Is there any reason to use a .410 shotgun for home defense? Or does this bore lack any martial merit?
A popular load for hunting turkeys and training young ones, .410 bore’s usefulness beyond those tasks is frequently questioned. They may be fun to shoot, but is there any merit to using a .410 shotgun for home defense? Or do all the advantages it can provide get outpaced by its drawbacks? Let’s look at the data and see just how capable these little shells truly are.
Potential Advantages
We should start by establishing why anyone would want to use a .410 shotgun for home defense in the first place, as there is some logic behind it. The only true advantage of .410 in a defensive application is its lack of recoil, which lends itself to faster follow-up shots. Shotguns chambered in .410 also can generally be made lighter and handier than larger gauge guns, and in magazine-fed designs, they can also have higher capacities. Finally, especially considering that most defensive shotgun encounters occur indoors and likely in the dark, .410 shells produce less flash and report, at least when fired from traditional-length barrels.
That leads us to another potential advantage of .410 bore, or at least a perceived advantage. Revolvers like the Taurus Judge and S&W Governor have grown to be decently popular choices since they first hit the market, but why is that? Revolvers like these can chamber both .410 bore shotshells as well as .45 Long Colt cartridges, giving them a greater diversity of ammunition than most other handguns.
Unfortunately, however, this has led to the rise of some new iconic “Fudd lore”, such as the concept of loading progressively lethal ammo types into their cylinder. Starting with something like .410 birdshot, then buckshot before finally working up to .45 LC. This is terrible advice because regardless of what kind of ammunition you have loaded, a court will view you firing a gun at someone as an attempt to take their life. If you have chosen to pull the trigger, you better be fully committed to the idea of using lethal force, and in that case, you want to fire the most effective projectile possible. Permanently disfiguring a mugger’s face with birdshot may not be viewed as humanely as you imagined by a jury, even if you did spare the individual’s life. Following this line of thinking, it stands to reason that a firearm carried defensively should also be as effective as possible. When it comes to pistols like the Taurus Judge, they may have their uses on the farm for pest control or as toys, but for defensive use, there are both better handguns and .410 shotguns out there.
.410 For Defense
When it comes to using .410 defensively, birdshot can go right out the door. It simply lacks the penetrative power to be worth considering. .410 slugs also have little defensive practicality. They certainly are capable of penetrating deep enough to stop a man, as plenty of people have used them to drop deer, but at the end of the day, .410 slugs offer no distinct advantages either. As far as firing single projectiles with low recoil goes, the same thing can be achieved with a more effective weapon like a Pistol Caliber Carbine. This means that the only defensive .410 loads worth looking at fall under the umbrella of buckshot.
There have been some big advancements made when it comes to defensive .410 loads, and while some are adequate, they still fall short when compared to other options. Winchester PDX1 Defender is generally considered to be one of the best defensive .410 loads out there, and it delivers three “defense disc” projectiles and twelve BBs at an advertised velocity of 750 FPS. Compared to an average example of 12-gauge 000 buckshot with an advertised velocity of 1,325 FPS, the difference in power becomes quite apparent. While .410 loads like the Winchester PDX1 absolutely penetrate deeply enough in gel tests to be lethal, keep in mind that they still only have about half the mass and velocity of 12-gauge 000 buck.
In short, yes there are decently effective .410 defense loads out there, but they never really get better than just “decent.”
.410’s Disadvantages
The most obvious shortcoming of .410 is its power. Assuming that much of the appeal of using a .410 shotgun for home defense is their low recoil in a two-handed firearm, a PCC can accomplish much of the same with a much higher magazine capacity to boot. At close range, .410 may have the potential to create more devastating wounds than most pistol calibers, but modern hollow points are known to have very consistent expansion and remain effective for much farther than .410.
Since this discussion pertains to defending the home, however, range is not nearly as important of a factor as spread. Unfortunately for .410, this is another area where it lags behind. The very narrow bore of .410 shotguns results in them having a very tight pattern at home defense distances, meaning that even when firing buckshot, you might as well be aiming a single projectile. Without the advantage of increased hit probability, that’s just one more reason why .410 is not ideal for defense.
Why Not To Use A .410 Shotgun For Home Defense
Ultimately, if it’s truly all you have access to, using a .410 shotgun for home defense can get the job done just fine with the right ammo, but the same could be said about .22 LR as well. Guns chambered in .22 can have higher capacities and lower recoil too, but very few people would recommend them for defensive work. In the end, besides in possibly a few niche scenarios, there is no good reason to handicap oneself by choosing a .410 shotgun. While shotgun pistols like the Taurus Judge offer good flexibility with the ammunition they can fire, when it comes to defense against humans a .45 LC cartridge will almost always prove more effective than a .410 shell. Also despite being smaller, .410 doesn’t even offer a price advantage over its more abundant bigger brothers.
It seems to me that unless you are dead set on using a shotgun for home defense and also lack the physical abilities to handle at least a 20-gauge, there is no good reason to handicap yourself by using a .410 shotgun for home defense. It’s true that .410s can be lighter and handier, have less felt-recoil and faster potential follow-up shots than bigger shotguns can, but few things hit with 12-gauge need a second shot anyway.
.410 bore is not without its uses, and like virtually every firearm cartridge in existence, a well-placed shot of it will stop the largest of men, but unless you are a very small, weak or arthritic person, you’ll almost certainly be better off with a 20 or 12-gauge. Even if you are lacking in physicality, these days an AR-15 or PCC will likely suit your defensive needs better than a .410. New 12-gauge offerings like the Mossberg 590S can reliably feed mini shells too, offering many of the same potential advantages of .410 but with greater versatility of ammo selection. So, when it comes to home defense, it’s probably best to save .410 for the turkeys.
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The article says, “Winchester PDX1 Defender is generally considered to be one of the best defensive .410 loads out there, and it delivers three “defense disc” projectiles and twelve BBs at an advertised velocity of 750 FPS. Compared to an average example of 12-gauge 000 buckshot with an advertised velocity of 1,325 FPS, the difference in power becomes quite apparent.”
FYI, that advertised velocity of 750 FPS for Winchester PDX1 and Hornady Critical Defense is from a handgun such as the Taurus Judge or S&W Governor (with a 2.5″ barrel), not from a shotgun with an 18.5″ barrel. I bet you that a 12 gauge with a 2.5″ barrel wouldn’t do any better than 750 fps, either! From a .410 shotgun, the velocity of those same defensive loads is over 1,000 fps as shown in controlled tests such as the one here: https://www.gun-tests.com/issues/29_7/features/410-Bore-Ammo-Tests-26757-1.html
I’m a professional competitive shooter, in PRS, LRS, IDPA, and 3 gun. Also a life long hunter since childhood, I’m now 48. I’m a balistics expert with a masters degree in balistic forensic science. There is a bit of wrong information in this article. At very close ranges like inside a house, the entire mass will act as one solid mass of lead. Even birdshot in a 410 will be just as lethal as a handgun cartridge. At these close ranges, ALL shotgun rounds will be in a very tight pattern and require precise aim, no matter the gauge or payload. The advantages of larger bore shotguns will only be advantageous as the range increases beyond distances longer than the inside of a house. We have done tests with hundreds of different types of ammunition to simulate penetration in buildings in an urban setting. We constructed 2 walls placed 20 feet apart the walls were built to code using 2×4 studs, with 1/2″ drywall on one side, and 1/2 plywood on the other side, insulation in between, covered by Tyvex and plastic siding. The siding sides faced each other. Smaller 410 shot would completely penetrate one wall, but cause minimal damage to the siding of the other wall, and not penetrate past the plywood on the second wall. Even the smaller caliber pistol rounds, 22, 25, 32, 380, they would all completely penetrate both walls. Most would penetrate deep enough into balistic gelatin on the inside of the second wall to be of concern. Good frangible pistol rounds Would not penetrate through the second wall, nor would some soft and hollow point 5.56/223 ammo at higher velocity.
We live in a very rural area, on 148 acres. Our closest neighbors are over a mile and a half away, with thick woods between us. So in the unlikely event that we miss a shot on a perp inside our home, or outside of it, there is no chance of hitting any neighbors. But that scenario is extremely unlikely as we have a state of the art home and perimeter security system, 10 acres of our yard is completely fenced in and gated, and we have 3 professionally trained guard dogs. But people who live in urban settings need to be much more careful with waepon and ammo selection in order to protect their neighbors from unintended harm.
The sizes of homes to be defended vary as widely as the weapons (and ammo load) choices.
I find my personally verified shooting range performance of 410 loads like Winchester’s SuperX “Predator” (3-pellet) #000 410 Buck; to be vastly superior to those rirdiculous ‘discs’ or other “Fliers Guaranteed” loads. Fliers are a MUST AVOID!
Even from a 4.25″ Bond Snake Slayer, the Win Predator 3x #000 will put a 4″ diameter hole THROUGH a man at 10- 15 feet (my home’s MAX HD distance!) from a reliably functioning (I handload a similar round, to maximize,) semiauto 16-18″ barrel shotgun, to be more than adequate – and in fact, ideal. My neighbor’s house is 25 FEET from my front door, which is why 3 #000 pellets are exactly enough.
I want the load INeffective after penetrating at 10-15 FEET, and as “Flier Free” as possible..
Seeing mention of “effective range” of (more than 5) YARDS, in a HD article, or of a pistol/rifle round (or even a 12 Gauge,) INDOORS, , stops me from reading further. The writer either has a huge mansion (and can therefore afford 24/7 security staff) or hasn’t practised at the range with a real gun. Try shooting a 12 Gauge indoors, to see what I mean.
And remember- If he runs,
shooting him a second time, or in the back, is legally murder, in court.
Not in states with castle doctrines and stand your ground laws. In many states, like here in Indiana, and Texas where I formerly lived, you can use lethal force against anyone who breaks the plane of your home. You are justified if they merely put their hand inside of an open window without permission. Even if you are outside and shoot them in the back while they are doing so. Also here, you can use lethal force against someone who is merely trespassing on your property under many circumstances, such as if you have no trespassing signs visibly posted. Now obviously there are ethical issues that should be strongly taken into consideration. Logically one should only use lethal force if completely necessary. And one could not use lethal force on an unarmed minor or child who was not an actual threat. I know someone who shot and killed 2 armed teens who were breaking into his pole barn. They were 14 and 17. He was not charged criminally, but the civil suit from the kid’s parents was a decade long nightmare for him. I also knew someone who was the victim of a 12 year old kid who broke into his home. He was going to arm himself, but his wife told him not to since it was just a kid. When he confronted the kid, he fatally shot my friend, and critically wounded his wife who barely survived. Then proceeded to rob the house of valuables. The kid was eventually caught, he couldn’t keep his mouth shut to his friends and bragged about it. He was charged as an adult and is serving 2 life sentences. I also know of someone who was a legal firearms owner with FOID card in Illinois who shot someone who broke into his apartment, killed one of his friends and his girlfriend, then started robbing the place. The apartment owner startled the perp, who had put his gun down. As the perp tried to flee, the apartment owner fatally shot him in the back inside the apartment. Being the people’s republic of Illinois, the apartment owner was charged and convicted of manslaughter. The prosecution also charged him with a hate crime, as the perp was black, and the apartment owner Hispanic. The poor guy spent several years in jail before his lawyers were able to get the conviction overturned. One should always know the exact legal statutes where they are at, whether at home or abroad, and also have the cognitive thinking skills to best handle every possible situation in the most safe and ethical manner possible.
Well stated. When you think about penetration power only, stop and reflect why overkill is the words” over” and ” kill” combined.
This author does realize that these are to be fired inside a house with other occupants and neighbors nearby? Another promoting the myth of inefficient “penetrating power” of a. 410. Other important factors were not considered. The percussion of a 12 gauge shot in a hallway can be enough to ring your bell. You may not hear your family or anyone move or even scream after firing a 12 gauge, making you lose needed information about the safety and whereabouts of your family and other potential intruders.
As for spread, all shotguns have almost no spread at the close quarters found inside a home. Larger gauges don’t have more spread, they just have more pellets within the same spread(all else being equal). As for no effective advantage of a 410 (slug)over hollow points or pistols, the ability to choose single slugs and multiple pellets versus one single round seems obvious. Moreover, having a shotgun barrel over a pistol (even carbine) will be helpful when jabbing around doors and corners in the dark. When holding a 14.5″ .410 with two hands will help if you are startled, accosted, surprised, sweaty, shaking, and scared. Plus, of I’m not home, my wife and daughter won’t be afraid of brandishing a. 410. Then again, maybe I’m small, weak, and arthritic.
I have 3 Taurus Judges: #1 Judge Public Defender Poly 2″ brl, #2 Judge 2.5″ chamber 3″ brl and #3 Judge 2.5″ chamber 6.5″ brl. They all have their place in my defense situations: #1 in my vehicle with a G19 backup, #2 bedside with Win PDX1 Defender ammo and a Moss Shockwave 12G for backup, #3 my rural property taking my German Shepherd out at night with possible coyotes, bobcats, stray dogs… shot 2 coyotes wounding one with Win 4 Shot High Brass and dropping the other with Win 000 Buck. Both coyotes were bold and the one I killed came toward me at the back of my property. I don’t hunt them, but will kill them if they’re aggressive. The Judge 6.5″ does what I need outside with the ammo described, but I doubt hitting them if I used a single projectile cartridge. The spread of the 410 ammo worked in the surprise situations at night with a medium power light clamped to the 6.5″ barrel.
I would question the stopping power coming out of a 4 inch barrel, but in a living room, out of a rifle barrel, that buckshot is more than enough to bring a man down.
And its the best as far as your neighbors safety.
Also, thay make those neat revolver rifles for them. Some folks really like revolvers because if you hit a dud, you just have to pull the trigger again.
Having said that, my home defense is a .45 acp handgun. Big heavy bullit wont over penetrate as much as a 9mm or a rifle caliber, plenty powerful to drop grown men, and I got 13+1 capacity.
I prefer the lower velocity if firing in the home is needed. The .410 is less likely to over penetrate than a 9mm and if I miss my target it will be less likely to hurt my family or neighbors after going threw the wall. Less spread also means I’m less likely to have over spray. I use Hornady triple defense which delivers 3 holes for 1 pull off the trigger. So both the Governor and lever action holds 6 rounds that equals 18 holes which is comparable to a 9mm magazine.
More of an Op-Ed article than one based on facts. Two serial killers used a single shot .410 with #4 shot to create a path of death and destruction. They even used a hack saw to illegally shorten the stock and barrel. I guess you didn’t look into that? When you see what the total kills are and pictures of the damage it will do maybe your opinion will change?
Serial killers have also used .22s, knives and their hands to kill more people than the individuals you’re referring to, but you wouldn’t use those examples to justify using those tools for home defense, would you? I acknowledged that .410 has the same potential to be lethal as any other firearm in the article, but that doesn’t make it ideal for home defense either. If the actions of two deranged, evil lunatics have convinced you to use .410 to defend yourself, more power to you sir, but I maintain that there are better options available.