old blackpowder guns

[Timelord]

Game fields typically fire few shells per hunting trip. Trench warfare is a military application with the military logistics and fairly limited mobility. A sole survivor will probably face much more varied scenarios. Surely the merits of a .410 can be discussed without the tired old tradition of comparing it directly to the 12 gauge. That comparison has lots of 12 gauge incorrectly applied parallels drawn to win an argument that does not need to even be argued. The fact that the military use an item of equipment does not in any way make it the best item for the job. there are many well known factors why the military often use 2nd rate or sub optimal equipment. If the standard military weapon was the best that could be , then why do soldiers buy "superior" equipment from outside suppliers? Why do different militaries use different weapons, if the best is obvious to all? Many weapons issued have not been the best. Many prototypes that have been trialled successfully have still not made it into issue service. This knowledge is there to be found in collector grade publications. We have the ability, not constrained by military supply chains to look at the subject with fresh eyes. Take on board previous research and prototype development and to come up with something tailor made to our own individual needs and not just what worked 100 years ago in trench warfare in Europe etc. That is only a small part of the evolution. My posts are sometimes long as I try to get across reasoned historical ideas and facts that are often dismissed with sound bytes and old clichés that are often only applicable to a small part of the subject area. I don't write and pass on this info in respect about what it means in my own specific situation for my own individual needs like some folks can only seem to be able to respond with. I am trying to put ideas out into the community for others to take what they can from it and to hopefully inspire better analysis for their own needs.
If bigger was always better then the world would be a funny place as this is not always the case.
A .410 will last just as long as other calibres. farmers use 12g and .22 because they do the job well and are convenient. I still do not get the repeated statement that it would be easy to get .22 and 12g in a SHTF or a PSHTF scenario. It is implied that it would be simple enough to collect it from local farms. Good luck with that! Not everyone lives near farms, so how is that useful for all the modern preppers researching on these forums. They may well get shot in the attempt after taking that kind of advice. Would it not be easier to have the ammo, components and simple reloading equipment beforehand? The prep thing we all talk about? You see this is also about ammo and obtaining it - not just about 12g versus .410. I only put the idea of a .410 forward with the express intention of reloading and stocking your own ammo supply - in advance, with reloads as and when necessary, so there would be no need to unnecessarily run the gauntlet of scavenging from farms. Can you not put aside the fixation of the proposed .410 weapon being a shotgun and so only thinking along the lines of standard shotgun lore? The proposed weapon configuration was an attempt to bridge the gap and utilize strengths between the .22rf and the standard larger shotgun set up, but in semi auto, smooth bore, variable projectile launcher guise and not as a direct comparison to either the 12g or .22rf. I will just go and bang my head against a brick wall some more. Regards, TL.