By Robert N. Sears.

There isn’t much middle ground about the .410. Shotgunners usually either love or hate this smallest of the commonly used shotgun shells. Its history reveals most of the reasons.

At the turn of the century, small game was frequently taken by farmers and woodsmen in the course of their daily work as the opportunity presented itself. It was not sport hunting. Sitting birds and rabbits shot at close range were the targets most often finding their way to the pot.

A small load of fine shot did the job without being overly destructive to the meat. Up to 10 yds. The 44-40 loaded with no. 8 shot was usually adequate, although the pattern was wide when fired from a rifled bore. The Stevens Pocket Shotgun chambered for the .44-50 (2” and .44-65 2½”) shells were better, but the brass cases were never available as loaded ammunition. The .44 XL cartridge was not quite their equal but, being factory loaded, became much more popular and outlasted them for many years. An epochal development in guns for the purpose was reached with the introduction of the Marble’s Game Getter in 1908, Its top barrel took .22 rimfire cartridges, while the smoothbore lower barrel took at least four different .44 cartridges, including the 115-gr round-ball load.