410 for turkey?

[midwesthunter]

I will be in northern TX this spring doing a little turkey hunting. The kids will be with us as well ages 6,7,8, Not sure if 410's are legal yet in TX, what I found just says shotguns, but still digging. Anyways if they are legal I was thinking one of the kids could possibly try their luck. Anyone ever used a 410 for turkey? What shells/shot size. They have a single shot with a full choke barrel that will accept 3" shells.

 

[ATH]

I can't say I've ever seen 410 shells with shot large enough for turkeys. Maybe they exist. If they do, pattern well and keep shots to 10-15 yards. Better yet, verify at what range the gun is throwing enough shot into the head/neck area of a turkey target.

 

[HighKnob]

Not the best choice but could be done. Would use 6 or 7.5 shot, a good blind, and keep the shots really close. Should get the job done. Don't know if 410 is legal though.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Unless you can get a bird in real close, and I mean REAL close, I would not have the kids use the 410 on a turkey. However, in Texas you can use a rifle of any caliber to turkey hunt the Rio Grande variety, but not Easterns. Therefore, if you have access to any small caliber rifle I would let the kids practice with it and use it. Even a 22LR would probably be better than the 410. If you have a 22 magnum, hummer, or the like, that is what I would let them use. I was hunting hogs one year down south of San Antonio and had a nice Rio Grande longbeard come into a feeder about 100 yards from the blind. I was using my .243 Sako and when he turned facing me I put one just above his beard and through the top of his body. He just sat down DRT and when I went and got him there was minimal damage to the breast meat. With a smaller caliber like I mentioned they would be able to shoot further than with the 410 and drop a bird.

 

[J.james]

There aren't many gobblers in Australia but folks around here us 410 for ducks and geese successfully. Keep your shot with in 20 meters/yards and you should be fine.

 

[Leslie Sapp]

It can be done. I'd go with 3" #6 or 7 1/2 shot and tell them head shots only and within 25 yards. The young man in the linked story is much older and an accomplished shot for his age.

As has been suggested, a good scoped .22 might be a better choice. I can tell you from bitter experience, if you allow children to hunt larger game with shotguns, you better be good at blood trailing.
Many years ago, I adopted a policy for the inexperienced hunters I mentor: scoped rifles only on any game larger than a squirrel.
Can't recall having to blood trail anything more than a few yards since.

 

[MontanaMarine]

Interesting info here by a turkey hunter who loads hevi-shot in 410 and 28ga. His 40 yards pattern with the 410 is amazing.

.410 pattern : Shooting • Page 3 • Turkey and Turkey Hunting Forum

 

[parker300]

My son has shot 2 toms with a .410 both were shot under 20 yards and both were just tore up we used the winchester 3 inch steel #6 and they worked great

 

[wildwings]

one of my hunting pals is going to do the Grand Slam with
a .410 using Hevishot shells

 

[blumboss33]

i have used it before, not bad.

 

[wildwings]

"not bad" is a vast understatement.....I have not shot
anything that comes close

 

[bogey]

I shot 1 with 410 just because I won it and have shot them with bow, 12, 20, 16, muzzle loading shot gin. Worked fine, but think there are better choices and probably won't use out again.
Use my youth 20 gauge the most, love the little gun

 

[WildRose]

I will be in northern TX this spring doing a little turkey hunting. The kids will be with us as well ages 6,7,8, Not sure if 410's are legal yet in TX, what I found just says shotguns, but still digging. Anyways if they are legal I was thinking one of the kids could possibly try their luck. Anyone ever used a 410 for turkey? What shells/shot size. They have a single shot with a full choke barrel that will accept 3" shells.

It's legal but I wouldn't recommend it, they are just awfully light for Turkey and you don't want to lose a wounded bird in the field.

That being said I shoot a 1 oz load from the 28g at everything including ducks and people think I'm nuts but I kill as many as anyone.

A big gobbler in Texas can easily go over 20lbs and the are tough so I'd say at a minimum you want to stick with something that can throw a full ounce or more and be sitting there ready with a backup shot from something pretty heavy just in case.

 

[wildwings]

It's legal but I wouldn't recommend it, they are just awfully light for Turkey and you don't want to lose a wounded bird in the field.

That being said I shoot a 1 oz load from the 28g at everything including ducks and people think I'm nuts but I kill as many as anyone.

A big gobbler in Texas can easily go over 20lbs and the are tough so I'd say at a minimum you want to stick with something that can throw a full ounce or more and be sitting there ready with a backup shot from something pretty heavy just in case.

I would agree that in that scenario I might opt for the 20 gauge but I would not hesitate to use a .410 with Hevishot. It simply is too effective to not do so