Stevens Model 59 Shotgun

The Baby Bore

The gun is chambered in .410 “bore,” so named because the cartridge came from our friends in England and thus used a different nomenclature from the U.S. shotgun cartridge, “gauge.”

I’ve never been a big fan of the .410, not because it’s a bad cartridge but because I always felt like the .22 LR was a better choice for taking squirrel and rabbit-sized critters, especially if you don’t enjoy cracking your teeth on errant shotgun pellets.

However, earlier in the 20th century, when bagging a rabbit, squirrel, or even an opossum was crucial to having meat on the dinner table, this small shotgun bore was popular due to its effectiveness at downing small game.

I’m now reconsidering my attitude as the .410 has become a hot new choice for super-serious turkey hunters. Thanks to modern cartridge technology, you can now use the diminutive — and low-recoil — .410 to take gobblers at common hunting yardages with the surety formerly reserved for the big ol’ 12-gauge. Heck, there are even self-defense loads for the tiny shotty, so what I’m saying is, “Don’t listen to me. The .410 is still useful.”

Maybe I’ll even take my own advice. Moving on to the gun itself…