410PHIL Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 I was having a look through past posts on the subject of shooting foxes with a 410. So questions. No1 Is it feasible to shoot a fox with a 410? No2 If so which size shot? No3 What would be the effective range of the cartridge on said fox? Not about to rush out and start popping foxes with a 410. I have a 12 bore for that, just wanted to know peoples opinions/experience on the subject,thought it might make for a good thread? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 can be done but you need to be very close 10 yards or so and ready for a follow up shot, shot size is less vital and 5's or 6's will probably be better as you will have a pattern and the range is close, otherwise use larger lead and you won't have many pieces. About the only time to attempt it is if you're cammoed up and one walks up to you, or if its in a live capture trap or snare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Yes it can be done. The pellets in a 410 will have the same energy as the pellets from a 12 ga- there will just be less of them. If you have patterned the gun and have a pretty tight choke (I'd start with a full choke 3") then you can find the max range on the pattern board. I would go #4's for sure as you'll want the penetration. You're not talking about overwhelming the fox with a massive pattern, rather you want a tight, dense pattern in a kill spot (head, neck, shoulder, in that order). I would wager that with a buffered load, 3" #4 and a good tight choke you'll get a 25-30 yard range. You'd have to confirm the pattern on a board, but if you can get a 3" buffered load for the 410 you should be able to keep a 12" pattern at 25-30 yards, which would be more than enough to drop a fox. Thanks Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 (edited) No3 What would be the effective range of the cartridge on said fox? 12 inches more than the length of your barrel. Dont do it IMHO. ZB Edited May 18, 2009 by Zapp Brannigan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 12 inches more than the length of your barrel. Dont do it IMHO. ZB Unless it is a humane shooting to dispatch a fox (such as in a trap), don't do it as the risk is too high for just wounding the animal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapwing Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Common sense says no, but last year I was out rabbiting with youngest son and his .410; we saw a fox wandering around some fifty yards away so we stood still and watched. By the time it was down to 20 yards he had passed the gun to me, and I dropped it when it came in to about 6 feet. I think this is the exception to prove the rule though, and would not consider it further than point blank range. Sadly not all our vermin is so accomodating. Having said that, the humble .410 is my tool of choice for putting down injured animals. Lethal at 6 inches, much less worry abour riccochets, and discrete if Joe Public around. Comes down to whatever is the right tool for the job. Foxes at anything other than "the end of the barrel" (+6" before someone nit picks!) are not for the .410 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 How many of the NO'S on this thread would let me shoot them at 50yards with a .410? If they are that ineffective then it shouldn't be an issue should it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 exactly MC, tight chokes almost as standard if they weren't that effective then you'd not be able to shoot pheasants at 40 yards or so with them. Seen that done by the odd visitor to a shoot i used to beat on and it was an awesome spectacle. Usually because the shooter was that good they did it to give the birds a more sporting chance. The yanks in particular seem to love them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumpersniper Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 i have bought a 10 bore for shooting foxes, and although its heavy to carry - it is really effective. It makes a 12 bore for foxes feel like how you lot reguard the .410. I have wounded a fox with a 12 bore, and i know i hit it hard because i heard it and it jumped about a foot. I had to take a huge brash pile apart to find it and kill it, i have also killed foxes with a 12b but never a .410. The 10 bore is full choke and if you hit it it kills it clean at anything between 6" and 60 yards. The carts are expensive but that just makes you take a better shot IMHO because you dont want to waste £1.50! I have a .410 hushpower for rabbits and it is great, however because it is so quiet you hear the pellets hit. I have fired at a lot of crows flying over, and killed some, but some i definetley hear the pellets hit but it doesnt flinch anymore than it would from the bang. I wonder how many people use a normal .410, hit birds, but dont know because of the bang? SP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 blimey isn't a 10bore excessive? couldn't you just use a shotgun with the correct cartridges and range and have a rifle for longer ones. Trying to swing a 10bore fast on a fleeting fox must be a nightmare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumpersniper Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 well yea it is pretty heavy! My land is only cleared or a .22lr, and my fac has taken weeks to come. There are a lot of canadas in this area so the 10 bore is for them really. But my friend uses one for foxes, so i bought some heavy lead carts for it (£1) each and started taking it lamping. I havent shot a 'fleeting fox' because i dont want to make them lamp shy by missing. I have shot 4 and a cub now (taken it out about 6 or 7 times), squeaked two in to about 45 yards then shot them free standing, holding a lamp with my left hand as well as the forend! (done this for years with air rifle, .410 and 12bore - a bit harder with the 10 bore!). Another one i did shoot as it was trotting at about 25 yards in the early morning. And the other one was a really lamp shy fox that i could not get within 200 yards of at night so i staked it out at the only cover, and had a good shot at it from 64 paced yards which must have been a good 60 yards,i hit it in the chest and the fox rolled over into the hedge from the force of the shot and was stone dead. With a 12b i use 36g BB's and thought they were great but now i like to take the 10b just because of past experience. Only thing is if i take it i can only shoot foxes, whearas if i take the 12b i can shoot rabbits if there are no foxes about! I would like a .223 or something but i cant really justify one for the amount of sport i would get. I would rather have a lot of shots at rabbits in a night, than one or two shots at a fox if i was lucky! I'm looking forward to go shooting geese with the 10b, my 12b is not chambered for 3" so it will be better for them. Maybe you would like to try a 10b Al4x? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 (edited) How many of the NO'S on this thread would let me shoot them at 50yards with a .410? If they are that ineffective then it shouldn't be an issue should it? I see where you are coming from MC, you would hit me but would you be confident that you would kill me with your first shot? ZB Edited May 18, 2009 by Zapp Brannigan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 As confident as I would be if I used a 12 bore. Take it from someone who has been shot with 7 1/2" from about 40 yards It would do more than just smart a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 probably the better question is How confident would you feel Zapp that he wouldn't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 The issue is getting a sufficient number of pellets to penetrate the fox and hit something vital (organs) to ensure a quick kill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 I would. You will run out of pattern before penetration with a .410 so keep the range sensible and remember it's a .410 and you would be fine. However it is by no means an ideal gun for Charlie, but if the oppurtunity was there I know plenty wouldn't pass it up. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitro Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 Dear firends, I am in according with Ferretti Master, .410 is a little bore, but with a good loading it can be very interesting. For example we think to pellets but we can use slugs in .410. I have try it an I sure You a slug which exits to 512 m/s is terrible for a fox over the 20 m. This is an example : http://www.siarm.it/product_info.php?cPath...amp;language=en I think It can be a interesting solution. What about it? Best Regards NITRO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 It`ll do the job at a sensible range! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_R Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 Nitro, slugs are covered by a different certificate (FireArms Certificate or FAC) here in UK, you cannot use them with the normal ShotGun Certificate (SGC). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 Back in the US when I Was working in NJ, a 410 with slugs was considered a poacher's special. You're not allowed to use rifle in NJ, so shotguns and muzzle loaders were what you used for deer. Most guys used 12 or 20 gauge. However, you'd get the random guy who used a 410. Often the ones that came into the shop were a bit seedy looking and didn't know what the difference between bullets and cartridges were (they came in asking for bullets and you'd have to correct them). That said, a 410 with slugs will kill foxes out as far as you can accurately shoot them. Problem is finding a 410 that is accurate enough to shoot them. Thanks Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_R Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 Interesting, I have family in NJ but have never been shooting there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitro Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 Dear John, I am terrible sorry but I didn't know it. In Italy in our .410 we can use shot, pellets and slugs without problems. Best Regrads Simone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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