Which 410 cartridge for squirrels?
- Thread starter Chasey
- Start date
Chasey
Well-Known Member
I did a pattern board today with No6 subs at 20m and it was horrific. No wonder the little rascals are running off there was a gaping hole in the middle of it. Id do better to am just left or just right of the target
Tried again with a standard round in No7 shot and the pattern was much much denser and more likely to be affective, but dammed noisy. Kind of defeats the object of a hushpower 410
Sadly I haven't got subs in 7s or 4s so I cant compare them yet. 7 subs shouldn't be a problem but its a struggle to find anything but 6s and 7s for the 410, and OMG are they expensive.
Mind you still prefer it to the 12 in terms of recoil and I don't think its noisy enough to force ear defenders and seeing as i use mainly use noise to locate them, That's a bonus
ATB
Tried again with a standard round in No7 shot and the pattern was much much denser and more likely to be affective, but dammed noisy. Kind of defeats the object of a hushpower 410
Sadly I haven't got subs in 7s or 4s so I cant compare them yet. 7 subs shouldn't be a problem but its a struggle to find anything but 6s and 7s for the 410, and OMG are they expensive.
Mind you still prefer it to the 12 in terms of recoil and I don't think its noisy enough to force ear defenders and seeing as i use mainly use noise to locate them, That's a bonus
ATB
enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
I had a Webley bolt action .22RF shotgun and one of their bolt action No 3. shotguns (9mm Rimfire). I was fully convinced that with the No 3 that squirrels were more at risk of harm from the bad weather that they ever were from the contents of the cartridges. Again they were, as loaded by Eley, charged with too great a size of shot.
enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
Re your cartridges Chasey try loading your own.
This American guy is well worth a look at:
It isn't too expensive to do for a .410 and, in truth, for the few you might use quite cost effective. The sizing tool can be a hole drilled through a brass or steel piece of 1/2" thick steel. Capping and decapping can be done with a nail and a simple wooden dowel...the same you'd use to ram the wadding too. Lee used to do a very simple all in one tool.
Do you have a reloading press? If you do then even cut down old .303 cases that have split their necks can be used!
This American guy is well worth a look at:
It isn't too expensive to do for a .410 and, in truth, for the few you might use quite cost effective. The sizing tool can be a hole drilled through a brass or steel piece of 1/2" thick steel. Capping and decapping can be done with a nail and a simple wooden dowel...the same you'd use to ram the wadding too. Lee used to do a very simple all in one tool.
Do you have a reloading press? If you do then even cut down old .303 cases that have split their necks can be used!
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yetidude69
Well-Known Member
Ok so I bought a 410 Mosberg Hushpower to bash squirrels in trees. The 12g was too noisy
Sadly though, the 3" sub cartridge i am using just don't seem to have any knock down power and I end up wounding then one or two more bangs to finish them off.
On the ground at say 25m its worse. I can see by the reaction and the debris blown up, I have hit them, but they just run off
I am using Eley Extra Long Magnum Subsonic 18gram No6 shot
Any ideas?
Comments that i might be a crap shot with a shotgun and need a 12g to make up for my uselessness will be met with humble agreement
ATB
I use the same cartridges but through my baikal hush power and find them great on squirrels, pigeons and rabbits.
Have you tried patterning it at different ranges?
Hornet 6
Well-Known Member
It's a .410 hushpower, what did you expect ?
You started with the least powerful round, and then wasted about half the propellant by drilling the barrel full of holes.
I bought one many years ago when they first came out for close range 'vermin' around the lakes, fired 3 shots and killed nothing.
4th shot at 10 yards at an old fence panel, no holes, gun went back the next day for a refund, shop didn't seem surprised.
After that I tried a bolt action .410 with a moderator hung on the end, quieter than without and no power loss.
Neil.
You started with the least powerful round, and then wasted about half the propellant by drilling the barrel full of holes.
I bought one many years ago when they first came out for close range 'vermin' around the lakes, fired 3 shots and killed nothing.
4th shot at 10 yards at an old fence panel, no holes, gun went back the next day for a refund, shop didn't seem surprised.
After that I tried a bolt action .410 with a moderator hung on the end, quieter than without and no power loss.
Neil.
I have a mossberg hushpower .410 and quite the opposite I have been surprised how well it performs.
I have shot several squirrels, loads of pigeons, heaps of jackdaws and, a couple of magpies, a few rats and quite a few rabbits with the hushpower barrell but I also have the straight barrel for it which is great fun for skeet. I find it surprisingly pointable even with the hushpower barrel.
I have never used subsonic cartridges but I find that even the 3 inch magnums are significantly quieter through the hushpower barrel. Quiet enough for my needs anyway.
I bought a couple of thousand Saga 3 inch 6's for it when I got the gun and they seem pretty pokey - although the Eley 18gm 6's are pretty good too
I have shot several squirrels, loads of pigeons, heaps of jackdaws and, a couple of magpies, a few rats and quite a few rabbits with the hushpower barrell but I also have the straight barrel for it which is great fun for skeet. I find it surprisingly pointable even with the hushpower barrel.
I have never used subsonic cartridges but I find that even the 3 inch magnums are significantly quieter through the hushpower barrel. Quiet enough for my needs anyway.
I bought a couple of thousand Saga 3 inch 6's for it when I got the gun and they seem pretty pokey - although the Eley 18gm 6's are pretty good too
I use the standard Eley 3" in mine. Same gun. Like plenty of others have said and you have now found out, the pattern will be hopeless at that range. Drop a shot size and put up with the noise of a full power cartridge. It's still considerably quieter than a regular shotgun. Try to get a bit closer too!
I use a .22 Mag myself , but have used my 20 ga. Rem. 870 on occasion. The 870 is to long and heavy for her to handle and carry right now( remember she is 10 years old, 4 1/2' 75 lbs.) I also have a light-wieght(plastic stock) single shot 20ga, but it may kick too much for her right now. I'll have to try it with her. She can't hold the .22 steady enough in a field position yet either. I plan on takeing her in Aug.+ Sept. when the leaves are thick and shots are closer , well within 25 yds..
I think I'll try some 3" #4, #5, and #6 and see which patterns the best at 25yds.
I think I'll try some 3" #4, #5, and #6 and see which patterns the best at 25yds.
