I agree the .410 is an experts gun. That being said though, I was given a .410 Savage pump complete with vent rib for my first shotgun when I was 12 years old. I strictly used it for 4 or 5 years before I bought a 20 gauge. But boy did I ever learn to hit with it. Anything from clays (hand thrown) to grouse to teal. I still have the gun. I never hunted pheasant with it but it also did a good job of pi--ing my two brothers off when I accidently sprayed them with pellets on a grouse hunt years ago. I told them if I would have had a bigger roaster I would have aimed better!