wi_buckstomper

i got a new .410 for xmas and i was wondering how well they would work for pheasents. I do have 3'' shells which might work better. Any advice is helpful.

daleh

A 410 is an expert gun if you can hit it you will kill it
i have killed evey upland bird with a 410
also shoot em in da head

outdoorslover

I don't think pheasants and .410's mix unless you're an expert and you can shoot them well and close. I don't think those guns are worth the effort, personally.

PAhunter86

It could work, but you should definitely practice a lot with clays and be an accurate shooter. You're gonna have to keep your shots at very close range.

goose caller

do not even attempt it. i went to north west kansas for 3 days in december with a 12 gauge and 2 3/4 inch shells. mod choke. even december was getting late in the season and the birds were kicking up too far ahead of us. they get more and more gun-shy the later u get in the season. with 12 gauges we were injuring more birds then killing. i highly recomend a more powerful shotgun. pheseants r very tough birds.

Ruddyduck

If you are a outstanding shotgunner and then only over a pointer if birds are holding tight or in heavy cover for woodcock and grouse where shots are close.

Hunter App

If you know what you are doing, a 410 is all the gun you will need and more. Unfortunately the 410shells are more expensive than 20 or 12 gauge. So I shoot the 12 gauges more often than not.

Still when I get out with some cocky friends or relatives; the 410 is a fun gun to put them in their place with. I generally shoot 5 shot for pheasant in any gun I shoot. If you are on 50-yard shots should be no problem. If the birds are less than 30 yards I make a point to shoot for the head. Picking pellets from the meat is no fun.

I should note: the majority of my hunting is done behind a good G.S.H. pointer.

mtfreezer

A .410 is fine to hunt pheasants with. My friends and I use them when ever we want a bigger challenge. A 12 or 20 gauge makes it too easy if you are a good shot. Pheasants are pretty slow flyers if there isn't too much wind and the big gauges makes it easy to hit them. The only problem with the .410 would be knockdown power so use a magnum shell and 4 shot. 5 shot is Ok as well. I haven't used 6 shot for years as it really cuts back your range. Otherwise you will get a lot of runners. I live in Winner South Dakota, so if I miss I know I will find another bird. But if you live where birds aren't as plentiful, make sure you can hit what you are aiming at. If you can't, the 410 may not have enough BB's and spread and you should look into getting a 20 or 12 gauge.

gamehunter1269

i think your just going to injure the birds with a 410.

FreeHunt.net

if you got a 410 for xmas, you are probably at the age where it is a good gun to start with. it will make you a better shot. if you're just starting out, don't worry about wounding birds with a 410 because if you're not a good shot and you use a 12 gauge, you will wound a lot more.

go to SD to hunt pheasants. those of us who live here know that it doesn't matter what type of gun you shoot. there are enough birds that Stevie Wonder could eventually hit one.