The .410 – world’s smallest shotgun calibre

[Fellside]

3 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

And the BIGGEST improvement to .410" shooting was taking away all the FULL choked guns and going to multi-choke so people could open the muzzle and utilise the guns true potential.

Agreed 👍 

2 hours ago, London Best said:

As a long time .410 fan I think the biggest improvement is the common availability of cartridges loaded with smaller shot. 
When it was No.5 or No.5 the .410 was useless except at very close ranges. 
Being able to buy 7’s was a total revelation of the .410’s capabilities.

Agree to this also 👍 

[Fellside]

The above mentioned improvements have certainly given the 410 far greater hitting potential. However, the availability of dedicated clay cart’s has also been a huge step forward. 

[London Best]

20 minutes ago, Fellside said:

The above mentioned improvements have certainly given the 410 far greater hitting potential. However, the availability of dedicated clay cart’s has also been a huge step forward. 

In what way are you thinking?
Most .410’s had plastic wads already. Maybe the “clay” cartridges have shot cups? I don’t know as I have never opened one. The use of a crimp closure is a good improvement. The Eley Trap 7 1/2 with 14 gram load is certainly a very good cartridge. But I am not convinced it is any better than the slab of Winchester 35 Power 1/2 ounce paper cased No.7’s which I managed to find at a game fair in the early 1980’s. I cannot remember now, but I think they were crimp closure too. 

[Fellside]

54 minutes ago, London Best said:

In what way are you thinking?
Most .410’s had plastic wads already. Maybe the “clay” cartridges have shot cups? I don’t know as I have never opened one. The use of a crimp closure is a good improvement. The Eley Trap 7 1/2 with 14 gram load is certainly a very good cartridge. But I am not convinced it is any better than the slab of Winchester 35 Power 1/2 ounce paper cased No.7’s which I managed to find at a game fair in the early 1980’s. I cannot remember now, but I think they were crimp closure too. 

Yes there’s was always an odd rare find. Buying decent 410 cart’s back then was like trying to find gold at the end of a rainbow. Most dealers just had the same old…..  

I discovered the Eley trap 14 gram trap 7 1/2 you mention - a couple of years ago. I have enjoyed shooting them ever since. In fact I shot 50 yesterday at a local clay ground. Marvellous little shell. I see Hull have launched their version now. Wonder what that’s like…?

[enfieldspares]

5 hours ago, London Best said:

Winchester 35 Power 1/2 ounce paper cased No.7’s which I managed to find at a game fair in the early 1980’s. I cannot remember now, but I think they were crimp closure too. 

Of course American .410" cartridges were indeed serious cartridges as American Skeet was shot competitively with the .410" in the States and, I'd guess, in the Gun and Tackle Clubs on the then many 1960s US Airforce bases throughout the UK. 

Meanwhile...the point I made about Bill Harriman needing to be told that there's now more than Eley Fourlong with a roll closure and English #5...here in the UK we were handicapped from the start with the cartridge being loaded with soft shot of too large a size. And that roll turnover. Fine for sitting or bolted "smoked" or ferreted rabbits but useless for any serious use in flying game.

Certainly here in Leicestershire the only "flavour" as I have already written was English #5. Maybe other P/W members that have old Eley catalogues of the period can confirm that English #7 was an option? I seem to recall only English #4 (I think) and English #5 and English #6?

Edited September 16 by enfieldspares

[Old farrier]

19 minutes ago, enfieldspares said:

Of course American .410" cartridges were indeed serious cartridges as American Skeet was shot competitively with the .410" in the States and, I'd guess, in the Gun and Tackle Clubs on the then many 1960s US Airforce bases throughout the UK. 

Meanwhile...the point I made about Bill Harriman needing to be told that there's now more than Eley Fourlong with a roll closure and English #5...here in the UK we were handicapped from the start with the cartridge being loaded with soft shot of too large a size. And that roll turnover. Fine for sitting or bolted "smoked" or ferreted rabbits but useless for any serious use in flying game.

Certainly here in Leicestershire the only "flavour" as I have already written was English #5. Maybe other P/W members that have old Eley catalogues of the period can confirm that English #7 was an option? I seem to recall only English #4 (I think) and English #5 and English #6?

Only 4(rare) 5 and 6 

[enfieldspares]

1 hour ago, Old farrier said:

Only 4(rare) 5 and 6 

 

 

Thank you! I am glad my memory was correct. Thank you.

[London Best]

Shot on a 100 bird .410 partridge day yesterday and the fibre wad 2 1/2 inch 14 gram No. 9’s I was using worked as they usually do through a gun with very little choke. 

[Ultrastu]

Used my .410 ou decoying some pigeons today .I've been ill so I'm certainly  not at my best .

But using some 18 grm no 7.5 fbr from gamebore  these are a nice load but shoot pretty quietly  and don't have a lot of speed behind them and one of my fave carts the express .14 grm no7 fibre these shoot faster  bit don't have the pellet density of the above cartridge. I managed 21 birds for exactly 42 shots 

The range of both these carts is a comfortable  25 yds with 30 on the limit and 35 out of range .I shot within the cartridges ability first and then second my own .taking pigeons as the floated over the decoys or crossing above in range .very enjoyable it was too 

Had 3 crows amongst them .

 

[NoBodyImportant]

I got a smooth bore 22lr that I shoot carpenter bees with.