I favor 8s in the early season, 7 1/2s after that. No other size for doves or quail in a .410. Anything larger than 7 1/2s would make my pattern too sparse I'm afraid, and I don't want anything smaller than 8s, because they shed energy too quickly. 8s out of a 410 are just as deadly as 8s out of a 12 ga.. If the bird is hit with the same number of shot it dies the same. I'd rather go with more choke to get the pattern density I need than with smaller shot. Just my experience. I am always open to suggestions, however.
The reason I don't like 9s is that I tried them once on doves and wild quail in a Powell 16 ga. m/l. The lower velocities I was loading them to didn't impress me at all, especially a going away quail. Doves would falter, lose feathers and keep flying. Didn't take me long to swear off 9s for my hunting. 8s or 7 1/2s did far, far better at the same mv.
I agree about the velocity for .410s. Most of mine do best at about the 1150 fps mv mark.
All my best, SRH
