolt action 12 bore with handloaded magnum shells...My Great Uncle told me to rest the fore stock on the fence post and lean into the shot...I did and when I picked myself off the ground and seeing the target destroyed (starling) was so elated that I didn't mind the blackened half of my body that "Unca" got into trouble with "Auntie" about...Amazing what a little adrenaline will do!

The 16 Bore for everything a 12 bore can do but with less recoil and a few less pellets and a lot more then any 20 bore can ever hope to do...

Ditto on not selling the bolt gun, yet...If you want a really small bore then I also say try the 28 as it has a shot string the 20 bore dreams about and offers far more pellets towards the target then a .410 does...

You could also go for 24 or 32 bored guns as well, SIACE makes then for Dakota in their Superlight series...

I really like the 16 bore for a general, all purpose shotgun and if paired with a 28 bore English stocked round action S/S would make the ideal traveling set...You could shoot anything with it, within the prescribed limitations of the shells and guns capabilities...you could load it low enough that it would emulate the 28 and only have to worry about one gun/chambering…

But, Please, Stay Away From The .410


...............Bore
Boresize...Diameter
..............(inches)

.4...........1.052
.8.......... 0.835

10..........0.775

12..........0.729
16..........0.663
20..........0.615
28..........0.550
67..........0.411

24..........0.579
32..........0.526

 

[Oohrah]

Gee I can't recall any lefties in my Marine Corps! Just kidding,
Semper Fi from an old E-4 to a newer one. If bird shooting is the
mission, stick with 20 ga in a semi auto to tame recoil. Ya might
look for a used stock to cut down for lenght as your youngster grows.
The .410 is not available in stores everywhere, and yes generally
are price at or above 12 ga.
Had a lot of fun more than a few years back with a 22/410 over
under for squirrel and rabbit. Used the 410 for runners and 22 for
sitting shots. Other than quail, instant kills with a 410 sometimes
don't happen. A good dog may need to go with that choice. Not
many pellets are in larger shot in 3/4 oz.
I do have to admit having a lot of fun with my Thompson Contender
with its 10" barrel 45/410. That choked barrel at fifty feet pretty
well covers a pop can!
Stay safe my brother!

 

[skynyrd1911]

My first shotgun was a cheap single shot .410 that I received for Christmas when I was 15. I toted that gun everywhere. Killed many a squirrel and a few rabbits. Wish I still had it. :banghead:

 

[Bud Tugly]

A lot depends on the type of terrain you'll be hunting and the size of the game. I've mostly hunted swamps and thick cover for grouse, rabbits, and woodcock. Shots are rarely over 20 yards and usually even less, and you must be able to shoulder and fire in a split second or the game is gone.

For that type of shooting, I've had a lot of success with .410's. The lower weight means quicker shouldering and the lighter load means fewer pellets to pick out at eating time. Bigger guns are slower to shoulder and mutilate the meat.

If you hunt more open spaces where shots may stretch out to 30 yards or more, forget about .410's. The pattern density just gets too thin at those ranges to ensure clean kills. Likewise for tougher game like pheasants, ducks, and geese where you need more than just a few pellets in them to ensure a kill.

There's definitely a place for the lowly .410 in close-cover hunting, but they're just not very versatile.

 

[evbutler462]

As a very senior citizen, having hunted and shot all of the gauges, I highly recommend to you or anyone else to go with a 20 gauge. It will do anything all the other gauges will do for any game except deer sized critters. It is my favorite upland gun. They are lighter than the 12's, can do anything the 12 can do on upland game and wildfowl. A 20 gauge magnum load of #6's will put the biggest turkey down as we use them all the time. At the end of a heavy shooting day, your shoulder will thank you and you will have brought to bag as many pheasants, ducks, and quail as the bruised up 12 ga shooter. My 8-year old grandson shoots a 20 ga like his grandpa and he is not hurt by the recoil. I will admit that the shells are smaller than the 12, and to get the same amount of shot, you will pay a little more for the heavy loads.

Look guys, what is the problem with the cost of shells? My friends, we spend from $300-3,000 for a shotgun. The cost of quality shells are not that great over a season. The shotgun doesn't kill anything. It is the ammo. Spend a few extra bucks for the best ammo and you will be a better hunter, bring home more meat, and have the confidence of shooting that what you shoot at will have a much better chance of ending up as dinner. Many a hunter has hunted with cheap ammo and gotten discouraged because the doves kept going. If you shoot 10 boxes a year of ammo, pay $3.00 more per box for the best, that is only $30.00 extra. Yet some buy a quality big bucks shotgun and shoot garbage out of it. And wonder why they can't hit anything.

My experience has taught me that a good 20 gauge with quality ammo will do anything that a 12 gauge can do without destroying shoulder muscle.

 

[461]

Keep your 20 as you won't get anything in trade from it anyhow. Go buy an NEF/H&R .410 single shot and a MEC reloader and have a ball, my son and I shot 115 rounds through one a few weeks ago as a plinking session and it's some of the most fun we've had.

I agree with your wanting a good 12gauge and highly recommend it too. Both guns and equipment to reload all three rounds can be had for about $500.00 or so. In guns dollars that's dirt cheap.

Stay safe over there!

 

[MCgunner]

Different strokes for different folks, I guess, but I started on a .410 and did okay. I much prefer the 20 gauge now days, of course, and don't feel it recoils too bad for beginners depending on the gun. I had one in an NEF for my daughter, though, and in such a light little gun, it pounded the shoulder. She liked my 12 gauge M1400 more and shot it well. It is a light recoiling semi auto, but I weren't about to give her my 1400!!!! LOL My new 20 gauge Remington Spartan side by side is quite light in recoil, though, and I can't imagine it'd be too much for a beginner. 28 gauge is tough on the budget and walmart doesn't have the ammo. You'll probably have to order 'em, but I do hope 28 gauge gets popular enough to support more ammo sales someday. Heck, walmart has 16 gauge on the shelves and who shoots THAT anymore??? 16 is another gauge I cut my teeth on and love it, too, but I gotta admit it doesn't have any advantage over 12 gauge for practical uses. 28, however, is a great compromise between the light recoil of the .410 and the effectiveness of the 20. I'll stick with my 12s and my 20, though, thanks. I also still have a single barrel 16 that satisfies my nostalgia. It don't get much use, though.

The shotgun doesn't kill anything. It is the ammo. Spend a few extra bucks for the best ammo and you will be a better hunter, bring home more meat, and have the confidence of shooting that what you shoot at will have a much better chance of ending up as dinner

Yeah, I've taken to picking up a box of Winchester AA every two weeks when I'm shopping for groceries at WalMart. 6 bucks don't seem that much one box at a time, don't even dent the budget, and by dove season I'll have a case. So, I could buy the Winchester super speed I get in 12 gauge for 4 bucks, but hey, 2 dollars a box ain't gonna break the budget! Even MY cheap old butt has figured this one out, LOL! A little fatherly advice in a PM from sm helped me, I'll admit, to break my cheap habits. But, good rounds make for better patterns.

 

[borrowedtime69]

my two cents FWIW

i would keep the bolt 20 ga, maybe buy a pump 20 ga to modernize your hunting. i have a mossy combo gun with 26" hunting ribbed barrel and a second 18.5" mavrick barrel. I also have a Springfield armory M6 survival gun in .22 LR and .410.

the 20 ga mossy is a truely awesome gun for my needs. when im not hunting i keep the short barrel on it and load it with steel #2 shot, 000 buckshot, or rarely slugs. i think it'll be great for intruders. i can buy 100 rounds bulk pack of 20 ga from Walmart for $16.

the .410 M6 is expensive to feed. the prices per box on those .410 shells range from $7.00 to $13.00 per 25 rnd box. unless youre reloading, .410 is hard to feed and not economical.

if your planning to do alot of hunting/shooting, stay with 20 ga guns.

also, if i remember correctly, 28 ga is also expensive. 12 an 20 are the most popular calibers on the market, and much in demand. the manufacturers are geared up to mostly put out the common gauges. not enough shooters shoot .410 and 28 gauges so selling in bulk isnt profitable enough. -Eric

 

[Aaryq]

Well I guess I'm keeping my BA-Mossy. I don't want to get a semi-auto shotgun. Maybe I'm old school, but i just ton't like semi-auto shotguns unless they're mag fed. I think that everyone has the right to make their own choices but I don't like 'em. I'd like to get a pump, and on a day that I watch too many westerns, I'd like a side-by-side double barrel. I'll keep the 20 and eyeball the market...no rush, she just turned 1 about 2 weeks ago.

 

[MCgunner]

Well I guess I'm keeping my BA-Mossy. I don't want to get a semi-auto shotgun. Maybe I'm old school, but i just ton't like semi-auto shotguns unless they're mag fed. I think that everyone has the right to make their own choices but I don't like 'em. I'd like to get a pump, and on a day that I watch too many westerns, I'd like a side-by-side double barrel. I'll keep the 20 and eyeball the market...no rush, she just turned 1 about 2 weeks ago.

Old school? Mag fed auto????

There's more to side by sides than westerns and semi autos are lighter on the shoulder and pump themselves, but suit yourself. If you never own one, you won't know what you're missing. Ignorance is bliss, they say.

I've got a single shot, two side by sides, an auto, and a 12 gauge Mossberg M500 camo. Now, what I need is an O/U. I've never owned an O/U. But, it'll have to wait until I've got the money burning a hole in my pocket. I'm tapped right now. LOL

 

[Bud Tugly]

I'm glad you're keeping the 20 gauge. It's market value is very low anyway, and the mystique of your first gun is something you may appreciate more as time goes by. I've got an ancient 20 gauge Mossberg bolt-action that was my dad's first gun, and I'd never part with it even though it hasn't been fired in 15 years or more..

If a person can only afford one shotgun and wants it to do absolutely everything with it, it's hard to argue with a 12 gauge pump. The lightest reduced-recoil rounds are barely harder-kicking than a .410, and the the heavier loads and slugs can bring down just about any game animal in the world. Plus they're cheap enough and very reliable.

I'm lucky to have a good selection of guns to choose from, and it's fun to take the little .410 hunting when the going is very thick. I sure wouldn't recommend a .410 as a person's ONLY shotgun, though.

 

[CZguy]

20 gauge

AAAAAAARRRRGH! I hate this "youth and enthusiasm" that these crusty old SNCO's talk about. I want to skip straight to the knowledge and experience. If I could look into the future and see if I would regret it later...and yes, it's not worth a whole heck of a lot...but I want to get a Mosin Nagant first and I have to wait until they go on sale

As a "crusty old SNCO" (Ret.) I have to respond. You have been given some excellent advice in this thread, and if you follow it you'll be much happier in the future.

.410 is fine for hunting but awful expensive to target shoot with. 20 ga. is a really versatile shell, that allows for inexpensive hunting and target practice.

 

[mp510]

I learned how to hunt with an H&R .410. I still like useing .410 for small game hunting. The ammo will easily run $7-$10 per 25. Sometimes, you can get it at gunshows for $5-$7. You can get them a single shot brake barrel H&R for about $100 (just less if you find a Wal-Mart that still sells guns).