410 question

[JagerDog]

OP
If you want her to shoot well and safely handle a firearm to repel boarders at home you need to have her choose her weapon after trying out as many as possible. Don't fixate on the one caliber. Stay open minded on this.

Maybe think 9mm carbine/rifle? Lever action 38/357? M1 carbine? Something that's shootable.
Once that's done then buy your ammo. Great defense ammo can be had these days.

This is true. A pistol caliber carbine (and IMHO M1 carbine is a pistol caliber), can be very capable in HD. Recoil is quite minimal.

[JagerDog]

I think there is a serious lack of penetration with any buck shot smaller than #1.

I would choose .410 with OO or OOO buck over a 20 gauge with #2 or #3 buck or smaller.

It's about how it stacks in the hull to maximize payload density.

My 12g handloads are #1 buck. Hard to find in commercial, though I have some buffered commercial #1 buck.

[Two Shots]

There are a bunch of Defense rounds for the .410 that have just been put on the market in the last several years which greatly improved the .410, I've shot the Hornady Critical Defense through my .410 and they're pretty nasty on water jugs.

My DIL never shot a shotgun and the son wanted her to have his Mossberg Tactical (adjustable stock w/pistol grip AR style) while he was deployed, she hated the full loads but was able to use the low recoil buckshot without complaining.
You could try low recoil shells or if you reload or know someone who does you can make some low recoil Buckshot for a 12g, IMHO the .410 is adequate at short range with HD rounds for a person that can't shoot 12 gauge it's always better to have something she has confidence in.

Anyhow, best of luck finding the best option for your wife.

https://www.ganderoutdoors.com/hornady-critical-defense-shotgun-ammunition-.410-bore-2-12-ftx-203218.html

[W.R.Buchanan]

Your 590 is a relatively heavy gun,,, so was the problem with the Ammo you had her shoot or the weight of the gun.

If you had her shoot High Base 00 then you ruined her right out of the box.

You could load or have a friend load some very light loads with 00 Buck that were about 1000 fps and would have hardly any recoil in that gun.

Another way to go would be to get her in a Shotgun Class at Front Sight so she could actually learn to shoot that gun. This would be the best answer of all, cuz if she doesn't know how to run that gun, she won't be able to run a .410 that is just like it,,, either.

Walmart Federal Birdshot, Low Recoil 00 Buckshot and Low Recoil Slugs. In the two day classes she'd only fire 5-10 slugs or bucks. The rest is birdshot.

I personally don't think the .410 is an adequate defensive round. However if that's all I had I'd do my best to get right up Close and Personal with it to insure I got the most Bang for my Buck. .410 slugs are 125 gr and at 1700 fps they are above a .357 Magnum Revolver. Something to think about.

Randy

[TMB 1]

410 is something you would have to use buckshot or slugs for HD/SD, doesnt hold enough shot to use bird shot.

I got my daughter Mossberg 410 when she was younger, later I got her a Maverick 20 gauge, the 410 is still her favorite.

Another option is 12 gauge with Mini shells. They have 6 00buck pellets vs 4 000 buck in the 410 and recoil is not that bad.

[PoorRichRichard]

Another option is 12 gauge with Mini shells. They have 6 00buck pellets vs 4 000 buck in the 410 and recoil is not that bad.

DID

[SandHill]

My 12g handloads are #1 buck. Hard to find in commercial, though I have some buffered commercial #1 buck.

+1 on the #1 buck. Hard to find commercial, but not impossible. You can even get it in Federal Flite Control: https://www.ammunitiondepot.com/951-...buck-shot.html

but if you find it in stock you better stock up. This is my HD round of choice.

[plumbum]

Mini-shells, Federal and Aguila make them for 12 gauge - turns a 12 into a 20. A mossberg 500 with a 12” stock and a OpSol clip for the mag would do wonders for ya. Or if you’re brave, try the KelTec KS7.

I have shot a lot of oddball .410 loads, and I have no doubts that a 3” load throwing 5 ‘000’ pellets would dissuade the majority of goblins. The 2 1/2” loads are a little light, but still punch holes in things. Personally I like brenneke style .410 slugs, they seemed to hit really hard and accurate in my gun.

[pd5190]

If you go the 410 route look at the offerings from Henry. They now offer there 410 lever gun with a side loading gate. Of course that came out shortly after I bought my tube fed model. Send me a private message if your wife would like to try mine. I am located in eastern part of the IE, if there is a range open that would be convenient.

[TMB 1]

DID

Work fine in both my 870 Wingmaster with mag extension, 870 Special Field, and both 93/97 clone, original Winchester 97.

[PoorRichRichard]

Work fine in both my 870 Wingmaster with mag extension, 870 Special Field, and both 93/97 clone, original Winchester 97.

Good. I’m glad you have found guns that’ll run ‘em. They won’t run reliably in any of my guns listed with the exception of the stock Supernova.

[THBailey]

Just my 2 cents, but the best advice I saw in this thread was let her find a gun she is comfortable with. I believe a hit with sub-optimal terminal ballistics is better than a clean miss with a thud stomper.

And just to throw another log on the fire, when my boys were young we spent a lot of time at the range with puff loads in the deer rifle. They both started with a sporterized and lightened 7x57 Brazilian Mauser. They each just about shot their weight in Unique powder, 10 or 12 grains at a time, behind 140 grain bullets, at the 50 yard line. When the day came for shooting at the live targets, they never even noticed the recoil of the hunting loads.

[Elgatodeacero]

Here is a nice candidate for .410 defense/turkey shotgun.

https://www.trimports.com/product/xt3-410-semi-auto-22-smooth-slug/

But it looks like the detachable magazine makes this illegal in California?

[elSquid]

Me too. 12 gauge is overkill, which is why I like it But if she can't handle 12 gauge, a 410 is a helluva lot better than a baseball,and I think would be enough.

Yup. The user needs to be comfortable with and have a base level of competence in their HD choice, and for some people a 12 gauge may not be a good answer.



I know that if rounds are about to start flying I'd rather have the above 410 than any handgun...

-- Michael

[Thefeeder]

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PM ---trapperjohn

He is a Clays shooting instructor right there in your area. I'm positive he has taught many a student just like your wife. No need to pay big bucks for Tactical to learn basic shotgun shooting.