.410 slug for Boar

[KimE]

Would they even be legal in some European countries?
Perhaps I am just dreaming it but I have a very vague recollection of a shotgun minimum calibre for boar in France for instance.

I have no doubt that such a gun and load would be very pleasant to shoot, but being the wuss that I am I would want something with a bit more clout for driven boar.

20g minimum in Sweden and only single barrel shotguns with slug are allowed. You also need the bigame part of hunting education even then you can own the gun for smallgame hunting. Rifles are the common weapon for wildboar they are more versatile then you also hunt other biggame not allowed to shoot with slugs.

 

[KimE]

Thanks, I know shotguns are commonly used in a variety of countries outside the UK, but had assumed -perhaps wrongly- that this choice was skewed by licensing conditions rather than being a matter of choice. Or is not opting for a rifle a matter of expense?

Some countries in eastern europe had governments who allowed shotguns to be more common than rifles so thouse countries developed a tradition to use shotguns.

Usually in the 70s and 80s were rifles long and the early types of scopes on them wasnt great for hunting driven game after rifles like Blaser t93 tracker came not so many Swedish hunters use shotguns for wildboar.

 

[jthyttin]

My pistol was chambered for .410g/colt 45 long, the .410 slug makes 700+ ftlbs of energy, way more than a .357 magnum, the .410 slug in along barrelled gun is no light weight.

You must be kidding, right? 410 slug is 1800fps / 550m/s from shotgun barrel (Winchester factory data). That equates to 1060 Joule / 780 ftlbs and it's for the "heavy" 1/4oz / 7 gram slug. The lighter 1/5oz / 5.6 gram slug is 880 Joule / 650 ftlbs.

And those tiny little slugs are definitely not suitable for boar.

357 on the other hand, happily trudges along 500m/s from pistol length (although longish) barrel with 158gr bullet. That's 20% more muzzle energy than 1/4oz 410 slug from shotgun barrel. Although I'd opt for 180gr if I had to use 357 for medium game, and it's still 450m/s.

 

[Triggermortis]

So the .357 is 50m/s slower?
If the .410 slug can cope with cattle and any other large animal in the uk which it does, then please explain how it won’t kill a pig?

 

[Bavarianbrit]

So the .357 is 50m/s slower?
If the .410 slug can cope with cattle and any other large animal in the uk which it does, then please explain how it won’t kill a pig?
View attachment 392611

What distance are these cattle usually shot at with the UKs .410 slug? Would this be vets or slaughtermen doing the shooting?

 

[Heym SR20]

A couple of videos of the 410 against the Pork rib, oranges or water melon, pork ribs targets. One with slugs and one with buck shot

The second is the late great Paul Harrell - go to about minute 10- the first is a PH want to be.

They do work. Ish. If its all I had then yes would use it. But if I had a choice then there are much better alternatives. Same argument with a 22 rim fire.






Edit. And finally a direct comparison between 45 long colt and 410 slugs from Taurus Judge Revolver



And finally for comparison three different hunting rifles in 300 savage (a slightly throttled back 308), 444 Marlin and 338 win mag against the same meat target

 

[Mountain Bug]

20g minimum in Sweden and only single barrel shotguns with slug are allowed. You also need the bigame part of hunting education even then you can own the gun for smallgame hunting. Rifles are the common weapon for wildboar they are more versatile then you also hunt other biggame not allowed to shoot with slugs.

I'm curious as to the definition of single barrel shotgun. Is this meaning a single shot, break action type or are you allowed use of a pump or autoloading style?


Scott

 

[jthyttin]

My educated guess is, that Swedish wanted to rule out double barrel shotguns that are abundant and rarely the owner has bothered to install anything but the original rib and maybe bead or two. And there's the problem with barrel regulation, double barrel shotguns might be very finicky which brand (and lot) slugs they shoot to same POI or thereabouts. And owners not so finicky...

 

[jthyttin]

So the .357 is 50m/s slower?

If you choose to be ignorant and/or troll, so be it.

With published data, 357 with 110gr is 50+m/s faster (from short barrel) than 410 110 grainish slug is (from long barrel). And you can choose much stouter bullet.

Problem with lead slugs, and especially 410 (higher velocity) is that they're soft. And they have shitty BC. And double barrel shotguns (as per OP) rarely are accuracy pieces. If you try to use underpowered cartridge it's best described as "surgical". Hitting a dinner plate at 50m is not the same...

 

[Jagare]

I've killed pigs with a .22 and sheep and cattle with a .32 pistol. I would not use either on their wild counterparts. Hunting laws are written in the main so people use a suitable gun for the type of game they are hunting. I'm sure the .410 does not feature often in European hunting law for use against anything but the smallest animal or feathered game. Hunter experience also dictates what is the most suitable weapon for the game they are hunting. I've never seen another hunter using a shotgun for boar here.

 

[KimE]

I'm curious as to the definition of single barrel shotgun. Is this meaning a single shot, break action type or are you allowed use of a pump or autoloading style?


Scott

Yes single shot, autoloading 1+2 shells and pump actions are allowed. The lawmaker probably thought that if they allowed doubble barrel shotguns people who normally shoot birdshot would just load with slugs without control of precission. Roe deer was not allowed to shoot with slugs at that time so a change to birdshot had too be made to be legal.