Again it seems that most would like to own/shoot a .410. Like I stated earlier, it's not for everyone,and it does have it's limitations. As far as long range, what is long range? A .410 will shoot as far as any guage, just don't have the same amount of pellets. How many have actually skinned a bird to see how many pellets were in a bird. I used to do some taxidermy, and mounted quite a few pheasants (wild ones then) and you would be amazed as to how few pellets are really in them. I've seen pheasants fly for close to a 100 yards and fall stone dead (heart shot) and have seen them fly upwards (head shot), mostly 2-3 pellets in the vitals.
As far as Ted badmouthing Greg, he should have looked at the state he is from (Pa) that would have told you they were stocked birds. (If you see a wild pheasant now, report it, it's endangered here). Granted stocked birds are just that, doesn't mean they are easy though, still takes a well placed shot.
With the .410 you will find yourself getting on the birds faster and not letting them get out too far, 15-20 yards.
Also don't believe what you see on TV as all those pheasants flying around are wild. Look and see how many more hens than cock birds are getting up, they are preserve type shoots also, they have to supplement, yes stock birds to make up for the wild birds harvested. And most of those shows you could use a .410. Hunting wild pheasants there is no talking, laughing, calling your dog, if you do you won't see anything. You have to push those birds out of cover and make them fly. Know for a fact, hunted South Dakota's truly wild pheasants, no fat on them, no crowing when they take off, maybe weigh close to 2 lbs.
So because there are no wild birds here anymore (live in the old pheasant mecca of Pa), in order to hunt you have to shoot preserve birds or release them yourself on a Regulated Shooting Ground. Same thing with the trout
