.410 on deer?
 

Anyone ever use a .410 on deer (when they were legit in IL) and what kind of results did you have. I know it was a while ago (before my time, it might have been OK 30 yrs ago when I started deer hunting, but Pop started me on a 20).

I imagine even with a well placed shot it would have required a floow up or two cause the .410 slug doesn't have much energy.

My curiousity is because I have a bunch of boxes of these .410 slugs in my locker.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

I can't answer your question, but both my sons killed their first deer with a 64 gr 223 bullet. I would say that, with decent shot placement and at reasonable ranges,it should be plenty for a deer.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

Yep! I have seen it within 25-30yds, but never seen it any further.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

I would think that within reasonable ranges like 20-30 yards it shouldnt be that bad.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

The guy I hunt with said he killed his first few deer with a 410 smooth bore and slugs. He didn't say what ranges though. He also used one in the jungle while growing up. (His mom and dad were missionaries and he lived in Indonesia among other places.) It is basically a 45 cal, not sure about the ballistics though without looking them up.

I'm sure it would kill a deer if you put it thru the lungs. As always, shot placement would be key. If I didn't have anything else I would use one. Without checking the ballistics I would put it up there with handgun hunting, or marginally better.

Paul

RE: .410 on deer?
 

too young to remember in IL (22 yrs. oldnow) but have HEARD that an effective range is closer to 65 yards. up untill a few years ago(maybe less) i remember seeing 410 slugs in stores

RE: .410 on deer?
 

Seen it done,but not over 35 yards. Think that would be my limit

RE: .410 on deer?
 

Well I just looked up the ballistics and they are around 1800-1850 fps for a half ounce slug. That is like 219 grn I think. That is better than most hand guns unless you are talking about a hand cannon like .454 or something.

I would say that puts you well into the modern muzzle loading range for power. Imagine shooting a conical out of a .45 cal muzzle loader with a decent charge behind it.

I would say the limiting factor would be accuracy. If it shot well out to 60 or 70 yards I have no doubt it would kill a deer. Better bullets would help though.

***EDIT****

I miss read the text, it is a 1/5 (one fifth) ounce slug, not one half. Being around 85-90 grn, not 219. This is much weaker than I thought. I will have to do some more comparisons, but off the top of my head I would say closer to a .38 hand gun round.

Paul

RE: .410 on deer?
 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the .410 shotgun is actually a "caliber", not a "gauge". That means it's a .41 calber. If the 1/2 oz slug is moving at approx. 1800 fps (as per a previous post), then it would have more energy than my .41 magnum handgun, which is normally considered adequate for deer at ranges under 50 yards or so.

IM jaybe ;)

RE: .410 on deer?
 

jaybe: yea the .410 is its caliber. I believe when it is translated to gauge..(how many slugs they can make out of one pound of lead) it turns out to be a 67 gauge.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure thats what it is.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

Crap I read that wrong, it is a 1/5 (One Fifth) ounce slug, not .5 ounce. That would be about 90 grns. That is BIG difference.

Huge error on my part, sorry. That is quite a bit weaker than I originally thought.

Paul

RE: .410 on deer?
 

40yards with a .410slug got me my first deer. still have that ol single shot around here, hopeing my kids will like to hunt limb rats with it

RE: .410 on deer?
 

I have seen a few deer killed with a .410 slug.
A guy here in town actually killed a 230lb 11pt with one last year. One shot too. Now thats a big deer for SC and a big deer anywhere to be taken down with a .410.

I even asked him why he was hunting with it b/c I know he has more rifles better suited and he replied, "I just wanted to try it on a doe, I didn't know the biggest buck of my life would walk out.".

;)

RE: .410 on deer?
 

Ok, I did some more looking around. I found that the base diameter for a 410 is actually .469 and you can use .444 marlin brass for reloading! The actual end bore diameter would change depending on the choke used. Most are full and some are modified.

You are correct that most of the slugs used are between .387 and .415 in diameter. I do believe a .45 bullet will work though. It is simular to having a .357 that will fire 38 and 9mm rounds as well. I believe most barrels are actually smaller than the bullets they fire. I'm not that up on reloading though.

Here is a neat little page that talks about the .410 slug in great detail. I think the dude has a "thing" for them. 410 slugs Where as Chuck Hawks doesn't seem too impressed with the shotgun over all.

I can't really find anything to compare it with since not much shoots a bullet that light that fast. At least not that I can find quickly. I would say maybe like shooting a +P+ .380 out of a carbine? Or maybe a round ball smaller caliber muzzle loader.

Deffinately not as impressive as I first thought.

I originally stated the 45 caliber thing because I remember have seen barrels listed as 410/45 cal.

Sorry about any confusion I may have caused. I am suprised nobody caught it and called me on it.

Paul

RE: .410 on deer?
 

It is legal to hunt with them in Indiana now last year was the first year for it in a long time. I know that with the right setup they are effective out to 50 yards or better. It is mainly back so the youth have a smaller gun to use when they start to hunt.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

I take it from the posts that the .410 is actually or has been legal in a number of states. That being said, I think it is really marginal for deer sized game. In my mind you run too great a risk of wounding the animal. Here in Manitoba the minimum shotgun allowed is the 20 guage and a single projectile(slug) must be used.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

Out to 50 yards with a properly tuned scope I think that 410 slugs will seal the deal on most deer. I would think that the behind the shoulder shot, where hopefully you don't encounter any bones, would be your best bet.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

"where hopefully you don't encounter any bones"..........

I think you make my point.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

I started out on a .410 shot "AT" my first deer with it never killed one dont even think i hit it. I would of fell down the ravine i was so shaky thank god my uncle was there.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

Ive read articles where they say that the .410 is not a good deer gun, because of its lack of knock down. Although i have seen deer taken with a 410 and slugs. Alot of the younger guys i know started out with an old 410 and had good results. Personally im not a real big fan of the 410 all together. I have one but just keep it around for the wife to used during squirrel season. I guess its kinda like a .22, it will kill a deer with the right shot placement, but not many would recomend using it. Basically if you are close enough and put the little slug where it needs to be then you can do it, but it definetly wouldnt be my first choice.

Dave

RE: .410 on deer?
 

I don't understand why you'd want to use a .410 on deer when so many other better options are available. Just because you could kill a deer with it doesn't mean it's a good choice. I know .410 are nice and light guns that are fun to shoot but seriously, shouldn't you be trying to kill the deer in the first shot and not relying on 5! If the 12 ga recoil scares you then get in the kitchen and wait for me to bring you meat to cook.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

Max...........

I agree with using other calibers or guages for deer. The thing I was looking at in your reply is that " I don't understand why you'd want to use a .410 on deer when ........"

With that said, why would you want to use a bow when you can use a high powered rifle?;)

Just being a smart tail! LOL......no offense.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

had a uncle years ago in fl and all he hunted with was a 410 he used it for squirels and each year he would kill at least one deer he would just sit in a hammock and the things would just walk in i know its a small gun for deer but if that is all you had it will work this was in the 60's and i would hunt with him each year

RE: .410 on deer?
 

AWWW YOU MISS YOUR WIFE CAUSE SHES OVER HERE DONT YOU. (lol j/p)

RE: .410 on deer?
 

You guys did catch me on that one. I'm a bowhunter who plans on taking a selfbow into the woods even though I've got a very nice Hoyt with quiet a few deer to it's name. But let's put things into perspective, that self bow is a 60+ draw and I'm still using modern broadheads. In my hands it's as accurate and deadly up to 25 yards as my Hoyt is to 35. No matter how you look at it, it's still a deer killer. Now a .410 on the other hand is almost always used for small game. My little .410 sitting behind me in it's case as I type has taken a mess of squirrels, about a dozen rabbits, a few doves and one raccoon who took too long to leave my garden. That raccoon is about the largest animal I consider the .410 suitable for. I'm sure it could take larger stuff such as coyotes, turkey and deer but that's why I own a 12 gauge. My 12 ga double is only about a pound heavier than the .410 but it's killing power is vastly more. I agree that it's recoil may bite your shoulder a bit but it's powerfull enough where I only need one pull of the trigger to do what the .410 needs 4 or 5.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

I don't know anyone that has killed a deer with a 410 that neaded that many shots. Most were single shot H&Rs or something like that. There is no reason why if you can kill one with an arrow you can't kill one with a 410 if you limit your range accordingly.

I understand that an arrow works under a different principle as a bullet does, but any projectile thru the lungs is going to kill a deer. You just may have to track it some. Now if you think you are going to drop a 150 lb deer at 100 yards in it's tracks with a 410 you have another thing coming. That third, fourth and fifth shot are not going to anything the first one didn't if it went in the right place.

Believe me, every season I see quite a few people that fire 4 or 5 shots with a 12 guage to bring a deer down. If you have that mind set it really doesn't matter what caliber weapon you are using. I can see a lot of hunters from my blind. I hear a lot of shooting, yet never see any of them drag a deer any where? Yet I manage to kill one every year with a single shot from a muzzle loader.

If you have to take more than one shot it was not because of what you were using, it is because you missed or used the weapon beyond it's capable limits. Both being the hunters fault, not the choice in weapon.

Paul

RE: .410 on deer?
 

Well put.

I myself own a 12 guage am 6'2" 240 and seriously thinking of using a 410 or muzzleloader because I do not like the 12 guages accuracy. When i started hunting I used a 30-30 and never missed what I shot at. With my 12 guage I can't seem to hit the side of a barn.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

up close and personal....maybe head shots...he wont run too far,,he wont be wounded, and we can all eat

RE: .410 on deer?
 

I had rather ride up and down the roads in a 76 Ford pickup and broadside one up side the head with abatas to hunt deer with a .410. (JMHO)

RE: .410 on deer?
 

If you are going to hunt at bow hunting distances I don't see any problem. In fact, I would rather use the .410 than a bow lol. Inside of 40 yards I don't question its killing ability one bit. If you can't kill a deer, standing broadside, at 35 yards, with a .410 slug there is something wrong with your ability to shoot, lol.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

I have no clue, but I do know that I killed my first deer when I was a kid with a 20 gauge double barrel savage at 50 yards.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

slug, close, in the vitals.....why not?

RE: .410 on deer?
 

When originally posting the question.....Uncle Matt asked WHO HAD, and WHAT RESULTS...lots of opinions, but i think he was looking more for facts.

FOR THE RECORD........ I never have, never will (because its illegal), don't know anyone that has, and therefore, have no opinion.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

My curiousity was just because I have some boxes of .410 slugs in my locker. It isn't a legal slug here in IL, I was just wondering how well they worked. Appreciate the comments.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

It would translate into a 67 and 1/2 guage.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

Sure a 410 will kill a deer,but why use a 410 when there are calibers more suited for the job.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

Well Mat, there are some hunters that like the archers
way but with a .410 shotgun @30-40yds. Hunters
don't give archers much credit, but it gives you a thrill
when you can take a deer at those close ranges.
Hunter againist the deer. If anyone thinks it is easy,
try it some time. Are you good enough? Test yourselves!

RE: .410 on deer?
 

410 will do the job just fine, its all about accuracy. If the slug is 1/2 ounce,and I think it is that makes 32 to the pound or 32 gauge.I think.

RE: .410 on deer?
 

.410 will kill em...dead