.410 Family use Multi-purpose Shotguns

[Sandgroper]

It shoots pretty well with the .45 LC (Winchester PDX-1 225 grain bonded hollow point rated for 850fps if memory serves).

The .45 colt recoil is pretty tame next to the .410 buck loads.

I haven't tried the .45 ACP (was only able to find one box of 230 grain hardball) but with the right loads the accuracy is said to be a bit better than the .45LC's.

A lot of folks seem to think it's a gimmick gun due to the .410 capability...but to be honest after doing some homework and watching a few videos of actual defensive uses involving handguns, I think it was meant for something larger if you get what I mean.

Interesting. I would probably just stick to the 410 if I had one, but I like its flexibility with the pistol rounds. Have you tried 410 slug ammo in it?

I think a lot of people scoff at the 410 because its regarded as something for children but it has its place, once you understand its limitations, IMHO. I really enjoyed loading (and shooting!) buck loads for the 410 and can appreciate how useful it would be against "something larger."

[Chuck]

Check data on say Federal .410 slug - v - .45ACP etc. The slug has more oomph. Would hate to get hit by either.

Ammunition comparisons.xls

(29 KiB) Downloaded 81 times

[Pfletch83]

I wouldn't really want to risk firing a .410 slug through the Gov. because the barrel is .45 caliber and from the vids I've seen the accuracy is pretty dismal.

I fired a few '000' loads at some rather large chicken raiding wild dogs. The local animal control folks couldn't get close to them and in the state they were in it would have only been a matter of time before one of the neighborhood kids were injured or worse. Needless to say the shotguns were used once the dogs were in range and had a good backstop behind them.

The '000' passed clean through the larger of the three (I had to get them one at a time on different days) the last two were taken with the full choke barrel and #4 Buck (lights were put out and none were the wiser).

I hated that I had to do it but I would have rather it been them than one of the kids.

[Pfletch83]

Check data on say Federal .410 slug - v - .45ACP etc. The slug has more oomph. Would hate to get hit by either.

Ammunition comparisons.xls

I did use the wood stocked 500 and some Winchester 3-inch slugs on the last hog kill (My dad tapped me for the job) it weighted in at least 700-750 pounds if it was an ounce.

He had finished feeding it horse and mule chow for six or seven months , which made the things bones very very dense (took three slugs at point blank range to do the job)

[Sandgroper]

Fair enough on the slug - the pistol rounds makes it pretty superfluous anyway, notwithstanding the more oomph from the slug ammo. More power is pointless if it isn't on target.

As you said reference the hog - slug is not up to punching through something solid which is sometimes good, sometimes bad.

[Pfletch83]

The thing about that is the slug would've been more than up to task on something a bit thinner skinned like a white tailed deer or if a better projectile (as far as the factory option from Winchester at least) had been loaded.

The downfall of the .410 when it comes to slugs from what I've found is the sectional density isn't there (hollow based foster slug, is pretty thin)

plus the weight is lacking (the federal 2-1/2 inch '000' has it pretty well outmatched as it relates to total payload weight @ 280 grains from what I've figured out) I'm pretty sure the 1/4 ounce factory stuff is around 109 grains (which accounts for the high velocity when fired from a shotgun)

I've been looking at the brenneke slugs though for any future hog kills involving the .410

[Pfletch83]

I've thought about trying a few .41 magnum bullets (being .410 diameter they should work well as long as I don't run into any over pressure issues) the range is going to be close so I shouldn't have to worry about accuracy too much.

[Sandgroper]

This might be of interest http://www.hoeningbigboresouth.com/Big4 ... stics.html

[Pfletch83]

Thanks for posting the link.

I wonder if they offer rifled barrels for the 500.

And because the load functions within the pressure limits of commercial spec .410 loads I shouldn't need to worry about it wrecking the action.

[saddler]

http://www.fourten.org.uk/index.html