Learning to shoot the .410

[todd allen]

This is with an AYA #4, and not a Parker, but the dynamics would be the same.
It's just a matter of a 4 digit instead of a 5 digit price.
I, for one, struggle with the "little guns", but will keep trying.
https://youtu.be/MPO7pAFYVRE

[mobirdhunter]

Todd, I acquired an H&H hammer gun and a Parker VH, both in .410. I have hunted dove (walking them up) with the H&H with good results, and I'm saving the Parker for some Missouri woodcock when flights arrive this Fall.

After watching your video, maybe one needs to speak with an accent to shoot a .410 well. Our PGCA colleague Stan Hillis is obviously a seriously good wing shot with his .410s. I'll bet he has a Southern accent, so maybe either acquiring an English or Southern accent will help our shooting.

I'll try Southern, you can give the British version a try.

(Thanks for sharing the video!)

[todd allen]

I don't know if I have ever seen an H&H in .410. Can you post a couple of pics?

[mobirdhunter]

The .410 barrels are late additions. I have the original 28 bore barrels which work just fine for me, too.

How come you didn't refer to me as "bloke?" (Sorry, I could not resist.)

[Bill Murphy]

It's much more enjoyable to watch those videos with the audio turned off. Closed captions would be a plus.

[Gerald McPherson]

What did them fellers saye anyhow?

[Researcher]

I find vintage American .410-bore doubles very hard to shoot. Their over-sized frames and the heavy butt end of the barrels puts way too much of the weight between the hands and those little whippy barrels out front are near impossible to control. A lot easier to shoot my seven-pound Browning Superposed .410 bore. For the last eleven years of my NSSA Skeet shooting career I was shooting a tubed Remington Model 3200 so I was shooting a nine-pound six-ounce .410 bore!!

[Kevin McCormack]

What Dave said - I owned 2 Parker .410s, a VH and a GHE, both 26 inch barrels. Also had an LC Smith Field Grade .410 with 28 inch barrels in the same era. The Smith I could shoot decently; trying to shoot low gun skeet or SC with either of the Parkers necessitated the gyrations of throwing a casting net for minnows for me. WAAAY to whippy for field shooting; reminded me of floor exercises at the Olympics with a Hula Hoop.

[Stan Hillis]

I can assure you guys that getting to be proficient with a .410 is light years easier with longer barrels. I began using .410 S X Ss at age 8, and now 63 years later I have formed some opinions about them. I want the longest barrels on mine that I can get. I currently own three .410 doubles with 30" barrels. I've also found that using them on game requires quite a different shooting technique than I use with my larger bore doubleguns. With the very light .410s I begin my "move" towards the mount by swinging the muzzles on the bird from a low gun position. I fire almost immediately upon the butt being seated in my shoulder pocket. With bigger bore guns I have a much more deliberate move ......... mounting the gun before making the "move" and establishing lead.

My three current 30" barreled .410 doubleguns:



However, I am still searching for the perfect .410 double ........... maybe a 32" ????????

[Bill Murphy]

Stan's problem is solved. A new gun.