My dad just gave me a Mossberg 183D .410 bolt action. I took it squirrel hunting a few weeks back and I couldnt believe how perfect it was for it. I hit everything I aimed at even out to 45 yards in a tree. I love hutning with guns that are sentimental and just thinking about how my dad was shooting birds and squirrels with my uncle back in the 50s was pretty cool.
You are right though the bolt action isnt ideal but for small game hunting you shouldnt need more then one shot.