410

How many of you guys hunt with a 410 or have patterned one? I have tossed around getting the Savage stevens 301 T at my local gun store. I guess I am just trying to make a decision and wanted some input. I have been hunting with 20 gauge shotguns exclusively for several years now and just thought about trying a 410. I have seen some really good patterns online just seeing what some of you that have experienced a 410 think about it. Thanks!

I bought one a few years back to tinker with, but have not done anything with it. For me, tinkering with a .410 is more of a novelty than anything else. I have ammo for it, just have not taken the time to get her dialed in. I highly doubt I will move on from my compact 870 20G any time soon. It has impressed me in the turkey woods over the years and anytime I have a lot of confidence in a tool, it is hard for me to set it down, just for the take of trying something different. Especially in the turkey woods. Good luck if you get one and set it up.

I have the 301 turkey in .410 and love it. Wouldn't hesitate to pop one at 40, but prefer 30 and in. It's now my primary turkey gun. Lightweight and fun to shoot.

Seen Winchester has some double x loads for 410 coming out. Copper plated.

TDW05 - I have the 20 gauge version of the 301 T and I shoot the stock choke with Federal TSS #9. It will absolutely shoot a great pattern. Are you using the stock choke and TSS in your 410?

I bought a 301 for my son last year. He decided he just wanted to spectate , so I used it exclusively last season with him in tow. I put a truglo gobble dot on it. Dialed it in with federal TSS. It's a killer. It's a joy to carry if you're a run and gunner in the mountains. It made a believer out of me. There are some companies making after market chokes for them now and they are expensive , I used the one it came with and it did fine. I bought a tri-star viper g2 after the season. I'm trying it this year with some apex loads.

deerfever said:

TDW05 - I have the 20 gauge version of the 301 T and I shoot the stock choke with Federal TSS #9. It will absolutely shoot a great pattern. Are you using the stock choke and TSS in your 410?

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Yes sir!

I bought a 301 .410 last year. Added a red dot and patterned it with Federal #9 TSS. I used my 20ga most of the time so I haven't killed a turkey with it yet but it's clearly a 40 yard gun. Here's my 40 and 20 yard patterns.

Nice Stumpsitter! I handled the gun and it felt like a tooth pick. I imagine it would be great while moving up and down the hollers and hills I hunt. I have the same scope on my 20 gauge 301 T except it's black, I love the green circle dot. I have a little bushnell I will put on the 410 if I get it. You will like that Tri Star, I have the Tri star raptor and my buddy has the viper in the 20 gauge they make a great gun. Both are a nightmare for Gobblers. I am sure the 410 will be the same.

Thanks TDW05 that is what I was hoping you would say! That stock choke in the 20 gauge is great. I use a Carlson 575 in all my other 20 gauge guns but not the 301 T after I saw how well it shot with the choke it came with.

That's looks good Chief 44. That's definitely a dead gobbler ! TSS is amazing stuff. I may have to give the 410 a try. I usually don't shoot over 30 35 yards . To think I used to shoot a 3.5 inch shell and take a beating! Lol, No way I would ever do that again after switching to a 20. The 410 certainly has my interest.

deerfever said:

That's looks good Chief 44. That's definitely a dead gobbler ! TSS is amazing stuff. I may have to give the 410 a try. I usually don't shoot over 30 35 yards . To think I used to shoot a 3.5 inch shell and take a beating! Lol, No way I would ever do that again after switching to a 20. The 410 certainly has my interest.

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I switched to a 20ga and TSS a couple of years ago and will never go back to a 12ga 3.5. You loose the recoil but can still kill birds at ethical ranges and the gun is a joy to carry. I plan on using the 410 more this year though.

Agree with some above. My 870 20ga with Carlson .575 is hard to put down. Only .410 I have is an older h&r. Pattern looks like I should limit myself to 30. But I've been itching to shoot one with it

Mossberg has the SA-410 in a camo turkey version.

I have the SA 20 Turkey thug and seen pictures of the SA 410. The gun looks great! I believe if I get one I will stick with the 301 T for starters but that Mossberg looks like a sweet little gun.

Andy S. said:

I bought one a few years back to tinker with, but have not done anything with it. For me, tinkering with a .410 is more of a novelty than anything else. I have ammo for it, just have not taken the time to get her dialed in. I highly doubt I will move on from my compact 870 20G any time soon. It has impressed me in the turkey woods over the years and anytime I have a lot of confidence in a tool, it is hard for me to set it down, just for the take of trying something different. Especially in the turkey woods. Good luck if you get one and set it up.

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My thoughts exactly. The 410 is just a novelty, no practical hunting advantage over a 20g 870 youth compact.

That being said, the 410 can be a very ethical turkey gun esp if loaded with 9.5s and shots around 35 yards.

megalomaniac said:

My thoughts exactly. The 410 is just a novelty, no practical hunting advantage over a 20g 870 youth compact.

That being said, the 410 can be a very ethical turkey gun esp if loaded with 9.5s and shots around 35 yards.

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Pretty much my thoughts as well, although I can see a small advantage for a smaller-framed person in that the 410 is slightly lighter, slightly smaller "footprint", and slightly less recoil than a lightweight 20 ga.

Disadvantage is not limited to range, but also the smaller pattern circle of the 410 over a 20.

Yes , I realize the 410 will not have the range or pattern circle that my 20 gauge shotguns will have. The question I look at is can you ethically kill a turkey with the 410. The answer to that question is definitely yes as the pictures above will show. To me if I get a 410 and a gobbler gets away because it's 35 yards or more and I can't shoot , it will not bother me at all I will just enjoy watching the show. Most of my shots are 30 to 35 yards by choice. The 301 T in the 410 is definitely lighter than my 20 gauge version. I don't know if I will get it or not but if so TSS #9 and 30 yards will be my limit if it patterns as good as the other guys on here. There are still people I get around that can't believe I hunt with a 20 gauge. I was at the local WMA checking in a bird 3 years ago and had an old timer I know ask me if my max range was 20 yards! Lol. I can remember when it was 10 gauge or 12 and that's all you seen people carry. Then the 3.5 shell came out and it was all the rage(myself included). To me the most important thing is the right ammo, pattern your gun and keep your shots within a reasonable range. If you do those things anything from a 10 gauge to a 410 can be an effective turkey gun now days. I will never give up my 20 gauge shotguns as my primary turkey guns but would not mind trying a 410 at some point. I appreciate all the insight on the subject. Thanks again!

Well I did it ! Stevens 301 T 410. I am impressed with this little gun with the factory choke and Federal TSS #9. Here is 30 yards. The gun is a keeper!

deerfever said:

Well I did it ! Stevens 301 T 410. I am impressed with this little gun with the factory choke and Federal TSS #9. Here is 30 yards. The gun is a keeper!

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Would like to see the wads from the federals after being shot. I was not impressed with the amount shot still in the wads from the Federal we tried in our Stevens.