410 Shotgun Shells

The 410 bore is most commonly used for turkey hunting, upland bird hunting, and small game, though high density shot materials have expanded what this gauge can do. Advanced tungsten and bismuth loads have made the 410 bore a legitimate turkey hunting option at ranges that would have been unrealistic with lead. HEVI offers 410 shotgun shells in tungsten for turkey and bismuth for upland applications, built specifically to extract maximum performance from a platform that rewards shot density over raw payload. For hunters who want a lighter gun without sacrificing lethality, the 410 bore loaded with the right material is a different conversation than it was ten years ago.

410 shells are available in two standard lengths: 2.5 inch and 3 inch. The 3 inch 410 shell is the standard for hunting applications, running higher payload weights and velocities than the 2.5 inch option. HEVI 410 loads run in 3 inch configurations at 1,090 to 1,300 fps depending on the load, which is the right starting point for any hunter using the 410 bore for turkey or upland work. Always verify your gun's chamber length before running any 3 inch shell through a gun that may be chambered only for 2.5 inch.

Non-toxic 410 shotgun shells solve two problems at once. First, they meet legal requirements on federal and state public lands where non-toxic shot is mandatory for all hunting, not just waterfowl. Second, high density non-toxic materials like bismuth and tungsten outperform lead at practical hunting distances in a small gauge where payload is limited. A bismuth 410 load at 9.6 g/cc delivers more energy per pellet at distance than a lead load of the same shot size. For the 410 bore specifically, where every pellet in the pattern counts, that density advantage is not a minor upgrade. It changes what the gauge can do.

For turkey hunting with 410 shells, #7 and #9 in TSS tungsten are the go-to options. TSS at 18 g/cc allows smaller shot sizes to carry lethal energy to a gobbler's vitals at 30 to 40 yards, with pellet counts that produce dense 10 inch patterns a larger shot size simply cannot match in a 410 bore payload. HEVI-18 TSS turkey loads in 410 bore run 13/16 oz at 1,090 fps, purpose built for hunters who want to run the sub gauge and need the shot material to do the work the small payload cannot do on its own.

Yes. Bismuth 410 loads are safe for older fixed choke guns and deliver density around 9.6 g/cc, closer to lead performance than steel at comparable shot sizes. HEVI-Bismuth 410 bore loads in #4, #5, and #6 shot are built for waterfowl and upland applications where the hunter wants non-toxic performance without the choke restrictions that come with steel. For upland hunting specifically, HEVI-Bismuth Upland in 410 bore runs 9/16 oz at 1,300 fps in #5 shot, which is a meaningful step up from what standard lead 410 loads deliver at the ranges pheasant and grouse typically flush.

With the right shot material, yes. Standard steel 410 duck loads fall short at anything beyond close range because the payload is too light and steel too low in density to carry energy effectively. 410 waterfowl loads built on tungsten change that equation. HEVI-XII 410 bore tungsten loads in #5 and #7 shot run 1/2 oz at 1,250 fps, which is enough to cleanly take early season ducks and teal at reasonable ranges with proper choke selection. It is a specialized application and most waterfowl hunters run 12 or 20 gauge as their primary setup. But for hunters specifically building a sub gauge kit, the 410 bore loaded with tungsten is a real option, not a novelty.