410 question...
 

My wife is going to be gone for a week, and I want to surprise her when she gets back. She complains about not having any guns, other than her 38 special. I was thinking either a .22 rifle which I already have one she shoots, or getting her a 410 single shot. My question is this, what is the effective range for dropping a dear with a 410?

RE: 410 question...
 

If she intends to go hunting deer don't get the 410, it is very limited. Probably pistol and bowhunting ranges which is about 30 or 40 yards. And to be honest a pistol or bow would work better at those ranges. A .357 handgun has better ballistics and bullets than a standard 410 slug. Probably more accurate as well.

Many want to get 410's for beginner shooters because of the low recoil, but to be honest they are more of an advanced shooter type gun. They have limited payload and range due to the small shells and usually a tighter choke.

A much better shotgun would be a 20 ga. Even better yet if she wants to hunt deer get the H&R ultra in 20 ga. If you order it you can get it with a bird shot barrel as well so it is more versatile.

Another option would be a mossberg bantam pump in 20 ga, better yet a combo model with a cantilever rifled barrel.

If you just want to go in the back yard and shoot things a 410 is fun and low on recoil. However the shells are pretty expensive for what it is. If you want her to hunt step up to a 20 ga with a modified choke or better yet screw in chokes. You will be happier in the long run.

Or for target type stuff you could get her a ruger 10/22. They are fun to trick out and play with. Another option would be a 17 HMR or HM2. A bit more expensive to shoot, but they shoot flatter and are usually more accurate. I love my Savage 17 HMR and it only cost $200 before the scope.

If money is no object get a 20 ga auto like an 1100 or 11-87. My girlfiend is not very big and she shoots trap with a rented 20 ga 1100 youth model. She also has a single shot 20 ga remington SPR 100. Recoil is not that bad with low velocity target loads, even in a light gun. And 20 ga shells are much cheaper than 410 and 28 ga shells. Plus you can get them anywhere with a wide variety to choose from. I own a winchester 9410 (410 lever action) and getting shells for this gun kills me. Very little selection and the prices are a joke compared to 20 and 12 ga shells.


I will say it again, for deer I would go with a mininum of 20 ga, and that is with modern sabot ammo out of a rifled barrel. Or you could get her an inline muzzle loader and you could tailer a load for her.

Or if she likes pistols a decent .357 revolver would work well on deer out to about 40 yards or so. And she could shoot the .38's out of it for practice.

Sorry for rambling.

Paul

RE: 410 question...
 

Reckon it depends on what kind of dear you have in mind! For the 4-legged variety that run loose in the woods, some of which have antlers, I'd say the effective range of a 410 is about 0 yards. You have to stick the muzzle in their ear before firing!

If you plan on shooting deer with a shotgun, a 20-ga is about the smallest size that can be expected to be effective. If it is legal to use rifles where you hunt, forget the shotgun! Get a rifle, at least as big as a .243 Winchester.

RE: 410 question...
 

it would be a good gun out to about 100 yards. dont worry how big the bullet is but if u can get the slug or buckshot w/ the highest payload and velocity. size doesnt really matter. i have seen someone shoot an elk w/ a .22-250 at 600 over the summer and kill it

RE: 410 question...
 

In this case, I would submit that size does in fact matter. Anyone who is taking elk at ranges such as these is clearly not your fair weather greenhorn.

I would take Paul's advice and seriously consider a 20 gauge instead. With slugs from a rifled bore, you can kill deer out to and to a minor extent beyond 100 yards with ease (at least compared to a .410).

RE: 410 question...
 

Check your regulations, here in Wi it's illegal to hunt deer with a 410.

RE: 410 question...
 

A 410 is not a deer gun. Paul M. and eldeguello have it right.

I would never give a beginning hunter a gun that has such a high potential for wounding and losing the game you're after, unless you want to sour them on the whole experience for life.

Do yourself and your wife a favor and get her a 20 Ga at least. There are reduced recoil loads for practice, and then if you want to, you can sight it in with a more potent load for hunting deer. I saw a show that did a segment on some 20 Ga. slugs made by Federal. The guy stated that the ballistics make that load acceptable on deer out to 150-200 yds.

A 410 must be good for something, but deer it aint.

RE: 410 question...
 

If she intends to deer hunt you might want to up it to a 20 gauge. 410s are illegal here in Illinois to hunt, not sure if any states allow them for deer. If she is going to shoot just to shoot a gun I'd go with the 22 rifle. Ammo is a heck of a lot cheaper, those 410 shells get expensive. Just my opinion.......

RE: 410 question...
 

If you kill a deer at 100 yards with a 410 and factory loads it will be luck. I honestly doubt if you could hit anything that far away with any consistancy any way.

If you ever held a 410 slug in your hand you would think twice about it.

Like I said, I own a winchester 410 that is actually built to shoot slugs. Has scope mounts and an open choke. If I considered shooting a deer with it (which I might) I would not take a shot past 50 yards and it better be a really relaxed deer at that distance.

I would also shoot the gun all summer to see what it was capable of as far as accuracy and range. And I have been hunting deer for 8 years with bow, muzzle loader and shotgun. And been shooting guns for 30 years. I am not a beginner. If you think you are going to go out your first year deer hunting and drop an average sized deer with a 410 at 100 yards you are deluding yourself. You might get lucky and connect with one in the vitals. And if and when you do you better have pretty decent tracking skills because it would be a safe bet that it won't drop where you shot it.

I also agree about the rifle. If centerfires are allowed where you live get a .243 or 25-06 and don't look back. She will LOVE either one. They are mild on reciol, flat shooting and usually very accurate. More than a enough for deer out to 200 yards as well (with the right ammo).

Your wife is plenty big enough she can handle a 20 ga at least. And if you add a bit of weight to the gun and a good recoil pad it will be even better. When I was a kid I shot a H&R 20 ga, which is a pretty light gun. I weighed about 80 lbs and was probably 5' tall. 3 inch magnums were a bit rough, but nothing I couldn't handle. When I was bit older I got a 30-06 for target shooting. (I only weigh 130 ish now)

Best bet for the money is the 20 ga H&R Ultra. Very nice guns for under 200 bucks if all you want to do is shoot deer. And like I said a nice .50 inline would be good to. They tend to be a bit more accurate on average than a slug gun. Some of the slug guns are pretty darn accurate if you find the right load though.

Paul

RE: 410 question...
 

Those new Hornady shell can take you well past 100yards. Check out the box next time you get a chance. Definately nothing smaller than 20ga.


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