doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Killing power of the .410

Just how much "killing power" do you think the .410 has? How do you define it?

I'm ready for this. Bring it!

Chuck, as much power as can be had from an 11/16th oz. load with a shot sring long enough to make lots of lethal hits pretty hard. The reason some clain the 28 ga. to have such unexpected success is (they claim) the shot arrives in a pancake pattern. JM2CW. Your lovely little Nitro Special is a gun anyone would admire. Chops

The 410, per individual shot or BB has the same killing power or energy as the 10 gauge at the same velocities. However, the small amount of shot and the long shot string make for some fairly skimpy patterns beyond say 25 yards.

21

Within 10 yards, about the same as a .41 magnum.

Further away, somewhat less.

The .410 will cleanly take a clay pigeon at 25 yards with a load of 1/2 oz. hard lead 9's at 1300 fps MV, through a .007" choke. Centered, that's a dead clay even edge on. Past 25 yards, all bets are off.

I don't hunt with one since I can't shoot an ultralight gun very well at all and that's really the only selling point of a field 410.

Chuck: I have to agree with Shotgun Jones on this one. The .410 bore will kill well within 25 yards in the hands of an expert. I have dove hunted with one effectively on doves coming to decoys and have even shot quail with one, but I think I was just showing off. I think even in the hands of an expert, they cripple game more so than a 12, 16 , 20 and 28 gauge. Just my opinion though. Michael MacIntosh made the statement that the .410 just has wierd ballistics and I think he was right. He felt they were not well suited for game guns, I believe.

I pushed my boy to jump from the .410 to the 20 gauge for next year because he just couldn't kill a squirrel with it. He knocked one A%$ over tin cups out of a tree and it hit the ground, shook it self off and climbed right back up.
CHAZ

Compared with 28 gauge on up...Minimal.

I witnessed a young lady shooting live hand trown birds yesterday with a 410. She was shooting 3" #6's at 1400 fps. I was impressed! I would use all the gun I could get but I was AMAZED at what SHE did with a 410. Personally, my LC Smith 410 is only used for rabbits. I got tired of chasing wounded doves but that is just me.

40 years ago I watched my buddy hit 4 pheasants on opening day with a .410 double and not kill one, at least not quick enough to bring one to bag. He was knocking them sideways and feathers were flying but all were able to fly off. That was the last time he used that gun.

I use a 410 for doves and quail.
The doves are decoyed in and the quail are pointed by dogs.
The 410 has plenty of power in this setting
So far in 5 years, no lost doves or quail
BUT I am selective on my shots
Mike