.410 shotgun for squirrel?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - .410 shotgun for squirrel?

Posted: 4/20/2008 12:40:46 AM EDT

Is a .410 shotgun good for squirrel, or would the pellets be a pain in the ass? I'd use my .22 rifle, but that thing won't hold a zero for anything. We've got a .410 shotgun (no ammo for it) we got in a trade, so I'm curious about trying to bag some squirrel with it.

Posted: 4/20/2008 12:44:02 AM EDT

[#1]

Yes a 410 will work. Let you in on a little secret. I use 71/2 hard shot. Larger 6 and soft tend to ball up in the fur. Anything under 30 yds 71/2 completley penetrates for the most part.

Posted: 4/20/2008 12:53:03 AM EDT

[#2]

And it's not a pain in the ass to remove all the little pellets?

Posted: 4/20/2008 1:02:05 AM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
And it's not a pain in the ass to remove all the little pellets?

Nope as I said they pass through both sides. IF you use hard shot and not the promotional stuff you pay 20.00 for a hundred. I came upon this well thought out scientific conclussion one day. It was the only thing I had

Posted: 4/20/2008 3:06:43 AM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:

Quoted:
And it's not a pain in the ass to remove all the little pellets?

Nope as I said they pass through both sides. IF you use hard shot and not the promotional stuff you pay 20.00 for a hundred. I came upon this well thought out scientific conclussion one day. It was the only thing I had

3" #6

Don't use a slug though.

Posted: 4/20/2008 3:25:29 AM EDT

[#5]

Thanks for the info on the 7 1/2 hard shot.

Posted: 4/20/2008 3:58:19 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Is a .410 shotgun good for squirrel, or would the pellets be a pain in the ass? I'd use my .22 rifle, but that thing won't hold a zero for anything. We've got a .410 shotgun (no ammo for it) we got in a trade, so I'm curious about trying to bag some squirrel with it.

.410 is one of the best small game guns. The lower pellet count doesn't tear em up so bad. I always just used 6's. I like 4's for rabbit.

Posted: 4/20/2008 4:17:28 AM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Is a .410 shotgun good for squirrel, or would the pellets be a pain in the ass? I'd use my .22 rifle, but that thing won't hold a zero for anything. We've got a .410 shotgun (no ammo for it) we got in a trade, so I'm curious about trying to bag some squirrel with it.

.410 is one of the best small game guns. The lower pellet count doesn't tear em up so bad. I always just used 6's. I like 4's for rabbit.

I like marlin Mod 410 lever for squirrel ,but the Rem Ryder #9 in .28 guage with 34 inch barrel is the cat's meowww!

Bob

Posted: 4/20/2008 4:20:13 AM EDT

[#8]

I have killed many a tree rat with a .410 and number 6 shot. Pellets usually go straight through. The ones that have not, just fall out during gutting.

Posted: 4/20/2008 4:23:01 AM EDT

[#9]

Yes, .410 works. It's been used for decades. Hell, even an airgun will do the job. I've killed squirrel with a run of the mill pump-up Crosman airgun on a couple of occasions. That airgun isn't "supposed" to be powerful enough to kill critters like that, but tell that to the squirrels.

Posted: 4/20/2008 4:28:20 AM EDT

[#10]

I have shot more squirrels with my crossman pump pellet gun than with any other gun I own. If you catch a rabbit within 15 yards with a head shot it will be lights out for buggs just as well !!!

Posted: 4/20/2008 4:30:11 AM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
I have shot more squirrels with my crossman pump pellet gun than with any other gun I own. If you catch a rabbit within 15 yards with a head shot it will be lights out for buggs just as well !!!

Yep, right on. Pigeons fall over like bowling pins when they are shot in the head at 10 feet with a pellet gun.

Posted: 4/20/2008 4:36:29 AM EDT

[#12]

After you read this thread You will come to understand that .410 & pellet rifles are yoverkill on squirrels:

ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=17&t=611065
ps. be very careful when entering the survival forum & don't make any sudden jumpy moves & you'll be ok

Posted: 4/20/2008 4:58:26 AM EDT

[#13]

OK I am so gonna try that the next time I go camping !!!!

I snared rabbits before , never thought to even try squirrels !!!

Posted: 4/20/2008 5:01:02 AM EDT

[#14]

I've always found a .410 works great for bushy tails

Posted: 4/20/2008 6:38:38 AM EDT

[#15]

Works fine, get close.

Posted: 4/20/2008 6:40:33 AM EDT

[#16]

Most .410s are full choke so just aim for the head and there won't be many pellets in the meat.

Posted: 4/20/2008 8:20:29 AM EDT

[#17]

I took many SQuirrel with my break action Winchester .410

I usually used 3" number 4 birdshot. always got complete penetration.

Posted: 4/20/2008 12:10:33 PM EDT

[#18]

I use my winchester 94410 on ptarmigans,rabbits and ducks. It works very well and is fun to shoot.

Posted: 4/20/2008 1:17:48 PM EDT

[#19]

i used to have an old Winchester model 37 { Red letter model} that thing had such a tight full choke to it! i HAD to use #9 skeet loads on squirrels. the bigger shot would just blow away meat.

Posted: 4/20/2008 1:22:20 PM EDT

[#20]

.410 is great but .22 is much cheaper so I will stick with it.

Posted: 4/20/2008 1:55:11 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
After you read this thread You will come to understand that .410 & pellet rifles are yoverkill on squirrels:

ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=17&t=611065
ps. be very careful when entering the survival forum & don't make any sudden jumpy moves & you'll be ok

I happen to be a regular on the survival forum and even have the shoulder patch.

I was just curious if the .410 would leave the squirrel a mess or be a pain in the ass to remove all the pellets. Since it won't, I think I'll use that to bag my first tree rat.

Posted: 4/20/2008 2:03:57 PM EDT

[#22]

I taken a lot of groundhogs with a .410.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - .410 shotgun for squirrel?

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