jomo04

I made it out to the range today with my converted S-410 to try out the two type of slugs that I had laying around. The gun is your basic converted Saiga S-410 with a cheapo scope mounted on the side rail to test it's accuracy potential and just the thread protector on the end of the barrel. I've got some areas that are open to me for deer hunting, but only with slugs, so I thought it would be fun to see if a .410 is up to it. I know from MCB's site that it is possible to use the .410, but I had never seen the accuracy potential of the Saiga's before. First up was the Silver Bear 97 Grain

I fitted the side mount and red dot sight to the Saiga and took her out to the farm today. Put a few mags of Silver Bear slugs through her (I found a little hole in the wall shop that sells them for $2.30/box) and was pleasantly surprised with the results. From a seated field position I was able to achieve 2-3" groups at 50 yds, and found the recoil to be very light. There is something very comforting about the metallic clanking/grinding noise emitted by the AK-action, though the deer would probably fail to appreciate it! I still need to try the Brenneke slugs out, but I've heard the accur

McBirch's website has proved invaluable for sure; it was actually his site that first convinced me hunting deer with a .410 was feasible. I'm following his progress with the heavier hand-loaded slugs closely and hopefully he'll end up with a workable combination. I went ahead and ordered a UTG side mount from Midway which I received in the mail today. It actually fits very well and sits pretty low in relation to the top cover. I've mounted a 1x30mm red-dot and when I get a chance to shoot it this weekend I'll decide if that combo will work or if I'll need some magnification. I also got so

.410 is a legal gauge/bore in Missouri so I'm good to go there. I realize the .410 is marginal in this role, but I figure out to 70 yds or so a deer would be toast with a well placed shot. Would I be better served just buying a cheap pump 12 gauge and using it out to 100 yds? VanKiller, I've not heard great things about the top cover mounts, but have you gotten them to work for you? How do they hold their zero? Thanks!

I've been a browser on this forum for a while, and I've been able to learn a bunch from everybody here and the handy search button I picked up a S-410 last year and converted it in an evening; talk about fun! The place where I work allows employees to hunt on the grounds (4000 acres), but only allows slug guns or bows. I've never been constrained to a slug gun, so I don't have a purpose made machine and am thinking of employing the Saiga until I decide it's something I like (Hunting with a slug gun). I know there has been at least one report on here by a member who harvested a deer with h

I love reading stories like these! I've not had a chance to take my S-410 out in search of a turkey yet, but I'm hoping to bloody her soon. I'm always amazed at how people call the .410's way to underpowered for anything, but a #4 pellet at 1300 fps is the same regardless of what bore/gauge it's fired from. Obviously the patterns tend to thin out, but as you've proved, if you keep your shots close you can be successful. A miss with a 3 1/2" 12 gauge is still a miss!