.410 Slugs Safe in a Stevens 24???
I have an old Stevens Model 24 (I think) .22/.410 over/under -- blued w/ tennite plastic stock. It's a fantastic squirrel gun. I was wondering if it would be safe and/or advisable to shoot .410 slugs through it. Figured if I was sqirrel hunting and deer season were in too a slug or two in the pocket might be a good idea. If it's safe do you think it would shoot fairly well on account of the attached rifle sights?
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I owned one of those myself in the '60s, and shot rifled slugs thru it with no problem. I couldn't get any kind of accuracy with the slugs available back then, even with the rifle sights - most .410s are full choked, which the slugs at that time just didn't like. You could try it with modern ammunition, it is surely safe to do so.
As an aside, the .22 barrel would shoot with great accuracy. Wish I'd have kept that gun, a lament I repeat a lot.0 -
quote:Originally posted by firstharmonic
I owned one of those myself in the '60s, and shot rifled slugs thru it with no problem. I couldn't get any kind of accuracy with the slugs available back then, even with the rifle sights - most .410s are full choked, which the slugs at that time just didn't like. You could try it with modern ammunition, it is surely safe to do so.
As an aside, the .22 barrel would shoot with great accuracy. Wish I'd have kept that gun, a lament I repeat a lot.
Yep, my .22 barrel shoots great too -- a squirrels worst nightmare [:p] This was my first gun -- dug it out of grandpa's attic, fixed the broken hammer, and she was ready to go. Still one my favorites I'll keep forever.0 -
It's safe to shoot the slugs and they should shoot OK. Practice till you can hit a paper plate 5 times out of 5 at 25 and 35 yards. If you can't hit 5/5 at 35 yards don't shoot at anything that far away. 25 yards might be the limit as far as accuracy goes, maybe 35 at best. The next issue is power. The .410 is too small except for a perfect shot at a small deer at 35 yards or less. I couldn't recommend it at all for deer, though I'm sure it has been used to kill some. The problem is it will only wound one unless the shot is through the heart or lungs. A poorly placed shot might kill a deer but only after it suffers a long time, and that isn't acceptable for a good hunter and sportsman. I'd recommend saving up for a good deer rifle or a larger shotgun, at least a 30-30 rifle or a 20 guage shotgun.
"Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away." Thoreau0 -
There are 100 times more deer killed with a 22lr than with a 410 shotgun. Take head shots and they fall right where they are at. That being said, You could shoot them in the head with the 410 after you get up close after killing them with a 22.
My border collie is smarter than your honor student.0 -
I've got other guns for deer, but was just thinking about the slug in case I ran across a deer while squirrel hunting. I saw an 8 year old drop a 12-pt buck cold in his tracks last week with a .410 slug. Hadn't really thought much about it before then. However, consulting the data it appears you are right that they are not advisable. The Chuck Hawks website says the following of .410 slugs:
"The pathetic .410 rifled slug is generally inferior in both projectile weight and terminal performance to the lowly .380 ACP pistol cartridge--often despairingly referred to as a "mouse gun." The less said about these sub-12 gauge rifled slugs the better."0 -
The only thing I'd caution here is as richbug and others, be sure yours will shoot slugs where you want them. Try a few brands as well, as with all shotguns, they don't all shoot the same slug well, they each seem to have a preference and some slugs have better care than others in manufacture. One other point would be to check your hunting laws, as combination guns can sometimes be iffy with the rules of the state you are in. 0 -
Posted - 01/04/2005 : 7:24:41 PM
I've got other guns for deer, but was just thinking about the slug in case I ran across a deer while squirrel hunting. I saw an 8 year old drop a 12-pt buck cold in his tracks last week with a .410 slug. Hadn't really thought much about it before then. However, consulting the data it appears you are right that they are not advisable. The Chuck Hawks website says the following of .410 slugs:
"The pathetic .410 rifled slug is generally inferior in both projectile weight and terminal performance to the lowly .380 ACP pistol cartridge--often despairingly referred to as a "mouse gun." The less said about these sub-12 gauge rifled slugs the better."
The writer obviously has a great imagination. At the age of ten, I killed my first Caribou with a Model 37 Winchester, single shot .410. One shot. The following year I killed my first moose with the same gun. One shot.
My Dad was smart enough not to allow me to shoot at too long a range. I don't remember exactly how far, or what kind of slugs as the Caribou was in 1959 and the moose in 1960. I assume the slugs were the "anemic" Winchesters or Remingtons.
It ain't what you shoot, it's what you hit.0 -
quote:Originally posted by TWalker
The next issue is power. The .410 is too small except for a perfect shot at a small deer at 35 yards or less. I couldn't recommend it at all for deer, though I'm sure it has been used to kill some. The problem is it will only wound one unless the shot is through the heart or lungs. A poorly placed shot might kill a deer but only after it suffers a long time, and that isn't acceptable for a good hunter and sportsman. I'd recommend saving up for a good deer rifle or a larger shotgun, at least a 30-30 rifle or a 20 guage shotgun.
You couldnt be more wrong about the power of the .410 slug, states like indiana allow .410's and they work just fine. and also if you misplace a shot with a .30-30 then the deer will suffer for quite a while also, the same is true of ANY caliber or guage firearm. I know people who used to hunt mulies with .22 short, just pop em in the head and they drop like a sack of bricks.0 -
Wow, I never thought I'd see this post again. Over a year later...........RESERECTED!!!!! [:D] 0 -
looks like cougar83 has been going back, back, baaaaaaack.[:D] 0
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