Thoughts On A .410 For A Deer Round?

[Sfritr]

My son is 12. He wants to go deer hunting this year and he wants to use his .410. None of his shots would be more than 50 yards and his single shot .410 is DBA shooting slugs out to 50 yards.

What are your thoughts on this caliber as a sub 50 yard deer gun?

Personally, I don't think it is a large enough caliber to be effective but I know a large number of people who have taken whitetails with it.

[SDoolittle]

The .410 may be an adequate round in experienced hands, but I wouldn't recommend it for a child's first deer hunt. If he goes out and wounds his first deer, he may never want to go again. Why is he wanting to use the .410? Is it just because it's his only gun? I bet if you presented him with a new .243 Win (or something similar), he'd suddenly want to use that.

[Grey Wolf]

The .410 may be an adequate round in experienced hands, but I wouldn't recommend it for a child's first deer hunt. If he goes out and wounds his first deer, he may never want to go again. Why is he wanting to use the .410? Is it just because it's his only gun? I bet if you presented him with a new .243 Win (or something similar), he'd suddenly want to use that.

rifles aren't allowed in Ohio to hunt deer are they ? It's been a long time since I've been hunting for anything , just curious.

[00 mod]

Part of deer hunting, or hunting in general is effective and humane kill. I personally wouldn't use a .410 for deer. If shotguns are the only gun allowed to use, please convince him it is only one shot and a 12 ga will do much better. It's not like he is wing shooting or clays where he will take a beating all day!!

[SDoolittle]

rifles aren't allowed in Ohio to hunt deer are they ? It's been a long time since I've been hunting for anything , just curious.

You are correct. I hadn't thought of that.

[Sfritr]

Actually, we will be hunting in lower Indiana which is shotgun only. I agree Birddog, although he is an excellent shot (he can bust 90 out of 100 birds from the 18 trap) I completely agree with you. He has access to use muzzleloader, 20ga, or 12ga. I think he is just more confident shooting the .410 because of the lower recoil. Maybe its a first gun, first deer thing too.

[clayton86]

Check make sure its legal first even though its a shotgun it may not be illegal much like it is here in new york. U can shoot I think what 45LC out of a 410 which makes it illegal in shotgun only counties. Why not get him shooting a 20ga there more accurate then a 12ga but you can get reduced recoil rounds for both a 12 or 20ga that way he's not affraid of the kick.

[Sfritr]

All good points. I have informed him that he can either use the muzzleloader or the 20ga. It just isn't a viable enough caliber for deer. Although many deer, I am sure, have fallen to this caliber I dont feel safe with him shooting it. Especially for his first deer. Part of the thrill of the first one is a good clean kill and his chances of speedy recovery and humane kill are seriously deminished with this round.

[Catt]

I’ve have taken deer cleanly & humanely with a .410; a wounded deer is just a wounded with a .12 gauge as it is with a .410. Any gun is only as good as the person standing behind it, so if your son can bust 90 out of 100 birds from the 18 trap he shouldn’t have a problem with a deer standing still.

Hell I’ve tracked wounded deer shot with a .300 Weatherby Magnum.

[bowfish12]

Recoil won't matter when he sees the horns.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I'd make sure its legal first. But I agree. Its a little on the small side.

[Senkoman12]

most muzzleloaders dont have much recoil, have him take that

[RoLo]

I concur with the consensus, a .410 shotgun is not Big Game battery.

For a youngster, I wouldn't go lighter than 20-gauge for deer hunting

(BTW .410 denotes caliber - 410/1000"),

Roger

[Wayne P.]

Read this article about .410 ballistics:

http://mcb-homis.com/slug_410/

[Catt]

Brass Fetcher Ballistic Testing

My link

[Sfritr]

Excellent links guys, thanks..

In my case, we just sighted in the muzzleloader and it was touching holes at 50yds. it also has a scope so I think a scoped muzzleloader will give him much more of an advantage over a bead sight .410 when the buck fever starts the shakes.

Although, I must admit, we fired the .410 out to 50 yds using Brennke, Winchester, and Remington slugs using the bead sights and the gun performed better than I expected. It achieved a good grouping at 50 yds with all three cartridges but the Brennke's had the best groupings. If I was in a thick spot with bow ranges I would use the .410. It was light to carry, sufficiently accurate, and actually fun to shoot.

[MAD]

Have him use the muzzleloader.

Mike

[North Ga Hillbilly]

Check make sure its legal first even though its a shotgun it may not be illegal much like it is here in new york. U can shoot I think what 45LC out of a 410 which makes it illegal in shotgun only counties. Why not get him shooting a 20ga there more accurate then a 12ga but you can get reduced recoil rounds for both a 12 or 20ga that way he's not affraid of the kick.

Personal opinion or researched fact?

NGaHB

[clayton86]

Personal opinion or researched fact?

NGaHB

Little of both I read some where about it te 20 is flatter shooting I switched from a 12 to a 20 and haven't looked back other then when I needed the 12 for coyotes and buckshot but slug wise 20 all the way. I also read that the shot gun club that hosts the slug shoot comp a majority of there shooters use single shot 20s with a red dot.

[Sfritr]

Well guys, I thought I would give you all a recap of our youth hunt as it pertains to the thread:

We arrive Friday night to the cabin with just enough time for the boy to shoot the ML a few times to get used to it and any recoil. From 50yards the gun is shooting dead center but about 3 inches high. The first shot totally missed the 3ft by 3ft target. The primer discharged and there was a short delay before the powder burned. Freaked out the boy as he wasn't ready for a double whammy. Second and third shots were in the black just a bit off. I feel certain it was due to flinching.

First morning = Rain all morning. Sitting in rain is simply no fun. Boy slept for 2 hours in the blind. Went in for lunch and the rain broke. Boy shot a variety of firearms plinking. 20ga, .410, ML, and some trap with the 20ga. Headed out for the afternoon hunt and rain started again. Sitting in a blind in the rain stinks. Boy slept for 3 hours. We decided to still hunt back to the cabin. I get a call from my brother at the cabin, two does walked across the yard 30 yards from the porch. 3 Deer standing about 180 yds out in the field below the cabin. Nice

We finally get back to the cabin (about 1 mile from the blind) A doe is standing broadside 140yds from the porch and watching us. By the time the boy gets the gun up the deer trots away into the brush.

Day Two Morning: Guess What? Rain. Boy sleeps in and we get to the blind after sunup around 830am. Rain starts up again and we decide to call it a day. Call from brother, 4 more deer standing in yard.....

We get back to the cabin and are deciding to leave early when "DEER" Two does standing in the field below the porch 162yds away. Rain starts again. The boy raises the gun, gets a good rest (on the porch railing) and fires. Deer Jumps and runs into the woods.

After some time we go to the point of impact and look for blood. Dang if he didn't hit the deer!!

We ended up tracking the animal for 2.5 hours in the rain. Unfortunately, the already wet ground and rain washed out the trail which was spotty. We lost the the trail and called it 150 yards from the inital shot. The boy was devestated. I had just told him the night before that the worst thing is to wound one and not recover it. The weather just killed us...

The bright side is that he had a blast and all was safe.

[clayton86]

Sounds like ya had fun even though sitting in the rain is a downer even bigger one when the rain washes away the blood making it next to impossible to track wounded game.