For many shooters, our first exposure to a firearm was the shotgun. Unfortunately for many, this first experience was all too often with dad’s 12-gauge, which is a bit like shouldering a thunderbolt when you’re 10 years old.
Aside from a bruised shoulder and ego, that negative experience can turn off a lot of new shooters altogether. While a 12-gauge is a staple for most firearms owners, they require size and experience to tame — and few people can claim to shoot them well.
On the other end of the scattergun spectrum is the unassuming .410 shotgun. The smallest of common shotgun calibers, .410s are available in a shocking array of form factors — all suited to different purposes.
These approachable firearms are great not only for new shooters but also those looking to fill a need that larger bore shotguns might not suit. Whether it’s for home defense, hunting small game, or any other close-range work, a .410 shotgun can be a great way to variety to your shotgun lineup.
With a versatile lineup coming in all kinds of shapes and sizes, there are a lot of things to learn about these smaller bore shotguns. We dive deep into the various aspects of the mighty .410 shotgun to highlight what we think are the best shotguns on the market.
