A .410 will work for deer, I know plenty that have used them. You just need to keep it's limitations in mind. They are good for bow hunting ranges and not much farther really in my opinion. Maybe a bit farther with the Brenneke slugs since they are a bit heavier and faster.

The .410 is not like a 41 caliber rifle though. The ballistics are closer to a .32 pistol.

A .357 is actually better than a .410 when you compare ballistics.

I have a winchester 9410 that is a lever action 410 and I am seriously considering using it next year for deer season. However I have some experience hunting and will keep the range limitation in mind and pick my shot placement carefully.

Pretty much any projectile through the lungs of a deer will kill it. It just won't drop it in it's tracks like a high powered rifle can.

If centerfires were legal where I live though I would most likely never shoot a shotgun of any type again during deer season.

Paul