I'm considering getting a Browning over and under 410 to shoot skeet. Is that very smart considering 410 shells are $12.00 a box? Pros and cons?
If you're concerned about the cost of the ammo and you're not going to load your own, then .410 might not be the shell for you. (I load them for about $3.25/BX) If you're not a seasoned skeet shooter, and you frustrate easily, then .410 might not be the shell for you. (I shoot all gauges, but only pull out the .410 "on a good day") On the plus side, if you enjoy a challenge, want to shoot a shell with almost zero recoil, don't mind cheap looking breaks, and like that you can shoot all day without emptying your pouch, then .410 might just be the shell for you.
410 is in a class by it shelf,if your good with a 410 your just wasting shot with the other gauges.I like the 28 ga,still fairly resonable to reload and much more forgiving.
I shoot a Perazzi TMX with Briley .410 Companion tube in it at trap. Its fun. You will work harder to get good breaks but makes you a better shooter. Cost of ammo can be mitigated by watching Academy Sports for a shell promo. Last I bought was $90.00 to my front door for AA shells. Instead of 4 boxes I usually shoot two boxes of .410. You might sell your once fired to some skeet shooters who reload.
JMO but I think a 28ga may be a better choice. You'll have to reload either gauge you choose, unless you have rooms full of money to buy factory shells. I see alot of good 28ga shooters at skeet, but very few 410 shooters.
I shoot all 4 gages. I love the .410 and 28 gages. less recoil. not bragging but I shoot the .410 pretty good. I have a citori 4 barrel set. so all gages the gun weighs pretty much the same. the 28 gage is supposed to be the best gage as for giving the pattern for your shot string. I can load the .410 and the 28 gages right 3.50 a bx. their a lot of fun to shoot. if you don't reload look for mec sizemaster and reload them yourself. you will save on the average 6.00 a bx. go for it. rich
The 28 ga is the most fun to shoot skeet with, the .410 is the most challenging. When you are on with the .410 you can crush targets, awesome breaks. But...if you are having an off day the .410 is frustrating as hell. If you shoot any quantity of either 28 or .410 it pays to reload.
If you already have an O/U, consider having Briley put Skeet tubes in your gun. The 410 will be a lot smoother and you will shoot it better. The cost is not as bad as a new O/U. That way you can shoot all 4 gauges in one gun. 410 is just as easy to reload as the others, and saves a lot of money over new.
I like shooting the .410 bore. It makes me focus harder. I usually start practice with .410 and end with 20 ga. I don't shoot 12 ga much at all...maybe 3 -4 boxes a year. I don't reload, just sells the AA hulls. It definitely pays to reload. I used to reload, gave it up years ago... I shoot a 30" pro sporter with Kolar tubes...same sight picture all the time. Shoot well!
If you buy the AA's when they are on sale and sell the hulls its not that much more than reloading if you figure any value to your time and the cost if the press its probly cheaper..... YMMV As other have said it will make you a better shot, anyone can shoot the big bores
This thread’s last post was in October. Wonder what folks will say now about buying new shells and then selling the hulls instead of reloading. Current situation is that new shells are hard to find and are higher priced. If you don’t already reload and have a goodly supply of components you had better check the current prices. Win 209 primers are $200 per thousand if you can find them. Powder is available at inflated prices. Like any other commodity, if you are late to the party you’ll pay a premium to acquire reloading components in this current environment.
I have federal 410 hulls for sale....ready for reloading. At this current time it difficult to find ammo. Inflated prices are an issue too. Everybody is buying all they can now.
tighten you choke a little and aim for the center. nothing is more fun and rewarding than .410 shooting.
Don’t know about cheap, but BPI has Cheddites every couple of weeks for about $48/1K when you get a sleeve. Last sleeve was around $240 delivered to my house outside of Chicago.
O.P.: Shooting .410 is great fun and a character building activity! Ammo is inexpensive if you reload (why wouldn't you?). As long as you're doing it, might as well engage with a quality O/U such as Perazzi MX8-20 with long .410 barrels, or a K-32/K-80 with .410 Skeet barrels. If shooting a Browning you'll experience the bang but experience will be very, very bland! Good Luck.
Shoot .410 99% percent of the time. No recoil, just don’t think about how little shot there is. Just shoot it like the other gauges.
Brownells just had a sale on Cheddite primers. $49.95 per thousand - free shipping and no hazmat. Sales tax applied. $279 to my door. May still be going on.