doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Good results with a 410 load

Yesterday, I went along on a year end close-out hunt with some guys up in the central CA valley at a hunt farm and, in addition to my regular 20g, took my fav 410 along just in case I felt the need to be humbled. Before I left I stopped in a store and bought some Federal 3" #6 shot loads. I've never shot this load before nor did I have a chance to pattern it. But, nevertheless, I took out the 410 first and loaded up. In a few minutes I had made a nice easy shot and clean kill with it. All said and done the load accounted for the high number of birds in our party and at least one long crosser. I was very impressed with the load and I think I'll pattern it to find out why it was working as well as it did. I may even take it to SDak next season.

I forgot to say, the birds were all hen phez.

That's encouraging to hear Chuck. I've contemplated getting a .410 for field trial quail, but wasn't sure if it had much use beyond that.

Marklart,
I have been using the 410 in earnest for wild Calif quail about a season or so. I could not be more pleased. There's something about using a 410 that brings me pleasure I never thought a difference in guage could make. Also, my success on quail with the .410 as compared to 20ga is not that different. Since I'm not going hunting for subsistance, I figure what ever gives me more pleasure is a plus.

If you've moved down in gauges before, you know the issue of success becomes mostly a mind game. If you keep a positive attitude, you have a much higher probability of success. The 410 challenges you more than the other gauges that way.

I have used a friend's 870 wingmaster 410 on field trial quail a few times, and it did seem like a heck of a lot of fun to shoot. Now he's shooting a Stevens 311 410, and I must confess to now wanting one more than I should. He's having way too much fun, and it makes my 16 feel like a cannon, albeit a very deadly one

I must not be alone, because 410 prices seem to be going through the roof.

Chuck, your favorite 410 wouldn't be that spruced up Nitro Special would it??
All the best

My mod M-42 is as effective to 25 yds as any larger gun I have. Chuck, I pattern tested Rem 3" against Win 3/4 oz 3", and found the Remingtons to be both tighter and considerably faster. I think a full choke gun might be just the thing for the Winchester load, but haven't tested it on paper yet.

You might want to pattern test a couple/few different loads to gain insight into why the Federals worked so well for you.

Sam

I have some copper-plated 7s that I got somewhere at a gun show long ago. I hoard them for .410 reloading; they seem to give me the best patterns in all my .410s (a Western Arms "Long Range," a Win 37 and a Savage 24 (all 3" "magnums) and a Win 20 (2 1/2"). Running low on them, tho. Do they still make these?

Mike,

Ballistic Products has Nickle-plated number 7s. However, my experience with their NP stuff is it isn't very hard. If you can find some Remington STS target grade shot in size 7 (they do make it) it is the best I have ever used.

sv

Chuck
A good .410 resource is http://www.4-10.freeuk.com/ I currently have two articles published there and used to have one about pheasant hunting (pen-raised birds) with a .410. What works for me is a modified left barrel and a cylinder or skeet right barrel. I use 3" shells with #7.5 shot and keep my shots under 25 yards. 11/16 ounces of #7.5 shot has an equivalent pellet count to 1 ounce of #6 shot and the birds didn't seem to notice the difference at that short range. I consider the modified choke to be the .410 equivalent of full choke. I find the .410 set up like I've written is extremely effective, so much so that to make the hunt even more sporting I eventually switched to a 36 gauge (.506 bore) SXS muzzle loader.
Steve