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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.