I'm such a chump. I patterned .22 shotshells awhile back. Results kinda surprised me. I assumed the CCI offerings would pattern tightest by virtue of the shotcup. Wrong. Through rifled barrels (handgun and rifle) they doubled pattern size vs traditional (Winchester) .22 shot cartridges. Imagine results could have reversed through a smoothbore .22. Dunno - don't own one. So I figure I could take a rooster to about 4 yards. My dad uses them to blast red squirrels off the feeder in the winter. I suppose I could cheat and pop them with an Anschutz and ball at 50 yards or so.
Why use a .410? Well, first off, I have a bunch of M-42s - and don't own even one Brit SLE. So what's a boy to do? Second, out to 25 yards I hit as well with a 3" M-42 (mod) as with my Mossberg, or my Pahkuh. Third, birds don't seem to know the difference between #7.5s shot from a .410 vs a 12 or 16. Go figure. Four: those skinny little shells look cool, and I can carry more of them on safari. B&P are now offering 3" shells with full-length shot columns (for anyone who bothers to pattern their 3" .410s).
Gotta respect distance though. At 30 yards the "magical and square" 28 (especially with 15/16 oz B&Ps) kicks .410 butt.
Then, at 35 yards.............
Sam
Last edited by Samuel_Hoggson; 07/19/11 07:36 AM.
