410 for turkeys, who’s done it?

I’ve killed 2 with my old New England single barrel 410 but both were just flukes. Wasn’t turkey hunting either time. Both happened almost the same exact way in same area 3-4 years apart. Walking along creek fishing off bank and had 410 with 6s with me to shoot snakes. Saw turkeys out through the hardwoods and sat down with gun. First time was 2 gobblers together and they came over to the sandbar went out on it strutting etc. when they went back up into the woods they walked with about 20 feet of me and I killed the lead bird. The other was a group of about 8 jakes similar situation saw them out across some open hardwoods and got still. They eventually got over by me and first one got within 20 yards I killed it(this was quite a while back when jakes were still legal.) Both dropped on the spot but there def was not as much damage as you’d see with a load of 4s from 12ga at that distance. So it can def be done but of course you will have to be way more selective on your shot and get them inside 20 yards. 25 at least. I’m sure you can kill em further with 410 but seems like it would get mighty iffy beyond 20.

All that said it talking about the older normal every day .410. There are some new .410s out there with the right chokes etc specifically for Turkey hunting and some companies are making the 410 ammo to match(or were anyways.) those new guns and loads supposedly stretch the 410 range out to 40-50 yards.

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Thoughts

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Where are you hunting at ? How many birds do you work a season? Are you ok with not shooting a bird at 40 yards?
If you a place that has tons of birds that work and are willing to wait till they are 20yd from a decoy then in certain a 410 will do the trick. I went through a faze shooting one for ducks and rabbits with the right load and right range they will stack shite up!!

I probably will this year. I have a Savage 301 turkey that I bought for my daughter. Put a vortex venom on it. Should be good out to 35 with tss.

Currently I shoot a remington 1187 youth model 20ga. I have a burris ff3 on it with a carlsons tss choke. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot one at 50 with #9 tss out of it. It's deadly.

It's a low value gun sitting in the back of the closet.

Might as well wear it out.

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... It’s the gun my dad grew up shooting

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thats OP's gun, not mine

Mine was one my grandfather picked up from someone but he never used it or really cared about it.

I bought a 410 single shot turkey rigged gun for my 4 year old boy for when he’s ready in a couple of years just because I had some gift cards and saw it on sale at Bass Pro. I bought some TSS for it, not gonna lie I’ve been itching to try it for myself, I usually hunt woods instead of fields and shoot them within 30 yards anyway. After I kill one this year, I’m going to try the 410

Thanks all for the input and great stories.

I’ll check with my local gunsmith and see what he says about barrel makeup so I don’t blow up the barrel or myself.

This thread confirms my belief that the OB is the last bastion of good natured and rational dialogue in the universe.

Cheers!