.410 Gauge Shotguns

The .410 bore first appeared in 1857 in an advertisement from cartridge manufacturer Eley Brothers. It was originally only 2 inches in length, but has grown to 3 inches with modern loads.

Shotguns gauged in .410 bore are some of the lightest, easiest-shooting firearms available. The .410 bore serves a variety of different roles. It is a good shotgun for small shooters, particularly children, to use. They are also widely used among expert skeet and trap shooters.

The .410 bore can be used to hunt medium-sized game with the correct load, but is generally better suited for small mammals and birds. These shotguns are often very light and easy to carry throughout a long hunt. They have a limited effectiveness, but are popular as survival firearms due to their small size. The .410 bore has had a recent rapid growth in popularity, and a variety of different shotguns are chambered in the cartridge including double barrels, pump actions, and semi automatics.

Quick Facts

• The .410 is the only mass-produced shotgun cartridge measured in bore instead of gauge
• The .410 is small enough to be chambered in revolvers
• The .410 bore's resurgence has been tied to the popularity of the Saiga AK-patterned shotguns and revolvers chambered in the cartridge