.410 Shotguns

[red-beard]

Looking at the Mossberg 500 for small statue shooter. I think this will work in .410.

Any other recomendations?

[lendaddy]

I hate my Mossberg 500, I've had it for 18 years or so and can't figure out why I still have it. Just a poorly made turd. It's loose, it jams, it generally makes me angry.

I know guys that like em, I'm not one of those guys.

[Bill Douglas]

I've had a .410 since I was 8. I was frightened of it the way it kicked, then as a young teen went to a double barrel 12 gauge and found it much more comfortable to shoot.

So as long as it's a reasonably heavy gun. Mine was (is) very light. And you can buy a varity of .410 ammo, so maybe some really light stuff such as Eley.

[JAR0023]

Small statured as in grown female or a kid? Two different things in my book. My 9yo daughter started duck hunting (or at least going along) last year. She has water swatted a few birds with an old Mossberg single shot .410 that's honestly still too big for her. Anyway back to my point. She might weigh 60 pounds soaking wet and is four and half feet tall. To me that's a bit different than a grown woman that may be under five feet but weighs 90+ pounds.

I've looked at the small Mossberg .410s and they are tiny. IIRC down to an 10" LOP and 20" barrell. Then they make more of a regular sized youth model at 12-13" LOP. I have no problem with Mossberg. Yes they are a cheap gun but all the ones I've been around go bang every time. They are American made and have a great warranty and warranty service.

Back to my point, unless you just have to drop down to .410 a youth 20ga is not that much bigger and is much more versatile. With lighter loads the recoil isn't all that much more either. I have a Remington youth 20 set up for my wife for home defense. 20ga buckshot is nothing to sneeze at.

I don't think Remington makes a .410 anymore. They used to make the 1100 in .410 so you might could check out the used market for those. Some of the Turkish O/U makers build cheap .410s. I believe H&R is still making a single shot, break open .410.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Saiga 410 Shotgun

Convert to a collapsible stock ( CONVERSION KIT #2 ) and any size person will be able to handle it.

[HardDrive]

[JAR0023]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

I've had a .410 since I was 8. I was frightened of it the way it kicked, then as a young teen went to a double barrel 12 gauge and found it much more comfortable to shoot.

So as long as it's a reasonably heavy gun. Mine was (is) very light. And you can buy a varity of .410 ammo, so maybe some really light stuff such as Eley.

Yep. That's the thing with youth models or cut down shotguns. Your are taking away the weight and that leads to more felt recoil. Make it too heavy and a kid can't control it comfortably. Take off the weight and you get them with the recoil.

I don't like the cut down barrels either. No matter how much you drill it into them, kids have issues with muzzle control and it's too easy for a 20' barrell to get turned around in a duck blind if everyone isn't paying attention.

J

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by JAR0023

Small statured as in grown female or a kid? Two different things in my book. My 9yo daughter started duck hunting (or at least going along) last year. She has water swatted a few birds with an old Mossberg single shot .410 that's honestly still too big for her. Anyway back to my point. She might weigh 60 pounds soaking wet and is four and half feet tall. To me that's a bit different than a grown woman that may be under five feet but weighs 90+ pounds.

I've looked at the small Mossberg .410s and they are tiny. IIRC down to an 10" LOP and 20" barrell. Then they make more of a regular sized youth model at 12-13" LOP. I have no problem with Mossberg. Yes they are a cheap gun but all the ones I've been around go bang every time. They are American made and have a great warranty and warranty service.

Back to my point, unless you just have to drop down to .410 a youth 20ga is not that much bigger and is much more versatile. With lighter loads the recoil isn't all that much more either. I have a Remington youth 20 set up for my wife for home defense. 20ga buckshot is nothing to sneeze at.

Yep, I'm not quite sure why anyone would want a .410. They aren't much good for birds unless you sneak up on em from behind and the lightweight guns hurt to shoot. A nice youth 20 GA actually gets some work done and is easier to shoot than a .410. Also 20 GA shells are everywhere.

[Joeaksa]

I grew up with a .410. Learn to shoot with one of these and you can hit anything with a 12 or 20 later on...

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

I hate my Mossberg 500, I've had it for 18 years or so and can't figure out why I still have it. Just a poorly made turd. It's loose, it jams, it generally makes me angry.

I know guys that like em, I'm not one of those guys.

I've beat mine around in the cold, dirt, rain, fed it all kinds of shells... Nary a problem.

I'd buy another, no doubt...

[on2wheels52]

rb, if the gun is for a youngster I tend to advise to wait until they are big enough for a 20 guage shooting light field loads. The typical .410 is full choked and throwing so few pellets. A gun for an expert, if you will. I don't like to handicap a new shooter with a gun that throws such a small and tight pattern.
Jim

[Taz's Master]

My first gun was a Savage 24 O/U .22 on top, .410 on the bottom. GREAT firearm to learn with. No problems with small game. (We didn't hunt many birds, but I did take a pheasant with it.) And the only accuracy issue with the .22 was the very stiff trigger, but I learned to shoot it well enough.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

That looks like a LOT of FUN!

[targa911S]

I love my .410's. I have a DeHaan sxs with 28" pipes that is the sweetest gun ever. I have a couple of 311's too, and Neil is working on a custom 311 as we speak. That being said, I agree with Jim and others here that a 20 is a better choice and certainly more affordable as, except for the junk 500 at walmart, .410 cal guns usually bring a premium price. Remington still makes a .410 870 wingmaster but it's $1,000.00! I want one but it's way down my list of priorities. If the only gun you are looking at is the mossburg I would pass. Then start looking for a nice remington wingmaster, Ithaca 37, or the likes in 20 ga. I also agree with Joe in that if you can be effective with a .410, you will smoke em with the bigger bores. I grew up shooting a single shot bolt action stevens .410. I got good enough that I could back up my dad if he missed with his Browning A5 12 ga. Fit is important. Kids usually have trouble with barrel length along with length of pull. If you know a good smith all those dimension can be altered to make it fit better. Just my .02.

[ODDJOB UNO]

own a h&r single shot .410. flat idiot proof. never a problem. cheap functions all the time.


look at the lever action .410's................what a hoot.



most excellent shotgun for dove and quail. if ya can hit him with a .410..............crap any other gauge with a choke system is brain dead simple.


do not use at close range(5feet or less) on rattlesnakes, unless prepared for rattlesnake GUTS all over you. ask me how i know.

[red-beard]

This is not for a young shooter. It is for home defense for someone who definitely will not be able to shoulder a 12 guage. A 20 guage might be an alternative. Someone put up some info on a 20 guage as well.

One of the reasons I looked at the .410 was that the same ammo could be used in a Judge, minimizing the ammo kept.

So most are saying the Mossberg is a poor choice. I saw the Remmington 870 in .410, but those seem to run around $800-900. The Mossberg 500 is around $250-300. I don't want junk, but at the same time fancy isn't necessary.

[Seahawk]

Edit: If this is for Mrs. Redbeard, my wife is 5'2', hundred lbs or so. She likes to shoot the .410 as well. She has not issues with the 20 gauge 870 either, depending on the load.


I started my son with a single shot .410 when he asked to learn to shoot shotguns.

I then bought a used 870 Express Junior 20 gauge from a friend of mine, two barrels, for $150. We still have it and it is one of his favorite guns. He hunts deer and birds with it.

Compact Shotgun - Model 870 Express Compact Jr - Remington Shotguns

I prefer to hunt Dove with a .410. I bought a Stoeger over and under .410 years ago: It won't impress your friends but I love to hunt with the the damn thing.

Stoeger Condor Over & Under Shotguns: 12-Gauge, 20-Gauge, and .410 Gauge with 3” Chamber; 16-Gauge with 2-3/4” Chamber

[id10t]

Another happy Mossberg abuser here ... got mine in '88 and still going strong after many thousands of rounds of skeet, trap, and the occasional 3 gun (before it was called 3 gun).

If it is only for home defense, I'd consider a pistol caliber carbine as well. On the cost side, the Hi Point carbines actually have a good reputation. And they are inexpensive.

[JAR0023]

Originally Posted by red-beard

This is not for a young shooter. It is for home defense for someone who definitely will not be able to shoulder a 12 guage. A 20 guage might be an alternative. Someone put up some info on a 20 guage as well.

One of the reasons I looked at the .410 was that the same ammo could be used in a Judge, minimizing the ammo kept.

So most are saying the Mossberg is a poor choice. I saw the Remmington 870 in .410, but those seem to run around $800-900. The Mossberg 500 is around $250-300. I don't want junk, but at the same time fancy isn't necessary.

Compact Shotgun - Model 870 Express Compact Jr - Remington Shotguns

Here you go. Remington 870 in 20ga. Cheap, dependable and can be bought just about anywhere. On the Remington website find the listing for compact models. If you want to be spendy you can get an 11-87 gas operated semi and that will take a little off the recoil. Look around and you can find an extended mag tube for the 20ga and have a few more rounds in the gun.

Start her out with promo (light) loads and maybe work up to some heavier loads. Buy some reduced recoil #4 buckshot for party time. This will gain you a few pellets and still be plenty lethal. Please don't fall for the birdshot is effective for home defense horse$h!%.

Think about how you introduce your new shooter to the shotgun. Adrenalin goes a long way to reduce felt recoil. (good and bad) I can shoot 3.5" heavy duck loads all day and not feel a thing. Put me in the back yard patterning loads and I'll start flinching pretty quick. Find a sporting clays or skeet club. Get some excitement going, have a good time and keep your new shooter from focusing soley on the recoil.

I've introduced several females to a shotgun and the stand here and shoot that can method doesn't work all that well. A group outing to a good sporting clays course with a little friendly and safe peer pressure works well. Bonus if you get a good guide that knows their stuff. She can get some good instruction.


J

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Saiga 20 gauge ... but I repeat myself...