.410 for deer
 

I just bought a .410 shotgun and would like to know if i could kill a deer with it using a slug shots,for under 50 yards.
feedback please

Edited by - Christine B on 09/26/2002 09:10:14

RE: .410 for deer
 

PRACTICE,PRACTICE,PRACTICE!!!! It has been done and probably will be done again,BUT if it was me I wouldn't try it. Limiting your shots to under 50 yards is a good start and reasonable. good luck

RE: .410 for deer
 

I remember reading an article in G&A a few years ago about a Klashnikov designed 410. This particular gas operated slug gun was quite effective on the test day and designed for Sitka deer I believe. I know of several whitetail deer that have been taken by farmers with the 410 slug, but have never attempted it myself. Like NE Hunter said, practice is the main thing. If possible you may wish to consider mounting some sort of electronic or holographic sight to increase your accuracy. Shot placement is really the only limiting factor in your decision. Also you may wish to check the regulations. Is it legal to hunt with a 410 slug in your area? With consistent practice, and patience you should be able to connect. I do not believe the 410 slug will be as comparible in design to a regular hunting bullet, so you should wait for a broadside shot.

RE: .410 for deer
 

If you feel confident and are accurate with it, go ahead. Personally I wouldn't use anything smaller than a 20 gauge.

RE: .410 for deer
 

You have a better chance of wounding the animal than killing it. I would suggest you move up to a 20 gauge before attempting to hunt deer.

RE: .410 for deer
 

TOONS, I'm a 410 freak. I own and shoot several, but only for rabbits, birds and squirrels. I have shot several slugs through mine, and the ballistics aren't bad. The amazing thing is the small amount of drop in the slug at 100yds. If you shoot premium shells, the slug will only drop about 7" at 100yds. Sure seems like it would be more than that.

That said, you are only getting about 600 ft-lbs at 50 yards. That's plenty to kill a deer if the shot is in the right place. I'd hate to hit a 250lb buck square in the shoulder with that little amount of energy. The penetration won't be great...and there's not enough energy for shock.

The 410 will kill deer. I've seen it. However, if you can move up to a 20 or 12ga, I would.

Good luck!

RE: .410 for deer
 

...did I read somewhere that a .410 slug is a 1/5th oz slug? If that's true, then the slug only weighs 87.5 grains..... that's not much. I would feel much more comfortable with the S&B load of 3 000 buckshot in a .410, if that's the case. And I would try to limit my shot to more like 30yds or so.....depending on how the 3 buckshots grouped at that range. I wouldn't want more than about a 4" spread... whatever that range happened to be.

"Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness..those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Santayana

RE: .410 for deer
 

It's illegal in Ontario. The minimum is 20 gauge.

Dan O.

RE: .410 for deer
 

Its illegal here in Wisconsin, probably for good reason.

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms... who's bringing the chips?

RE: .410 for deer
 

I would go with the 20 ga no problem with it .410 would be ifeeeee 2506

RE: .410 for deer
 

Yes, and I know of a case where a young Eskimo boy killed a polar bear with a .22 short, too, but that don't make the .22 a bear rifle!!

Keep yore powder dry!!

RE: .410 for deer
 

I dont know - never even shot a 410 , are you sure its even legal like the others said toons? Here it wouldnt be - think ya might need a min here of 1,000 ft lbs of energy at 100 yards(i think).So here 357 & some 44 mags arent legal even up close( even at 50 yrs or less) ) . I use to hunt deer with a 12 gauge, back east & some ppl used 16 & 20,s id personaly rather have one of those 3.
><'>

RE: .410 for deer
 

A little small in my opinion, 20 gauge is smallest I'd use!

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RE: .410 for deer
 

Using a 410 is illegal in Iowa, too...so you know. I think the smallest bore for deer in Iowa is 28 guage, but it might be 20 guage, not sure. No rifles allowed, except muzzleloaders .45 cal or bigger. .357 caliber and up pistols are now allowed too during any gun season except early muzzleloader. When in doubt, check the game laws.

Mike


Gun control means putting the second bullet through the same hole as the first- Ted Nugent
NRA Member

RE: .410 for deer
 

A 410 only shoots a 87 grain slug. As opposed to a 437 grain 12 gauge slug. I would't want to risk it.

Guns cause crime, like flies cause garbage.

RE: .410 for deer
 

A .410 would not be legal for deer in NY....

Keep yore powder dry!!

RE: .410 for deer
 

The 410 was legal in Ohio until about 6 or so years ago. Then a small contingency of loyal users make a stink...and last year it was again legalized.

I know of several deer being taken by 410's...but I still don't reccommend them unless you practice like a madman, and keep your shots close.

RE: .410 for deer
 

Look at it this way.....

How would you feel if a 20pt 350lb Arnold SchwarzenBuck walked by at 150 yards and all you had was that pea-shooter?


Houston, TX

RE: .410 for deer
 

I feel that the .410 is too small for whitetail amd I am starting my son off on a 20 gauge in a few years. I do not wan to take the chase of him wounding animals.

RE: .410 for deer
 

I would just tie my hunting knife to a stick and throw that at them. I quess I might try one from a tree stand at bow and arrow range.

RE: .410 for deer
 

It is legal here in PA to use 410 for deer. most of the slugs i saw and bought are (1/5 oz.) on a 2 1/2" shells.I am going to try them at a 50 yd range ,i dont want to use them for any farther than 50yd.
Thanks

RE: .410 for deer
 

I hate to say this, but even the 12 and 20-ga. Foster-type slugs are marginal deer killers, and buckshot is even worse. Put either of these puny projectiles in a .410, and you have a recipe for disaster!!

Keep yore powder dry!!

RE: .410 for deer
 

Dont think foster -type slugs are the newist or best designed around , but marginal i dont know , up close / heavy woods a reasonable distance & the big hole it puts into& threw deers chest didnt seem to marginal then , when .. that was the only gun of choice ( a shotgun) by law( to many d laws& lawmakers)
Starts out as a 76 cal a 12 gauge dosnt it? before any flating of bullets etc.
but im versatil /long as i can get out hunt things etc , butt to old, broken down for rock bolos& spears.
\I wouldnt us ebuck shot either ....not on deer anyways<img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>
&gt;&lt;'&gt;

RE: .410 for deer
 

eldeguello
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I hate to say this, but even the 12 and 20-ga. Foster-type slugs are marginal deer killers
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

I'm curious as to why you think that?


--Man who fish in other man's well often catch crabs--

RE: .410 for deer
 

I wouldn't use one for deer. It's an exceedingly poor choice and the game deserves better.

RE: .410 for deer
 

Indyhunter, I say that after having observed a great many deer over the past 40 years which were shot with both slugs and buckshot. I once saw a medium-sized doe at Crane Naval Ammunition Depot in IN.,(as a matter of fact), which ran by a line of hunters who all fired at her with 12-ga. slugs. She didn't break stride, ran over a hill, and continued another 200 yards before she fell. It was found that she had been hit with five 1-oz. 12 ga. slugs!! No blood trail!! Once (in VA saw a small spike buck travel over 1.5 miles with 3 00-buckshot through its' heart. If not for the fact that hounds were being used, this deer would have never been found!! People think that Foster-type slugs &quot;possess a lot of shocking power&quot;, when in fact they kill by hemmorage, just like a broadhead arrow. Their velocity is too low for shock! NONE OF THESE COMMENTS PERTAINS TO THE NEW SABOT-TYPE SLUGS LIKE THE WIN. PARTITON GOLD, WHICH ARE THE EQUIVALENT OF A .45/70!!

Keep yore powder dry!!

RE: .410 for deer
 

I tried some 15 WINCHESTER supper-X shots at the range from a 30yd ,the shots were flat but i am not sure about the energy they delever? i think i'll do some more testing may be place a 2x4 at 30yd and see what happens?
does any one have idea on how to check if the energy delevered is enough?
thans

RE: .410 for deer
 

Don't know. Can't use smaller than 20 gauge in IL.

Keep 'em all in the Bull.

RE: .410 for deer
 

eldeguello, guess we can agree to disagree on that subject (foster slugs being marginal). I've also seen deer that run a long way after being shot with a slug. But that was a result of poor shot placement, not the projectile. No different than an arrow or a rifle, if you don't put it where it is suppose to go then it probably isn't going to go down quickly. I've killed 9 deer with a foster slug, all out of a 20 guage. And only 1 of those ever moved after I shot (not a single one was a spine shot). Not marginal if you ask me. I can't comment on buck shot, never used it. I'm referring to 20 and 12ga, not 410 slugs.

--Man who fish in other man's well often catch crabs--

RE: .410 for deer
 

IndyHunter, I certainly agree with you that you have to hit in the right place, no matter what you are shooting...........

Keep yore powder dry!!

RE: .410 for deer
 

just for the information,i placed a 2x4 at a 35 yd and the bulets had a clean entrance and exited making a nice big hole.
so doing this test should i conceder the .410 a perfect gun for 35-40 yd ?
Thanks

RE: .410 for deer
 

Its illegal in most states for that application. In this case we are not speaking of sick birds!

Sooner,

&quot;Size isn't important, but it HELPS!!!&quot;

RE: .410 for deer
 

Thanks for all the replys.
By the way .410 is 100% LEGAL in PA .
TOONS
Hunt safly & enjoy the sport

RE: .410 for deer
 

Well guys I have to disagree with you on the .410. I started on a .410 when I was 5 years old. I killed 3 deer with it before I was 7. The furthest shot was around 45 yards I guess. The .410 laid the deer over and never moved. I bought my 6 year old son a .410 for this year. I shot it at 50 yards with good results. So did my son. So if you hit the deer where you are supposed to, you shouldn't have a problem. Shot placement is the key. Don't try a frontal shot or to hit him at 50 yards through the shoulder. I have seen the shoulder of a deer reflect a 7mm bullet at 30 yards and send it up through the top of the back.

RE: .410 for deer
 

I live in indiana. this year will be the first time the .410 will be legal for use in our state. it will be interesting to see the results. I think the states plan is to increase hunting oppurtunities for women and children. I dont know how well the .410 will preform on whitails but i do plan on buying one for my seven year old son to use in the 2003 season. Shot placement is the key here though. one well placed round to the heart or through both lungs will do the job I dont care what tool is chosen.
Most bowhunters today believe if you cant acheive arrow speeds of 300 fps you wont get the job done. Well way back when in the time of Saxton pope and Art young ( fathers of modern bowhunting) most people beleived the bow and arrow was not an effective tool for big game. So Art Young and a camera man(crank type camera) took an expidition into Canada to prove that the all north american big game could be taken with a bow. Now mind you were talking about the pre fiberglass era and wooden handmade longbows wooden arrows and forged blades. equipment that might have yeilded speeds of 150 fps. and they accomplished there goal by taking animals such as grizzly bear, moose and caribou, all on video. this video is a available ,I cant remember the name though. But I rented it from my local archery shop.
But anyway my point is, the modern hunter of their time rejected the bow and arrow because it lacked knockdown power. Just as today you all are rejecting the .410 as a viable solution to Toons needs. What the modern hunting community (myself included) needs to get back to is the mastery of skills in the areas of markmanship , shot placement, patients , and general knowledge of the prey. And quit placing so much enphasis on getting a bigger gun or a better bullet. all of which are fine but in the end its your skill that will prevail and no matter how big the gun is or or how much energy your bullet will delivery a bad hit is still a bad hit and your chances of recovering the game are significantly reduced.

thanks for listening Bob