.410 shot gun deer hunting

[Blufinn]

I was wondering about using my 410 for my daughters first time deer hunting either slug or buck shot it is an old gun 1940's any opinions out there on this she is 12.

Thanks

[Gissert]

In Minnesota, I dont believe that buck shot is legal.

410 is marginal, at best for deer. Not much energy to begin with, and it falls off rapidly. I would limit shots to 30 yards or less.

20 gauge, if you have one, would be a better choice.

[harvey lee]

I tried one years ago and it did not seem to have enough umph.

I would maybe look into a 20 gauge with a recoil pad. I'm afraid all she would do is wound a deer and have a bad first expierence.

[Neighbor_guy]

3" Brenekee magnums and 35 yards or less shots and you are good to go. Just think like a bowhunter and you should be good to go.

My first 3 deer fell to a .410. I Have often considered using it again for "old times sake". The way .357 ammo is to get these days, I may have to.

[buckx37x]

this could turn into a hot one again. go with a 20 ga.with the aderaline and excitiment of shooting at that first deer she wont even notice the recoil, buckshot is not legal. yes a 410 will kill em but go with the added security of a bit more power,good luck.

[Muthagoose]

I own a 410 and feel confident enough with it myself but with the excellent 20 ga options a beginner would be better off...

[Eric Kruger]

i started all my little brothers (4 of em) on 20's with the federal true ball slugs there a great accurate round with imo less recoil.....

But on a side note i have an old bolt action 410 with scope and bipod that i would confidently take any deer with up to 40 yards! but this is only because i know this gun and i am super familiar with it! would not start the little bros with it!

EK

[BobT]

From what I've read, the .410 slug loses energy very fast. I let my daughter use on for her first year. She got a shot and hit a nice 8-pointer but you couldn't tell by its reaction. The slug went right through at 20 yards without doing enough damage to stop it. Fortunately for us he circled around and I hit him with my 30-06 otherwise we would never know she hit him at all.

Could this happen with any gun? Certainly but less likely with higher velocity ammo.

[gspman]

A .410 is a poor choice for all but the best of shooters and those with incredible self control. A 20 gauge is a vastly superior option.

[Neighbor_guy]

He already owns the .410. I am guessing that is why he is asking. The question was never to compare the .410 to the other options. He did not say ".410 or 20ga", he said "...I have a .410..."

I have an old Mossberg bolt action .410, it shoots 3" Brenekee mags to poa at 50 yards. I have killed deer from 5 to 40 yards with this gun and would not hesitate to do it again. Did the deer drop dead on impact? NO, but all three were down within 10 seconds of the shot, and the slug did its job on all 3.

Like I said before, if you set up in a "bowhunting" type stand/blind setting, and keep your shots to 35 yards or less, go for it. You already have the gun buy a few boxes of slugs and go shoot it. It will do the job if you do yours.

I will say that the 2 1/2" - 2 3/4" slug options are not good and break apart. You get what you pay for with the .410. The ones I mentioned are solid, stay together, and perform well.

[gspman]

I think we all know that he owns it. Whether he owns it or not the answer is the same.

[UdeLakeTom]

Our family used a .410 for years...until one of the brothers hit a 10 pointer. It didn't even flinch. Most of the ones that were downed were smaller bucks or doe.

The .410 works and is legal in MN. Like was said...just remember, close in shots only. Also, in some areas of the state, it is shotgun only, so a .410 would work there.

[icehousebob]

Blufinn, Question, do you live anywhere near the western suburbs? I live in Tonka and I might have a solution for you. I have a scoped 20 ga. pump that I cut down for my boys when they were young. They all grew LARGE so the gun has been sitting for awhile. I could be convinced to loan it out to someone who would return it in the shape its in. It is a tack driver at 50 yards with Brenneke slugs and has dropped deer well. Let me know.

Bob

[Tom7227]

You have plenty of opinions already. The concern I would have first of all would be to know for sure that the gun is in good enough shape to take a slug. If you don't know ask someone that does. The second thing to do then would be to have her take it out and shoot it and if possible try different slugs to see what works best. If she's comfortable with it so be it. I wouldn't do anything to discourage a kid from giving it a try so long as things are safe.

[luckey]

Years ago I tried using a 410 with slugs. In practice, I couldn't hit a catalog at 30 yards. Never did take it hunting.

[Finlander]

1940 gun? Is it safe to shoot a slug with the high pressure?

[mrklean]

you bring up a good point, i know one of my older guns i wouldnt dare shoot a slug through it

[crothmeier]

I think she would be fine with that gun ONLY IF you have her out multiple times shooting, so she is used to the gun, and what it can do. Limit her shots to 30-40 yards and use the 3" slugs. If she is familiar with the gun and shooting it she will be fine.

We inherited an old savage .410 pump when my grandpa passed, that i started off hunting with. I never shot a deer with it, but my grandpa killed many.

[mcgarth]

where can i get some 3"? all i have seen are the 2.5's. thanks

[LightningBG]

Buckshot is not legal in Minnesota.

Also, something to keep in mind for people reading this...

A .410 is NOT legal to hunt deer in Wisconsin, so beware if your crossing the border.

[Ufatz]

Please , please, please don't start your daughter off shooting a deer with a .410. Things are liable to get very messy and unpleasant for her and the deer. Move up to at least a .20guage slug. Buckshot is illegal. Do a little more research and some shooting before the season. Please. For her sake and the sake of the animals she seeks.

[broken_line]

if it hits you hard it hits what you are shooting at hard.. igree with the 30 yard max. they cant go through a 1/8" sheet metal at 40 yards.. but 20s and 12 will blow massive holes in it..im no deer hunter by any means but love shooting slolid things out of my shotguns!

[wildernessbob2063]

My father-in-law hunts regularly with his 410 singe shot and puts deer down at 150 yards! And I'm not kidding!

What he did was take an old stevens single shot 410 and had a rifled barrel made for it at .41cal. He takes his 410 cartridge and uses a 405 winchester fully jacketed bullet in it. The 405 is percicely.411 and works in the .410 barrel. To ensure the most accuracy he worked up many loads and determined the correct grain and wad setup. As a result, the bullet slightly comes out of the shell therefore not allowing him to use a magazine.

At 100 yards he shoots dead on and at 150 he is 1” low.

[LightningBG]

My father-in-law hunts regularly with his 410 singe shot and puts deer down at 150 yards! And I'm not kidding!

What he did was take an old stevens single shot 410 and had a rifled barrel made for it at .41cal. He takes his 410 cartridge and uses a 405 winchester fully jacketed bullet in it. The 405 is percicely.411 and works in the .410 barrel. To ensure the most accuracy he worked up many loads and determined the correct grain and wad setup. As a result, the bullet slightly comes out of the shell therefore not allowing him to use a magazine.

At 100 yards he shoots dead on and at 150 he is 1” low.

Otherwise known as, shooting a homemade gun. Not shooting a .410.

[picksbigwagon]

not sure about the legaality of that gun either, especially if it is in a slug zone.....