Turkey hunters are possibly the most passionate hunters in the woods. They seem to be always looking for the next best thing to give them an edge, whether it is camo, calls, ammunition or the latest shotgun. When it comes to mastering .410 for turkey, the buzz for hunters is .410 turkey ammunition and shotguns that shoot it. In the past, the talk was more about power and range and not what would kill a turkey in a shotshell smaller in diameter than my wife’s lipstick. The long, skinny, small-diameter .410 shotshell sends its’ payload in a long, straight pellet string toward the target. No matter the size of the shot, the payload stays strung out in a straight line.
This explains a lot about why my game bag was generally empty during the few chances I got to hunt dove or quail as a kid. The birds had to pass through the skinny pellet string I mentioned earlier and hopefully, for me, get hit with enough pellets to make it to my game bag. Quail and dove, unfortunately, rarely graced my game bag.
Now, on the other hand, that long skinny pellet string did the job on sitting targets like squirrels and rabbits. The difference here is that the sitting targets at fairly close ranges would receive the full shot load.
.410 Turkey Loads
Federal Premium got the buzz going with their introduction of Heavyweight TSS for turkey hunters wanting a serious load to use in .410 bore (caliber not gauge) shotguns. The payload of number 7 or 9 ‘Heavyweight Tungsten Super Shot gives the hunter the highest pellet counts possible up to double the lead number 5 loads of the same weight. The density of the tungsten alloy material is 22 percent higher than standard tungsten and 56 percent more than lead resulting in the most energy and highest velocities at extreme range.
Some of the vitals of the HTSS are shot size: 9, muzzle velocity:1100 feet per second, shot charge: 13/16 ounce and 3 inches long. They come 5 to a package.
Shot penetration is important and Federal Premium engineers reports its testing showed more than 3 inches per shot penetration in ballistic gel. If the HTSS load has that much penetration in ballistic gel, then a gobbler has a real problem at 40 yards when a load of number 9’s head his way.
Federal wants to protect your barrel so full-length wads prevent direct contact of the extra-hard pellets and the bore. But maybe the best feature is that a portion of the proceeds are donated to the National Wild Turkey Foundation.
.410 Turkey Guns
Manufacturers are designing /redesigning .410 shotguns, of all types, to have more of the features you find in the 12-gauge turkey guns.
.410 turkey shotguns will ideally have screw-in choke capability to take advantage of extra-full chokes becoming available. Federal Premium engineers do say that fixed full choke guns will do an excellent job with the Heavyweight TSS loads out to 40 yards.
The ability to have adjustable sights to fine-tune your pattern to the turkey’s kill zone, the area of the turkey’s neck just above the waddles is an important feature also. Here is a quick look at two turkey guns that should make a hunter reach for his stash of cash.
Tristar has become known for reliable products with a 5-year warranty and exceptional customer service when needed.
The gas-operating system Viper GT .410 Turkey Model comes with a 3-inch chamber, 26 inch barrel, RealTree Advantage Timber camo, removable choke system that uses Beretta/Benelli Mobil threads and comes with IC, M, F choke tubes along with a choke tube box and wrench. Other features include a 5-round magazine with Quick Shot Plug Removal, chrome-lined chamber and barrel and swivel studs.
Mossberg needs no introduction with a long standing reputation for quality, affordable shotguns.
The Model 500 pump-action .410 Turkey Gun should find its way in the hands of a lot of turkey hunters this year. Covered in Mossy Oak Bottomland, the 500 features a 26 inch barrel with a fixed full choke and vent rib with adjustable fiber optic sight. Chambered for 3-inch shells, the capacity is 5+1.
Final Thoughts On Mastering The .410 For Turkey
The most important thing we need to do as turkey hunters interested in hunting with a .410 is buy the HTSS ammunition and shoot it in our gun at the ranges we normally test loads until we are positive it will do the job at those ranges. If it takes a second box of shot shells, buy ‘em and make sure you get it right before you hunt. We owe ol’ Tom that much.
