.410 as a home defense shotgun

[Pfletch83]

I don't have anything but 3" cartridges, and some Euro-made in 2 9/16" so I can't try 2 1/2"ers for fit. Mathematically it should be able to hold 6 in the mag. 5x3 = 15"; 6x2.5 = 15". A 6th 2 9/16" cartridge will not fit - it's about a 1/2" too long for the cartridge stop to catch.
Here's what I saw at the range, all at the 25' pistol range - #4 shot produced 12 - 14" patterns about 6" low of the center of the bull; slugs hit very close to the center and I was able to produce 2.5" or less groups; 3 ball 00 buck patterned, consistently, right around the center of the bull and gave patterns of 3 to 3 1/2".
I've handled a couple examples with the pistol grip. Found them too difficult for me to aim and you do have to aim at HD ranges - see group sizes above. I like mine with the butt stock; LOP is about 13" - just right for snuggling up with a tight cheek weld. Forward hand grip makes pumping rapid and positive - no slip. I can/could empty the mag with little movement off target and probably in less than 3 to 4 seconds. I'd like to try some of the new SD/HD rounds put out by Remington Ultimate Home Defense and Winchester PDX-1 - with improved payloads but I just don't see the need at this time.
Obviously, a tighter choke will produce tighter groups at 25 ft. but how tight do you need them and isn't a bit of spread with buckshoot a good thing - spreading the impact zone out a wee bit causes more potential damage, IMHO.

You don't really need a choke with a .410.

For example the full choke barrel that I started out with would print a 2-3 inch patterns at 15-21 feet at the same distances the cylinder bore barrel would pattern the buckshot like a slug.

[Pfletch83]

Check this out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1wMm...nn2pgFSYn-3Q4=

[Pfletch83]

Together at last....

[mpan72]

Together at last....

Awwwww how cute.....someday they will grow up to be grownup guns and have we little guns of their own.


JK, nice blasters you got there. Cool combo, like a lever action and revolver in the same calibre.

[Pfletch83]

Awwwww how cute.....someday they will grow up to be grownup guns and have we little guns of their own.


JK, nice blasters you got there. Cool combo, like a lever action and revolver in the same calibre.

What do you mean when they grow up....the S&W Governor is what happens when you leave a Mossberg 410 pump alone in the safe with an S&W 617 for too long

But yeah I had to get the Governor when I put the DFG series together I was thinking to myself "This is too good to pass up"