.410 Bore Ammo
.410 bore shotgun shells for small game, pest control, and the Taurus Judge. Honest assessment of what the .410 does well, where it falls short, and the best loads for each use case.
Live listing data updates daily. True cost = listed price plus estimated shipping.
Historical chart data comes from archived r/gundeals posts before SendRounds live tracking begins.
Guide updated April 25, 2026. Old in-stock rows age out of public deal surfaces.
Price History
Best Prices Now
$/rd = listed price + estimated shipping. Sorted by true cost.
| Product | $/rd | |
|---|---|---|
| 250 Round Case – 410 Gauge 2.5 Inch 1/2 OZ 8.5 Shot 1300 FPS Winchester Target Load Ammo – AASC4185 Best · Birdshot · brass | $0.66 | Buy → |
| 250 Round Case – 410 Gauge 2.5 Inch 1300 FPS 1/2 Ounce Number 8 Shot Winchester Super Target Ammo – TRGTS418 Best · brass | $0.66 | Buy → |
| 250 Round Case – 410 Gauge 2.5 Inch 1/2 Ounce 9 Shot Winchester Super Target Skeet Ammo – TRGT419 Best · brass | $0.66 | Buy → |
| 250 Round Case – 410 Gauge 2-1/2 Inch 1/2 Oz. Number 7.5 Shot Winchester AA Ammo – AASC417 · brass | $0.78 | Buy → |
| 250 Round Case – 410 Gauge 2-1/2 Inch 1/2 Oz. Number 8 Shot Winchester AA Ammo – AASC418 · brass | $0.78 | Buy → |
| 250 Round Case – 410 Gauge 2.5 Inches 1/2 Oz. Number 9 Shot AA Winchester Ammo – AA419 · Birdshot · brass | $0.78 | Buy → |
| 250 Round Case – 410 Gauge 3 Inch 11/16 Ounce 7.5 Shot Winchester Super X High Brass Ammo – X4137 · brass | $0.80 | Buy → |
| 250 Round Case – 410 Gauge 2.5 Inch 1/2 Ounce 7.5 Shot Winchester Super X High Brass Ammo – X417 · brass | $0.80 | Buy → |
| 250 Round Case – 410 Gauge 2.5 Inch 1/2 Ounce 6 Shot Winchester Super X High Brass Ammo – X416 · Birdshot · brass | $0.80 | Buy → |
| 250 Round Case – 410 Gauge 2.5 Inch 1/2 Ounce 9 Shot Stars and Stripes Target Load Ammo – CT41009 · Birdshot | $0.82 | Buy → |
| 250 Round Case – 410 Gauge 3 Inch 11/16 Ounce 4 Shot 1135 FPS Winchester Super X High Brass Ammo – X4134 · brass | $0.92 | Buy → |
| 200 Round Case – 410 Judge Handgun Load – Hornady Critical Defense – Triple Defense 2.5 Inch Shell – 86238 · Critical Defense · brass | $1.02 | Buy → |
| Troy - 410 Gauge - #7.5 Shot - 3" - 5/8 Oz. - 1100 FPS - 25 Rounds · shot | $1.12 | Buy → |
| Winchester AA Target Load 410 GA 2-1/2" 1/2 OZ #9 SHOT 25 ct (AA419) · brass | $1.15 | Buy → |
| 500 Round Case – .410 Gauge 2.5 Inch 1-000 15-BB Dual Pellet Load Self Defense Sellier Bellot Ammo – SB410SDA · brass | $1.20 | Buy → |
| Federal - Top Gun Sporting - 410 Gauge - #8 Shot - 2.5Ó - 1/2 oz. - 1330 FPS - 25 Rounds · #8 shot · shotgun shell | $1.20 | Buy → |
| Nobel Sport - .410 Bore - #9 Shot - 2.50" - 1/2 oz. - 1200 FPS - 25 Rounds · Birdshot | $1.23 | Buy → |
| Nobel Sport - 410 Gauge - #7.5 Shot - 2.5" - 1/2 oz. - 1240 FPS - 25 Rounds · Birdshot · brass | $1.23 | Buy → |
| Nobel Sport - 410 Gauge - #8 Shot - 2.5" - 1/2 oz. - 1240 FPS - 25 Rounds · Birdshot | $1.23 | Buy → |
| Federal - Top Gun Sporting - 410 Gauge - #7.5 Shot - 2.5Ó - 1/2 oz. - 1330 FPS - 25 Rounds · Birdshot · brass | $1.23 | Buy → |
Best .410 Bore by Use Case
Small Game Hunting
.410 with #6 or #7.5 birdshot is effective for squirrels, rabbits, and close-range upland birds. The low recoil and light weight of .410 rifles make it a reasonable choice for young hunters learning to shoot moving targets. Keep shots inside 25 yards — the pattern spreads quickly and pellet count drops fast with range.
- · Federal Game-Shok .410 #6
- · Winchester Super-X .410 #7.5
- · Remington Express .410 #6
Judge / Governor Revolvers
Taurus Judge and S&W Governor revolvers chamber .410 alongside .45 Colt. For defensive use from these revolvers, Federal Personal Defense .410 with 4 pellets of 000 buckshot is the most tested option. The short barrel of these revolvers spreads the pattern immediately — at 7 feet, Federal's load keeps pellets in a tight group; at 15 feet, spread increases significantly.
- · Federal Personal Defense .410 000 Buck (4 pellet)
- · Winchester PDX1 .410 (3 discs + 12 BBs)
- · Hornady Critical Defense .410 000 Buck
Pest Control
.410 is practical for dispatching pests at close range — quieter than 12 gauge, less over-penetration risk, still effective on rats, snakes, and similar targets inside 15 yards. #6 or #7.5 birdshot is standard. Recoil is minimal even in lightweight .410 shotguns.
- · Federal Game-Shok .410 #6
- · Winchester AA .410 #7.5 Target
Clays & Target
.410 target loads (2.5", 1/2oz #9 or #8.5) are a genuine challenge at the sporting clays course — the tiny pattern demands precise gun-to-target coordination. Not recommended as a primary practice gauge. Used by experienced clay shooters wanting a difficulty increase. Winchester AA .410 is the target standard.
- · Winchester AA .410 Target 2.5" #8.5
- · Federal Top Gun .410 #9
Common Questions
Compare .410 Bore vs. Related Calibers
Price and history for calibers commonly compared to .410 Bore.
What is .410 Bore?
.410 bore is the smallest common shotgun chambering in the US. Unlike 12, 20, and 28 gauge — which are measured by the lead-ball gauge system — .410 is measured by actual bore diameter: 0.410 inches. It’s a small-bore shotgun that produces minimal recoil and fires relatively light shot charges.
The shell itself resembles a rifle cartridge more than a shotgun shell. A 2.5” .410 shell is smaller in diameter than a .45 ACP cartridge. The 3” magnum .410 is still only about the diameter of a .45 Colt. That’s the appeal and the limitation both.
What .410 does well — and what it doesn’t
Does well:
- Small game at close range (squirrels, rabbits inside 25 yards)
- Pest control at very close range (snakes, rats, vermin)
- Introducing young children to shotgun shooting — genuinely minimal recoil
- The Taurus Judge / S&W Governor use case (discussed below)
- Sporting clays as a skill-building challenge for experienced shooters
Does not do well:
- Home defense (marginal pattern density, limited payload)
- Waterfowl or turkey (insufficient pellet count and energy)
- Deer hunting (generally illegal for deer in most states)
- High-volume target shooting (limited availability, high cost per shell)
- Any situation where a 20 gauge or 12 gauge is practical to use
Shell specifications
| Length | Payload | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5” standard | 1/2 oz shot or small slug | Standard; works in all .410 shotguns |
| 3” magnum | 11/16 oz shot | More payload; check gun is rated for 3” |
Most modern .410 shotguns chamber 3” shells. Older guns may be limited to 2.5”. The 3” .410 magnum still carries less shot than a standard 2.5” 20 gauge load — perspective on payload scale.
The Judge and Governor: reality check
The Taurus Judge and Smith & Wesson Governor are revolvers that chamber .410 shotshells alongside .45 Colt. They’re popular, and Federal’s defensive .410 load (4 pellets of 000 buckshot) was developed specifically for them.
Honest assessment:
What works: At typical home defense distances (7–12 feet), Federal’s 000 buckshot load delivers 4 projectiles of .360” diameter. That’s real energy on target. The spread at 7 feet is tight — roughly 2–3 inches. Pattern cohesion is meaningfully better than at 15 feet.
What doesn’t: The short barrel of these revolvers (2.5–3”) dramatically reduces velocity compared to a shotgun barrel. Pattern opens faster than from a rifle-like barrel. At 15 feet, pellets can be spreading to 6–8 inches or more, and some may miss a human torso. By 25 feet, the pattern from a Judge can cover an area larger than a human target.
The .45 Colt in these revolvers is a better defensive cartridge than the .410 shells. The Judge is not a home defense shotgun replacement; it’s a novelty that also works for snakes.
Pattern data (from Taurus Judge 3” barrel)
| Load | Distance | Pattern Width |
|---|---|---|
| Federal 000 Buck (4-pellet) | 7 ft | ~2” |
| Federal 000 Buck (4-pellet) | 15 ft | ~5” |
| Federal 000 Buck (4-pellet) | 25 ft | ~10” |
| Winchester PDX1 (3 disc + 12 BB) | 7 ft | ~3” |
| Winchester PDX1 (3 disc + 12 BB) | 15 ft | ~8” |
At 7 feet, defensible. At 25 feet, marginal. This is why the .45 Colt chamber gets more respect from serious users.
Brand guide
Federal Personal Defense .410 000 Buck (4-pellet) — the most-tested Judge/Governor defensive load. Four .360” pellets, designed for short barrels. ~$1.00–1.40/rd.
Winchester PDX1 .410 — three .41-caliber discs plus 12 BBs. Interesting pattern, marketed for revolvers. ~$0.95–1.35/rd.
Hornady Critical Defense .410 — polymer-tipped 000 buckshot, designed for revolver use. ~$0.95–1.35/rd.
Federal Game-Shok #6 Birdshot — the standard small game load. Reliable, affordable. ~$0.55–0.80/rd.
Winchester Super-X #7.5 — fine shot for small birds and close-range pests. ~$0.55–0.80/rd.
Winchester AA .410 Target 2.5” #8.5 — the target and sporting clays standard. ~$0.70–0.95/rd.
Price guide (2025–2026)
| Category | Good deal | Fair | Overpaying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birdshot (game/target) | $0.50–0.70/rd | $0.70–0.95/rd | $1.10+/rd |
| Defensive buckshot (Judge loads) | $0.85–1.15/rd | $1.15–1.50/rd | $1.75+/rd |
| Slugs | $1.00–1.40/rd | $1.40–1.80/rd | $2.10+/rd |
.410 runs significantly more expensive per shell than 12 gauge birdshot for equivalent practice use, reflecting lower production volume and demand.
Firearms chambered in .410 bore
Shotguns:
- Mossberg 500 .410 — pump-action, 5-shot, light and affordable
- Remington 870 .410 — classic pump in .410; now RemArms production
- Henry .410 Lever Action — unique lever-action .410; 5+1 capacity, 24” barrel
- Henry X .410 — tactical-style version of the Henry .410 lever gun
- CZ 612 .410 — pump-action, affordable
- Rossi Tuffy .410 — single-shot break-action, ultra-light, popular youth/truck gun
Revolvers:
- Taurus Judge (2.5” and 3” chambers, multiple barrel lengths)
- Smith & Wesson Governor (also chambers .45 ACP)
Rifle/carbine:
- Mossberg Shockwave .410 — 14” barrel, non-NFA “firearm,” legal in most states
What could be better?
- Best price
- $0.66/rd
- Avg tracked
- $2.17/rd
- vs 1 year ago
- ↓5.3%
- 52-wk low
- $0.20/rd
- 52-wk high
- $0.96/rd
- Shortage peak
- $0.96/rd
- Products tracked
- 61
- Retailers stocking
- 6
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