The .410 is the smallest common shotgun bore. It’s light, quiet next to a 12 gauge and easy on young shoulders. It’s also the trickiest to use well, because its payload is small. This guide gathers .410 ballistics for the loads we carry, from skeet shells to slugs, so you can compare payload, shot size and published velocity side by side.
All figures come from the makers. We don’t print drop charts. Makers don’t publish them for these shells, and shot patterns don’t follow one trajectory anyway.
What gauge is a .410?
Technically, it isn’t a gauge. Gauges count how many bore-size lead balls make a pound. The .410 is measured the modern way, by bore diameter: .410 inch. If you measured it the old way, it would come out near 67 gauge. That’s why it’s often called the “.410 bore” instead of a gauge.
The .410 comes in two common shell lengths: 2-1/2 inch and 3 inch. A 3 inch shell carries more shot and needs a 3 inch chamber. Check the barrel stamp before you buy.
How to read .410 ballistics
- Payload is the shot weight. Most 2-1/2 inch .410 loads carry 1/2 oz. Most 3 inch lead and TSS loads carry 11/16 to 13/16 oz.
- Velocity is muzzle speed from the maker’s test barrel. Your gun will differ. Short barrels, including .410 revolvers, usually run slower. Cold weather slows loads a little. High altitude means thinner air, so pellets shed speed a bit more slowly.
- Energy is rarely printed for shotshells, since it’s split across many pellets. For slugs, the makers list weight in ounces. A 1/4 oz slug is about 109 grains; a 1/5 oz slug about 87 grains.
Small payload is the big limit. Fewer pellets means the pattern thins out sooner. Speed can’t fix that. Keep .410 shots close.
Target loads
Target .410 ballistics are simple: 1/2 oz of small shot in a 2-1/2 inch shell, at a steady speed that patterns evenly.
| Load | Shell | Payload | Shot size | Velocity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester AA 410 Target 2-1/2 in. #9 | 2-1/2 in. | 1/2 oz | #9 | 1,200 fps |
| Remington STS 410 Premier Target 2-1/2 in. #9 | 2-1/2 in. | 1/2 oz | #9 | 1,200 fps |
| Federal High Over All 410 2-1/2 in. #8-1/2 | 2-1/2 in. | 1/2 oz | #8-1/2 | 1,200 fps |
| Federal Top Gun 410 Sporting 2-1/2 in. #9 | 2-1/2 in. | 1/2 oz | #9 | 1,330 fps |
| Winchester AA Super Sport 410 Sporting Clays #8 | 2-1/2 in. | 1/2 oz | #8 | 1,300 fps |
| Remington Nitro Gold 410 Sporting Clays #8 | 2-1/2 in. | 1/2 oz | #8 | 1,300 fps |
| Remington Low Decibel 410 2-1/2 in. #9 1/2 oz | 2-1/2 in. | 1/2 oz | #9 | 650 fps |
Skeet loads like the Winchester AA Target #9 run 1,200 fps. Sporting clays loads like the Federal Top Gun Sporting run faster. The Remington Low Decibel is the outlier at 650 fps, made for a quiet report.
Field and non-toxic loads
| Load | Shell | Payload | Shot size | Velocity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remington Game Load 410 2-1/2 in. #6 1/2 oz | 2-1/2 in. | 1/2 oz | #6 | 1,200 fps |
| Winchester Super X 410 High Brass 2-1/2 in. #4 | 2-1/2 in. | 1/2 oz | #4 | 1,245 fps |
| Federal Game Load 410 Upland Hi-Brass 3 in. #6 | 3 in. | 11/16 oz | #6 | 1,135 fps |
| Remington Express Extra Long Range 410 3 in. #6 | 3 in. | 11/16 oz | #6 | 1,135 fps |
| Winchester Xpert 410 Steel 3 in. #6 3/8 oz | 3 in. | 3/8 oz | #6 | 1,400 fps |
| Winchester Xpert Steel 410 3 in. #7 3/8 oz | 3 in. | 3/8 oz | #7 | 1,400 fps |
| Winchester Bismuth 410 3 in. #5 5/8 oz | 3 in. | 5/8 oz | #5 | 1,300 fps |
| Remington Hevi Bismuth 410 3 in. #4 9/16 oz | 3 in. | 9/16 oz | #4 | 1,350 fps |
For squirrels and rabbits, #4 to #6 lead is common. The Winchester Super X High Brass #4 lists 1,245 fps. Steel loads carry 3/8 oz; bismuth carries 9/16 to 5/8 oz. Federal rules require non-toxic shot for waterfowl, and some states require it for other birds. Our .410 steel shot guide covers that in depth.
Turkey loads
| Load | Payload | Shot size | Pellets | Velocity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal TSS 410 Heavyweight Turkey 3 in. #9 | 13/16 oz | #9 | — | 1,100 fps |
| Apex Ninja 410 Turkey TSS 3 in. #9-1/2 7/8 oz | 7/8 oz | #9-1/2 | 403 | 1,060 fps |
| Winchester Long Beard TSS 410 3 in. #9 13/16 oz | 13/16 oz | #9 | — | 1,100 fps |
| Winchester Double X 410 Turkey Loads 3 in. #7-1/2 3/4 oz | 3/4 oz | #7-1/2 | — | 1,100 fps |
TSS made the .410 a close-range turkey gun. The Apex Turkey Ninja lists 403 pellets of #9-1/2. Check your state’s turkey rules first.
Buckshot, defense and slug loads
| Load | Shell | Projectile | Pellets | Velocity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester 410 000 Buck Super X 2-1/2 in. | 2-1/2 in. | #000 Buckshot | 3 | 1,135 fps |
| Winchester Super X 410 Buckshot 3 in. 000 Buck | 3 in. | #000 Buckshot | 5 | 1,135 fps |
| Remington Home Defense 410 HD Ultimate 000 Buck | 2-1/2 in. | #000 Buckshot | 4 | 1,225 fps |
| Remington Ultimate Defense 410 3 in. 000 Buck | 3 in. | #000 Buckshot | 5 | 1,125 fps |
| Federal Personal Defense 410 2 1/2 In. 000 Buck | 2-1/2 in. | #000 Buckshot | 4 | 850 fps |
| Federal Personal Defense 410 3 Inch 000 Buck | 3 in. | #000 Buckshot | 5 | 775 fps |
| Winchester PDX1 410 Defender 2-1/2 in. Copper Plated | 2-1/2 in. | 3 Defense Discs + BB Copper-Plated Lead Shot | 12 (plus 3 Defense Discs) | 750 fps |
| PDX1 410 3 Inch Winchester Defender Shotshells | 3 in. | 4 Defense Discs + BB Copper-Plated Lead Shot | 16 | 750 fps |
| Winchester 410 Rifled Slug 2-1/2 in. 1/5 oz Super X | 2-1/2 in. | Rifled Slug (Foster-type) | — | 1,830 fps |
| Winchester Super X 410 Slug 3 in. 1/4 oz Rifled | 3 in. | Rifled Slug | — | 1,800 fps |
| Federal 410 Slug Power-Shok Hollow Point 1/4 oz | 2-1/2 in. | Hollow Point Rifled Slug | — | 1,775 fps |
Speeds here split into two groups, and this is where .410 ballistics vary most. Revolver-focused defense loads list 750 to 850 fps. Shotgun-focused loads, like the Remington HD Ultimate 000 Buck, list 1,125 to 1,225 fps. Slugs run fastest: the Winchester Super X 1/5 oz slug lists 1,830 fps. Laws on self-defense vary, so check your state and local rules.
What is a .410 shotgun good for?
- Skeet and clays: a real test of skill.
- Squirrels and rabbits: #4 to #6 lead, close range.
- Doves: #7-1/2 to #9 lead, or #7 steel where required.
- Turkey: TSS, close range, where legal.
- Pest control: light or low-noise loads.
- Home defense: buckshot or disc loads, tested in your gun.
Will a .410 slug kill a deer?
A .410 slug weighs about 87 to 109 grains, which is light for deer. Many states don’t allow a .410 for deer at all. Where it’s legal, keep shots short and place them carefully. A 20 or 12 gauge slug is a better deer tool.
Shop .410 shells
Browse every load above in our .410 shotgun shells category. For brand-by-brand detail, see our Winchester .410 guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What gauge is a 410 shotgun?
The .410 isn’t a true gauge. It’s named for its bore diameter, .410 inch. Measured the old gauge way, it would be close to 67 gauge. That’s why most people call it the .410 bore. It comes in 2-1/2 inch and 3 inch shells.
What is a 410 shotgun good for?
A .410 is good for skeet, squirrels, rabbits, doves at close range, pest control and teaching new shooters. With TSS, it can take turkeys at close range where legal. Its small payload means short range, so pick close shots and pattern your load.
Will a 410 slug kill a deer?
A .410 slug weighs only about 87 to 109 grains, which is light for deer. Many states don’t allow the .410 for deer hunting. Where it’s legal, keep shots short and place them carefully. For most hunters, a 20 or 12 gauge slug is a better choice.
What can you hunt with a 410 shotgun?
Hunters use the .410 for squirrels, rabbits, doves, quail and other small game at close range. With TSS shot, some hunt turkeys where state rules allow it. Waterfowl calls for non-toxic shot, and the .410’s small payload makes it a poor duck gun beyond very close range.
