The first gun I ever owned was a Remington 870 in .410. It was a gift I received when I was eight, and it’s taken numerous squirrels and birds that were fried or stewed. I passed that gun on to my son, and I hope he gets the same fond memories I have with it. I love shotguns, and I use one for home defense. With that said, the .410 has never been a favorite of mine for defensive use. In fact, until recently, I often completely disregarded the .410 as a good fighting cartridge. I’ve had a bit of a change of heart as of late.
My Problem With The Home Defense .410
For the longest time, I didn’t really see a point in using .410 for defensive use. If you want a shotgun, you likely want a weapon that throws enough lead at a bad guy that a bad shot is still devastating. That leads us to the 12 gauge traditionally. A 12 gauge payload of eight .33 caliber pellets is substantial. It’s often a fight-ender with very few actual examples of people shot more than once with a shotgun.
The 3-inch buckshot load from a .410 launches four pellets, so half the payload. Using 3-inch shells cuts your capacity by a single round. Using 2.5-inch shells, you only get a three-pellet payload.
A lot of people use the .410 due to its low recoil, and that is true. The .410 has very little recoil. If recoil is the issue, I’d typically point shooters in the direction of an intermediate caliber rifle, like the AR-15, or even a 9mm PCC. Those guns are quite effective, have low recoil, and offer capacities of 30 rounds or so. They will also be shorter and likely easier to use overall. If you wanted a low recoil shotgun option, the 20 gauge is still quite powerful and a much better choice than the .410.
The ammo is often the same price as 12 gauge or sometimes even more expensive. It’s also tougher to find, and purpose-built defensive ammo isn’t as common either. To me, a defensive .410 only makes sense if you live in a state where obtaining a rifle is tough.
Is .410 Capable?
Of course, this isn’t to say the .410 is useless and not capable. When we look at .410 buckshot, we do have a load capable of reaching the necessary penetration to reach the vitals of a threat. It can stop a threat for sure. .410 buckshot is the best choice. .410 slugs tend to be fairly anemic, more akin to a pistol round than a shotgun slug. Birdshot isn’t a good choice for defensive use with any shotgun.
With that said, there are some rounds that work better for defensive purposes than others. The Taurus Judge revived the .410 round, and out of that revival, we obtained some excellent shotgun loads.
This includes some beefy 000 buckshot loads. My favorite is the Hornady Triple Defense, which uses a proper slug backed by two buckshot pellets. It’s essentially only three projectiles, but the FTX slug penetrates deep and expands. The backup buckshot provides a little more oomph than most buckshot loads and is my go-to choice.
The Fighting .410 Isn’t a Shotgun
Yep, it’s not a shotgun. No, it’s not a .410 revolver. I’m not a fan of those, to be honest. While the shotgun will work, it’s rather large for such a small round. Where I think the little .410 works well is with the .410 variety of firearms. When I say firearms, I mean pistol grip only, shotgun caliber firearms, like the Mossberg Shockwave.
Mossberg produced a .410 variant of the Shockwave. Henry also produces the Axe, a .410 lever action firearm. I’m sure there are others there as well. These two firearms are just over 26 inches long, and this makes them crazy compact and very lightweight. Their small size makes them ultra maneuverable and easy to use inside a home or even a camper or RV.
Most of the time, I advise most shooters to use a stocked shotgun. Pistol grip-only firearms can be difficult to control and shoot. However, when we shrink the caliber to .410, we get a much lighter recoiling design that won’t beat you up.
Most people, including less skilled shotgunners, can grab the gun and handle it fairly well. My wife absolutely loves the Henry Axe and has no problems shooting it, even with Buckshot or the Hornady Triple Defense loads.
Why A Firearm?
A firearm offers you repeating firepower with a moderate magazine size. There isn’t any extra bulk to deal with. It’s easy to aim accurately and easy to shoot rapidly. It’s almost as maneuverable as a handgun but substantially more powerful than a handgun.
The aforementioned Triple Defense loads are 2.5-inch shells, so max capacity is easy to obtain. It’s a .41 caliber slide with an FTX tip for maximum expansion and penetration. The two extra .35 caliber balls behind the slug are for extra oomph and to increase the chance of hitting a vital organ.
The fighting .410 firearms are also multiuse tools. They can be used to stop bad guys or deal with cottonmouths. In my area, I have to deal with coyotes, hogs, and plenty of venomous reptiles. The Henry Axe has become a behind-the-door gun for me. Not literally, but one I leave ready and accessible in a small safe. It’s compact and easy to carry and perfect for walks on the property or as a working gun, on top of being a home defense option.
Compact Power
I still don’t see a big purpose in using the .410 as a defensive shotgun. These guns are often large, and you’d be better served by a rifle if you wanted a long gun. However, when we transport the round to a firearm, we get a compact weapon that’s easy to control and lightweight. It’s powerful but also very compact. That’s where the Fighting .410 shines.
