.410 Slugs For Deer Hunting?

by
posted on May 20, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
image0016.jpg

If you’re like me, you’ve pondered the suitability of .410 slugs for whitetail deer hunting. However, there’s little consensus about the subject; in fact, even ammunition companies’ stances are often at odds. For example, Brenneke USA promotes its 2½” and 3” for use on small game and, more specifically, coyotes, as well as for self-defense, while Federal Cartridge Co. displays a deer emblem, thereby suggesting its effectiveness for the smaller, big-game species. Too, in searching the internet forums, there are actually few reliable field reports, though those who have employed them on whitetail deer understood their range limitations and were pleased with their performance.

Further compounding the dilemma, in crunching the numbers, Federal’s Power-Shok 2½”, 1/4-oz. (109.375-gr.) slug propelled to 1775 f.p.s. produces 765 ft.-lbs. of energy at the muzzle, which is more than even the field-proven Hornady 10 mm Auto 180-gr. XTP load-it produces 556 ft.-lbs. at the muzzle. Granted, the latter will, by virtue of its construction, penetrate deeper. As such, it makes sense that the .410 would “work” on deer-size game; however, I wanted empirical evidence rather than conjecture and unsubstantiated reports, so I worked with Federal Cartridge Co. to determine the .410’s terminal performance through animal hide into ordnance gelatin. The results: when fired from a Savage Arms Model 42 from 50 yds., the all-lead, .41-cal. slug penetrated to a depth of about 8½”. The slug’s oversize expansion diameter surely factored into the limited penetration.

All things considered, for a youth or extremely recoil-timid adult hunter, if he or she is willing to “pick” shots and try to avoid the scapula, I see no reason that the aforementioned load wouldn’t bring a whitetail deer to bag. In this case, bigger is better but smaller is sufficient.

Latest

Marlin Model 9 Camp Carbine
Marlin Model 9 Camp Carbine

A Look Back At Marlin's Model 9 Camp Carbine

This Dope Bag review from 1985 delves into one of Marlin’s classics, a blowback-operated repeater in 9 mm known by collectors today as the Camp Carbine.

An Energetics Juggernaut: D&M Holding Co.

Based in Tampa, Fla., and Cabot, Ark., D&M has also expanded into the design and manufacture of equipment used to produce energetics for use in arms ranging from handguns to artillery, including providing site and floor planning, equipment manufacture, critical know-how and ’round-the-clock support for its clients.

Hatsan Updates Escort Optima Shotgun

First announced at SHOT Show 2025 with a host of new features, Hatsan USA's updated Escort Optima over-under shotguns are now available and shipping.

Preview: Breakthrough Clean Technologies Muzzle Pro

Once upon a time, the word “plastic” was not associated with muzzleloading arms; however, today, polymers are associated with bullets and powders used in modern muzzleloading, and Breakthrough Clean has the just-right solution to do the clean-up.

Gun Of The Week: EAA Corp. Girsan Influencer X

We're on the range with an M1911 that is one of the smoothest-shooting versions we’ve shot in recent memory. And best of all? It’s incredibly affordable, to boot. This is the EAA Girsan Influencer X.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 8, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.