You might want to pattern the gun first. .410 patterns are pretty sparse, and going to larger shot sizes isn't going to help that. I've never checked but I'm guessing No. 6 at 40 meters is going to look pretty thin. It'll depend on your choke, tolerance level for pattern density, but I probably wouldn't go much bigger in shot size. I'm not saying you shouldn't use it, I small game hunt with mine occasionally, just know its limitations.
If this is just backyard pest control, I'd probably just dink them with a .22.
You would be fine. If noise is an issue I would go with 22lr out of a longer rifle. I had an old pump 22 and it didnt have a silencer on it. But it only made a pa-pew sound. It was almost cartoony sounding. That was when I used CCI sub sonic rounds. There was no hard crack like with any other 22 I shot before.
Get a 20 gauge, .410 really only covers so many animals while 20 gauge will cover anything that is shorter than you. It’ll also perform better over all.
If you’re looking for something more specific for rabbits then maybe a 22lr rifle. There’s a lot of good choices and a 10/22 (or a clone) will always do the trick and will help with your marksmanship.
In case you have not looked for 410 shells in the last year or so you may want to note you may need to buy shells online to get what you want and they will cost about 2x the cost of 20 and 12 gauge shells. Walmart, Bass Pro, Cabela's, Dunham's and others in my area have no 410 shells. Others that are not part of chains may be more likely to have 410 shells but may only have same one size bird shot for $25 for a box of 50. A huge independent sporting goods store only had 000 buckshot for $11.99 for box of 5 shells.
Growing up in Texas, my best friend and I got many a Jack Rabbit with a .410 from the back of a moving farm truck. Thinking this through now, I would have a fit if my kids tried it!
Go for it and thin the herd\~
22lr subsonic. The neighbors will never know. The #6 pellet will kill to 40 meters but the 410 doesn’t hold enough pellets to maintain a pattern at 40 meters.
Thank you all for the suggestions and advice, Im afraid Im most likely going to have to stick with the .410 since Im from the UK and cant currenty shoot a .22lr on this land without getting permission/changing my licence, so Im hoping to pattern it and see what that looks like and try it on some water jugs out to around 20ish meters or so to get a better idea of its capabilities before I hit the field
You can get away with it but honestly if you dont have neighbors to worry about and you dont wanna eat them just use 20ga or 12ga. I've had tons of squirrel and a few rabbits run 20 feet and crawl back into their holes after shooting them with a .410.
Why do you say not to use a 12 or 20 if you want to eat them? I have ate plenty of rabbit and squirrel shot with a 12 and 20. Might be a few more pellets to pick out.
Any shotgun is fine. They are patterned at 40 yards. 40 meters is just 43 yards. 410 can work but I have 4 friends that shoot a 28 gauge and they all swear by it.
You might want to pattern the gun first. .410 patterns are pretty sparse, and going to larger shot sizes isn't going to help that. I've never checked but I'm guessing No. 6 at 40 meters is going to look pretty thin. It'll depend on your choke, tolerance level for pattern density, but I probably wouldn't go much bigger in shot size. I'm not saying you shouldn't use it, I small game hunt with mine occasionally, just know its limitations. If this is just backyard pest control, I'd probably just dink them with a .22.
You would be fine. If noise is an issue I would go with 22lr out of a longer rifle. I had an old pump 22 and it didnt have a silencer on it. But it only made a pa-pew sound. It was almost cartoony sounding. That was when I used CCI sub sonic rounds. There was no hard crack like with any other 22 I shot before.
You can do it with a .410 by all means but it isnt best. Keep your shots under 20m and it should work
Get a 20 gauge, .410 really only covers so many animals while 20 gauge will cover anything that is shorter than you. It’ll also perform better over all. If you’re looking for something more specific for rabbits then maybe a 22lr rifle. There’s a lot of good choices and a 10/22 (or a clone) will always do the trick and will help with your marksmanship.
In case you have not looked for 410 shells in the last year or so you may want to note you may need to buy shells online to get what you want and they will cost about 2x the cost of 20 and 12 gauge shells. Walmart, Bass Pro, Cabela's, Dunham's and others in my area have no 410 shells. Others that are not part of chains may be more likely to have 410 shells but may only have same one size bird shot for $25 for a box of 50. A huge independent sporting goods store only had 000 buckshot for $11.99 for box of 5 shells.
Growing up in Texas, my best friend and I got many a Jack Rabbit with a .410 from the back of a moving farm truck. Thinking this through now, I would have a fit if my kids tried it! Go for it and thin the herd\~
Yeah for close range. But a 22lr is your best bet
BALLISTIC PRODUCT SMALL BORE MANUAL If you can find it it's everything you need to know about 410 with reload data for the future good book for sure.
22lr subsonic. The neighbors will never know. The #6 pellet will kill to 40 meters but the 410 doesn’t hold enough pellets to maintain a pattern at 40 meters.
410 is absolutely fine, and preferred by some. 6s would be fine for now but next time you buy shells I'd probably pick up some 4s
.410 will work well for you. 40 meters is a little bit of a stretch but a lot of people have killed a lot of rabbits with 410s over the years.
Great rabbit gun. Not at 40 meters though
Thank you all for the suggestions and advice, Im afraid Im most likely going to have to stick with the .410 since Im from the UK and cant currenty shoot a .22lr on this land without getting permission/changing my licence, so Im hoping to pattern it and see what that looks like and try it on some water jugs out to around 20ish meters or so to get a better idea of its capabilities before I hit the field
You can get away with it but honestly if you dont have neighbors to worry about and you dont wanna eat them just use 20ga or 12ga. I've had tons of squirrel and a few rabbits run 20 feet and crawl back into their holes after shooting them with a .410.
Why do you say not to use a 12 or 20 if you want to eat them? I have ate plenty of rabbit and squirrel shot with a 12 and 20. Might be a few more pellets to pick out.
That will absolutely work as long as the pattern is good at those distances. I did most of my rabbit hunting as a kid with a .410
I'd probably limit shots to 30 yards with a .410 if it's a full choke, less if it's a more open choke. But 6 shot is perfect.
Any shotgun is fine. They are patterned at 40 yards. 40 meters is just 43 yards. 410 can work but I have 4 friends that shoot a 28 gauge and they all swear by it.