410 for Turkeys?

[nhol100]

Anyone used a 410 for turkeys? I will be taking my son out this spring to hunt turkeys for the first time and he will be 8 by season. He has been shooting a single shot 410 I have for quite some time. I tried bumping him up to my youth model 20 gauge and after the first shot I could tell we are going to be better off sticking to the 410. He shots it very well and loves to shoot it. I am thinking if I get some turkey loads for it and we get the bird in close enough we shouldn't have a problem. I was curious of anyone's experience with using a 410 for turkeys, types of shells, effective range, and any other thoughts? Thank you

He is beyond excited and I want to make sure if we do get a shot that I set him up for success.

 

[Matt mi]

My son shot his first turkey at 7 and a couple after that with 410 started him shooting the 2 1/2 in shells then 3in for hunting. He did drop one at 22yds but I would keep it at 15yds if you can. #4 shot never used any turkey loads have practiced with them but no noticable difference so stayed with regular ammo turkey loads are over priced

 

[D.Rose]

Got several friends that use .410's just for the sport of it. The heavyweight tss loads will flat hammer some turkeys from what I have seen from them. They're killing birds out to 30yds with zero issues.

 

[Highvoltage1]

Federal tss and the stevens 410 group very well to 35 yds. They are pretty popular with the youth around here. Problem is when your looking for 5/6 shot for rabbits it’s impossible to find

 

[Agross]

My son is 8, and I bought him a single shot 410 to use. I didn't get any special turkey loads, just some 3 inch number 4. Unfortunately we didn't get anything in close enough this year. I'm limiting him to 20 yards. We shot at big sheets of cardboard a few times to see the pattern at 20.

 

[Tod osier]

Anyone used a 410 for turkeys? I will be taking my son out this spring to hunt turkeys for the first time and he will be 8 by season. He has been shooting a single shot 410 I have for quite some time. I tried bumping him up to my youth model 20 gauge and after the first shot I could tell we are going to be better off sticking to the 410. He shots it very well and loves to shoot it. I am thinking if I get some turkey loads for it and we get the bird in close enough we shouldn't have a problem. I was curious of anyone's experience with using a 410 for turkeys, types of shells, effective range, and any other thoughts? Thank you

He is beyond excited and I want to make sure if we do get a shot that I set him up for success.

get set up with some #9 TSS if it is legal in your state. The stuff is unbelievable in that it carries the energy of lead many sizes larger. Spendy, but worth it. I've only used in it a 20, but the patterns are simply amazing with that much tiny shot.

 

[Laramie]

My oldest shot a double with his 410 at age 9. My youngest son shot his first at age 6 with a 28 gauge. The next 3 years, he shot 8 turkeys with that 28. All were inside of 30 yards. We used #6 lead and never had an issue.

 

[bradb]

I have shot 1 with 410 several buddies have shot a bunch. As stated 9 tss are great. I shoot most of my turkeys with a youth 20(weatherby sa 08) gauge set up for taking kids out. The smaller gauges work great

 

[nhol100]

Great stuff guys, thanks for the input.

 

[thewaterfowler]

The .410 is increasing becoming a popular sub gauge being used in turkey hunting. The gun is light and with the right ammo packs a nice punch. I have found the ultimate ammo for the .410, the new Hevi 18 TSS Turkey. These shells are incredibly dense loads at 18g/cc and will hit like a ton of bricks even at extended ranges. I think that it's important when using a .410 and even a 20 gauge to make sure you use a premium shotgun shell like the Hevi 18 TSS.

 

[go_deep]

My son shot his first turkey, a Jake at 29 yards with a 3" 7 shot .410 full choke. We patterned the gun ever 2 yards till the pattern fell apart. I will say when the pattern fell apart it happened really fast.

 

[Brad_Colvin]

I killed 4 last year from ranges 18-38 yards using Apex tss 9's. I have a killing pattern out to 50 but I won't shoot a turkey past 40 no matter what gun I'm using.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Vermont Hunter 34]

I know someone who swears by his 410 for turkeys. I personally would never take one out though

 

[Trapperkid]

My dads brother shoots a 410 exclusively for everything he lives in Florida and he’s already tagged out for turkey

 

[pk_]

My son got his first couple turkeys this year with 410 and TSS

first bird I misjudged yardage. Thought it was 35 ended up being 43 yards. Dropped and barely flopped. This was with an XF choke.

 

[Southern Heritage]

I hunted this year exclusively with a .410.
Killed two.
I feel I could have killed 4 more if I had a 12 gauge but they where around 50 yds and hung up.
In total I’ve killed 7 or 8 with a .410.
Everything from a LC smith SXS to a Stevens single shot.
I do shoot tss hard loads.
My favorite was my 6 year old and mines double

 

[Kevin Bogert]

A buddy of mine has a pretty sweet .410 for his 9 year old. I've watched him kill a couple birds and stone them. farthest one was 39 yards. 3" 7 shot tss. I also talked to a guy that shoots geese with .410 tss loads. Seems to work good. For gobbling birds, I'd say anything less than 40 yards you're good to go.

 

[Fallfreak]

Wow!! Shooting geese with a .410. I was surprised at turkeys but geese really surprises me. These new loads must pack a punch.

 

[NEWHunter]

I’m late to this thread but I’ll add that using a Caldwell Fieldpod or the like sucks the recoil out of a lot of guns. They make a 12 gauge feel like a 28 gauge. I swear by them for my kids. They keep the weapon in a ready position and pointed in a safe direction with no need to worry about tired or shaking arms. The kids only have to worry about lining up the sights and pulling the trigger. I wouldn’t take my 6 or 8 year old out for deer or turkeys without one.

 

[dtrkyman]

Foxtrot ammo for .410!