[Gumbo]

I'm taking my son hunting and he'll be using my old .410, if I can find some steel shot for it. I'd rather not have to buy a spendy lead alternative.

It's an old gun. What's the liklihood of it even being steel capable? Would I be safer using a lead alternative?

 

[TEX-O-BOB]

I wouldn't even consider a 410 for ducks, let alone steel in a 410 in the first place. :?

You're already handicapping your boy by making him shoot such a small gun anyway. Crowbar your wallet open and get the boy some shells he'll accually have a chance at killing a duck with.

Tell ya what, I've got a 20 ga youth model 870 express or a youth 20 ga single shot I'll let you borrow if you want to come get it.

 

[Gumbo]

I can't count the number of ducks I killed with it as a kid. At least not on my hands and toes. But that was with lead.

He just passed his hunter safety and tomorrow will be his first hunt. It's a youth single shot bolt action. You're right--a 20ga would be ideal. But for this hunt I'll probably just bend over for some bismuth if I can find it.

 

[Trooper]

I think you and your boy need a paper route or something. A used 870 is maybe $200. Hell, I used a $50 pawn shop special Rem model 16 ( I think) in 20g., big ugly polychoke, old as hell, for four years in my late twenties! Killed a lot of birds, got a lot of questions (What is that thing?) You'll make it up in steel shells in one season!

Anyway, my point is don't make a kid shoot ducks with a .410. You're going to get desperate and pretty soon you'll be shooting them off the water. Plus, I have to think you are going to cripple a lot of birds. How many steel 4 shot BB's can be in a .410 anyway- maybe 30?

JMHO

 

[GSLHonker]

As far as I know there is not a non-toxic shot shell made for a 410. I have never seen it, hell it is hard enough to find lead for those things.
GSLHonker

 

[threshershark]

Yeah you're only looking at about 65 size 4 pellets in your average .410 load as opposed to about 150 pellets in an average 20 gauge waterfowl load. Steel being less dense than lead, the pellets will decelerate and spread out faster too, making the .410 an extremely close range proposition. Pick up a single shot 20 gauge or a used pump and enjoy.

Actually there is a Marlin single shot 12 ga on KSL right now for $120.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=218&ad=1983868&cat=375&lpid=1

Quite a few pumps for under $250.

 

[LETTER-RIP]

There is no steel shot. I had a 410 when I was young and it was the same problem, no steel shot. I killed lots of ducks with that thing. My old mans best friend said a 410 would not kill a duck. Boy was he suprised when I shot a gadwall coming into the decoys 20yrs ago. If there was steel shot I would still take mine out and pluck ducks off with it. If people would decoy birds in the way they are suppost to be then there would be no need for a 3 1/2 inch shell either. Try to get him a 20 gauge even if you have to borrow it for tomorrow.