I was looking through Field and Stream, and they had a short article on what shotgun guage, choke, and shot size to use on various small game. And wouldn't you know it, the 410 wasn't mentioned even once. I hunt rabbits with my 410 (full choke), using 4 shot. I find it to be a great combo.

So has the 410 lost all respect? Did it ever have any respect? Is it just a "kid's shotgun?"

Winchester and Marlin must respect it some. They just came out with lever action 410 guns. I think they would be fun to hunt rabbits with.

For the life of me I can't figure out how the 410 bore ever got to be considered a "kid's" shotgun. If anything it is an expert's shotgun. Normally one points a shotgun but with a 410 one must aim. You can ruin a kid that way. Took me forever to learn to shoot a shotgun after starting with a 410. A 20 gauge serves much better as a started gun than the 410 bore. That being said I like the 410 in its place and I still use mine for squirrels after the leaves are gone.

Ive also seen several nice bucks taken with a .410 loaded with slugs. I plan on letting my fiance use mine for squirrel season since she cant yet handle the recoil of my light 20 gauge.

I'd love to take a deer with my .410!! But it has a fixed full choke. Would a slug damage the barrel? Also, what would the shot range be?

Found one answer: 35 yds! If your going to hunt deer with a .410, you have to have a clear heart/lung shot, you have to get within 35 yards, and you have to buy quarter ounce or better slugs(3" shell).

Found one story of a disabled hunter who took more deer than he can remember with his .410.

I did not find any answer to the choke question, though.

You can use a foster slug, A.K.A rifled slugs. Contrary to popular belife, the "Riflin" on the sides of the slug are not made for imparting a spin on the bullet, but rather to compress, allowing the slug to maintain pressure, but allow it to pass through the choke. I have no doubt the .410 slug will kill a deer, but please stay close. The energy is not there allowing the little popper to kill past that 35 yard limit. Oh yeah, never, EVER shoot a saboted slug out of any choke, other than a rifled choke. The sabot will not pass, and in escence, you will have a plugged barrel!

i herd that a 410 slug has the same energy as a .357 mag

That's pretty much what I read.

That sounds about right. But lets look at it this way, if you had a choice to take a 30-30 hunting moose, or a 30-06, which would you take? They will both do the job, but as much as I like the dirty thirty, the ol' 06 still has more punch. A .357 will kill a deer, but with less authority then, say a .44 rem Mag. That's why most handgun cartridge hunters stay away from them. A .410 slug is not somthing I'd want to get shot with, and within range, would be very deadly. Most people would agree though, given a choice between a 12 or 20 gauge slug, and a .410, well we know where that would go.