Author Topic: .410 for squirrels??? (Read 2062 times)

buckslayer · « **on:** August 03, 2004, 10:06:12 AM »

does any one else use the or is it just me???. i have a nef(my first shot gun 2 CHRISTmasas for my 13th CHRISTmas) pardner w/ 26'' full choke barrel. i use winchester hs 3'' #6 or my hand load using win. hs 3'' shells 11/16oz of 1-1 #6-#8 mixed shot in a claybuster wad pushed by 14.5 gr of 2400. the factory winchesters pattern good out to 25 yds and the hand load is good out to 35 yds!!! :eek: . whats your max range for the .410?? mines 35 yds.
later

buckslayer :wink:

7magWoodsman · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2004, 04:48:33 PM »

My Dad gave me a Winchester Model 37A Youth .410 when i was 4, I used it until i was 12-14(I got a Remington 870 12 ga. for my 10th birthday but my arms wasnt long enough to hunt with it, although I did shoot it a lot) I still have that old 37A and it goes fishing with me off and on(I have/do hunt with it every now and again), I seldom hunt tree rats with anything except my Ruger Mk II Pistol... I have shot many rabbits with that old .410 out to 35 yards running and have killed tree rats out to 50 or so...I have taken gobs of dove and quail....also killed my share of moles in the garden too...I peppered a few coyotes with it and shot crow and snakes and everything really...

Don't let anyone tell you the .410 is not stout enough or big enough, with practice a shooter can do some very impressive things with a .410

A lot of people call em "Expert" guns cause of the amount of practice it takes to actually get the "FULL EFFECT" out of them.

dangerranger · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2004, 10:02:32 PM »

I still have an old western field bolt action in 410.its now mostly used for snakes [ two legged kind also]. my wife laid claim to it because if she can see it she can hit it with that gun.But I took alot of birds with it in the past.

WD45 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2004, 04:00:11 AM »

I have an old western auto bolt action that I have been using since I was big enough to drag it around. Love the gun .... Hate the price of factory ammo.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** August 18, 2004, 04:12:53 PM »

buckslayer, the name of the critter is SQUIRREL NOT squirrel.

Use it here or I might think you are Big Mortie. That would NOT be good for you for me to think that.

HipShot · « **Reply #5 on:** September 27, 2004, 09:28:50 AM »

Most squirrel hunters that hunt "Forks of the River" TWRA, (shotgun only), use 20 and 12. I use a 500E Mossberg .410, (black pump w/24" barrel). I absolutely love it. It's by far my favorite pot filler. Depending on the time of the year I use 4, 6, or 7.5.

There are times though when only a .22 is gratifying. The .410 does fill the pot, but a good .22 is more fun sometimes.

There are times, (like this past weekend), when I avoid WMAs. This weekend was the opening of bow season, (deer). I don't know how others feel, but I don't want to interfere with another hunter. I have not asked a bow hunter how they feel about it, I just assume that they may be a little put off by squirrel hunters running the deer off. I don't want to spoil the beginning of any season for anyone.

I'm not a bow hunter so I really don't know HOW they feel about it. I do appreciate the opening weekend of gun season being respected, even though there will always be someone somewhere stomping through the woods on opening day.

kjeff50cal · « **Reply #6 on:** September 27, 2004, 06:22:57 PM »

"There are times, (like this past weekend), when I avoid WMAs. This weekend was the opening of bow season, (deer). I don't know how others feel, but I don't want to interfere with another hunter. I have not asked a bow hunter how they feel about it, I just assume that they may be a little put off by squirrel hunters running the deer off. I don't want to spoil the beginning of any season for anyone. "

HipShot,
I know what you mean, I was "Native Americaning" through some of my family's property a pine thicket and looking for Mr. Whitetail with my SBH in .44 Mag... I saw him before he (six pointer) saw me at about 30 yards slowly (about half a day) I raised the muzzle in his general direction easing the hammer back taking great pains not to make undo noi.... BANG, POW, BANG, BANG... my dear country cousins. 3 of them squirrel hunting with 2, .22s & an ancient 12 ga single barrel, not more than 50 yards away from me.

kjeff50cal

HipShot · « **Reply #7 on:** September 30, 2004, 04:59:09 AM »

Quote from: C130E

It definitely takes more skill than the usual scatter gun to hit with. Almost .22 like accuracy marksmanship requirements. Not much room for error.

The .410 has been mistakenly labeled the beginners gun for light weight and lack of heavy recoil. It is truly an experts gun though :wink:

That's exactly why it should be a beginner's gun. I don't want my children to be anything other than capable with whatever they pick up. Deflection shots are part of hunting; if you learn how to use the pellet stream with a .410, you can do it with anything.

This "expertise" to my mind is mislabelled. It should fall into the category of "basics". It takes practice and work. My oldest son, (now 11), can use the .410 as well as anyone I've ever seen. He doesn't know how "difficult" it is. He just does it because he was taught to, and he shoots regularly. It comes naturally to him now. I see it as a responsibility to be competent; that competence is as important as safety.

Anyone who thinks a .410 (full choke) is not a 30-40 yard shotgun is cordially invited to shoot mine. It'll change your mind.

HipShot · « **Reply #8 on:** September 30, 2004, 05:02:05 AM »

Quote from: kjeff50cal

HipShot,
I know what you mean, I was "Native Americaning" through some of my family's property a pine thicket and looking for Mr. Whitetail with my SBH in .44 Mag... I saw him before he (six pointer) saw me at about 30 yards slowly (about half a day) I raised the muzzle in his general direction easing the hammer back taking great pains not to make undo noi.... BANG, POW, BANG, BANG... my dear country cousins. 3 of them squirrel hunting with 2, .22s & an ancient 12 ga single barrel, not more than 50 yards away from me.

kjeff50cal

I'm hoping that your buck didn't get away. I'd like to think that they would've behaved a little differently if they knew you were there.

Mattkc · « **Reply #9 on:** October 29, 2004, 07:19:19 PM »

Since you reload try some #5 I found it hits squirrels much harder then #6 but doesn't tear them up. Don't use the #5 on bunnies shatter's their bones.

THE#1hunter · « **Reply #10 on:** November 01, 2004, 01:56:12 PM »

I sometimes will take my old mossberg out..it brings back the memories of my first squirrel hunting days...

victorcharlie · « **Reply #11 on:** November 02, 2004, 02:39:10 AM »

The .410 is an experts gun. I started my stepson out with a .410 hunting rabbits in front of dogs. His success rate greatly improved when I stepped him up to a 20 gauge......but this is about squirrels, not rabbits......and the 410 did him a fine job with the tree rats.......

Duane · « **Reply #12 on:** December 02, 2004, 02:04:55 PM »

I started on a .410 learned to pick my shots didnt have a big pattern to depend on made me a better shot 20 years later I went from a 12 remington to a .410 bolt action .its not for everyone but my kids will learn on a .410 so they can learn to pick there shots not blast and blast if your kids cant hit game with a .410 its time to get the .410 out and start them shooting paper plates till they can hit them consistently then take them in the woods . a 20 guage is over kill for squirrels and rabbits why not deer hunt with a .50 calliber I also hunt coyote with a single six magnum guess thats to small tell that to the coyote .learn to shoot then hunt shoot alot than shoot alot more then hunt

Brett · « **Reply #13 on:** January 18, 2005, 02:47:10 AM »

Quote from: buckslayer

does any one else use the or is it just me???. i have a nef(my first shot gun 2 CHRISTmasas for my 13th CHRISTmas) pardner w/ 26'' full choke barrel. i use winchester hs 3'' #6 or my hand load using win. hs 3'' shells 11/16oz of 1-1 #6-#8 mixed shot in a claybuster wad pushed by 14.5 gr of 2400. the factory winchesters pattern good out to 25 yds and the hand load is good out to 35 yds!!! :eek: . whats your max range for the .410?? mines 35 yds.
later buckslayer :wink:

I found that 2-1/2" #6 pattern better in my .410 H&R Topper and will still take squirrels out to 35 yards. The 3" #6's leave a big hole in the center of the pattern. 3" #7-1/2's pattern great and are best for cotton tails.

deerman12 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 14, 2005, 12:02:30 PM »

I have to agree, I love the 410. I have shot some squirrels at 40-45 yards and dropped them! I have a buddy that has been amazed at some of long shots with my ugly ole 410 bolt action. I painted it camo and always take it to the river with me. I have probably killed more with it than anything. A guy has to load his own shells. I don't enjoy getting bent over for $9 for a box 3 inch.

whacker · « **Reply #15 on:** April 23, 2005, 07:17:43 PM »

I love my .410 I've had it for 30+ years and use it regularly for squirrels and rabbits. It also gets some upland birds, and with the new WINCHESTER 3'' 3/4 shot loads oh, mama! I'm I going to have some fun with these shells.