" I shoot .410 to make it last and to challenge myself to shoot better".
Challenging oneself to shoot better is indeed a good point. My question though is of the misses with a .410 how many of them flew off with a shot or two from the weak fringe of a .410's pattern.
I have not done that much pattern testing with a .410 for I never had a desire to use one. I have however observed the pattern test which the Rifleman has posted over many years in trying new guns. The .410 patterns virtually always have strong central thickening with sparse fringes. This is directly opposite of my most desirable pattern. I fully realize it is impossible to obtain but if I could get it I would take a pattern with absolute uniformity over the entire pattern where every shot would result in either a clean kill or total miss.
I therefore do not hunt with a .410, period.
