410 will kill a deer for sure, giving you shoot 40 yardsand under. I have killed numerous deer, 5 to be exact. All under 40 yards. Slug is the only way to go. I use brenneke slugs and 3 of the 5 deer drop in thier tracks, the other 2 ran under 80 yards and dropped dead. This was 14 years ago, I wouldn't hesitate to use the 410 again for close range hunting.