AllOutdoor Review: KelTec KSG410 – Dual Tube 410 Bore Bullpup Shotgun

Kel-Tec CNC Industries Inc., commonly referred to as KelTec, is known throughout the firearms industry for crafting and creating some of the most unique products on the market today. Where most manufacturers give up when an idea meets a bit of difficulty, KelTec charges full steam ahead! They have brought us numerous wild and clever firearms like the PMR-30 (.22 Magnum), Sub-2000 (9mm), RDB (5.56 NATO), and many others. The firearm that might be the most popular amongst the KelTec arsenal could very well be the KSG (KelTec Shotgun). With its bottom-eject, dual magazine tubes, and impressively compact, bullpup size it sets the bar for what all bullpup shotguns should be. Most recently, KelTec “went small” by offering their coveted KSG in the diminutive yet stout .410 Gauge offering. So, today in this AllOutdoor Review, we take a look at the KelTec KSG410; a dual tube .410 bore bullpup shotgun with endless possibilities. Let’s dive in!

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Specifications: KelTec KSG410 – Dual Tube 410 Bore Bullpup Shotgun

If you are familiar with the KSG family of shotguns from KelTec and are aware of how small the 12 Gauge is, then when you take a gander at the KSG410, you might think that – dare I say – it looks cute. Compact, even for KelTec standards, and almost hearing safe launching .410 Gauge shells down range, this lil’ honey of a shotgun sports an impressive 11 shotgun shells in a configuration that weighs less than 6 pounds. The complete listing of its specifications can be read below as presented by KelTec:

Gauge: .410 Bore
Weight Unloaded: 5.4 Lb
Magazine Capacity: 5 + 5 + 1 (3″ Shells)
Overall Length: 26.1″
Barrel Length: 18.5″
Trigger Pull: 5 Lb
Length of Pull: 13″

In 2011, we introduced the KSG and completely changed the world of tactical, pump-action shotguns. Pick your favorite variant or collect them all… we won’t blame you. All of our shotguns are chambered for 3″ shells and fire a wide variety of projectiles. We should also mention that they’re all downward-ejecting and completely ambidextrous.

The MSRP for the KelTec KSG410 is set at $495 for a Black finish; its one colorway offering currently. This shotgun has a “cubical” pattern on its pistol grip as well as the forearm for dexterity; a texturing or pattern that affords you enough purchase to confidently maneuver this shotgun with ease. The high rise rail that dons your iron sights can also couple as a simple carrying handle reminiscent to those seen on retro or throwback AR-15s. All in all, the accoutrements and aesthetic to this shotgun are simple yet meaningful. It is not a shotgun with a lot of frills, yet – depending on your personal use – it is high on utility.

Slim – The KSG410 comes in at just over an inch and a half wide. 1.7 inches to be exact, and our engineers managed to stuff a barrel and two magazine tubes into that tiny space.
Light – This little beauty weighs in at only 5.4 pounds, so not only is the KSG410 slim, it’s incredibly light. Like her big brothers, the KSG and KS7, this gal is 26.1 inches long, keeping all that excessive paperwork at bay.
Recoil-Less – Ultimately, we’ll let you be the judge of that, but in our experience the KSG410 is virtually “recoilless” by any pump-action shotgun standards we could find. This extremely lightweight, slim, and easily manipulated KSG option is a pleasure to shoot for the whole family.

Here’s another bullpup for your collection and this one happens to be chambered for the whole family. This fun lil’ shotty turns heads and saves shoulders. The KSG line now has a sidekick with no kick, and we called it the KSG410. Hunt, train, protect, plink with your friends, or all of the above. This pump-action shotgun does it all.
The KSG410 is the only dual tube .410 bore shotgun in the world. It’s a design that features the dual tubes of our beloved KSG and the out-of-the-box, fiber optic sighting system of our KS7.

Field Use: KelTec KSG410 – Dual Tube 410 Bore Bullpup Shotgun

So, now that you have an idea what the KelTec KSG410 is all about, let’s dive into our range session with this petite, lead-lobber. To perforate some paper targets and churn the soil of my local gun club’s berm, I enlisted the help of my wonderful wife, Andrea. With myself being deeply entrenched in the firearms industry for close to 2 decades now from being a writer, Editor, armorer, and gun store manager, it is refreshing to shoot firearms with my wife to see her reaction and give me a better appreciation to things I sometimes take for granted.

When I introduced Andrea to the KelTec KSG410 I could slowly watch her expression change from confused, curiosity to pensive, excitement. Whether you are drawn to the KelTec KSG410 for its compactness… video game “vibes”… high capacity… lightweight nature… or all of the above… this shotgun easily invokes curiosity and excitement in everyone who looks at it. That is its draw, curb appeal, and magnetic personality.

When we set about testing and shooting this shotgun, it was a balmy -5°F outside with a -25°F wind chill in my home state of Minnesota. As miserable as those range conditions might be to endure, this provided the perfect backdrop for testing the functionality, reliability, and durability of this pint-sized, bullpup shotgun. With the poor availability of .410 Gauge shotgun ammo lately, the only ammunition that we could reliably source was some Hornady Triple Defense. I affectionately call this a “kitchen sink” or “garbage load” because it consists of two 0.35″ caliber round balls topped off with one non-jacketed FTX slug. Anyone on the receiving end of this ammunition – paper, steel, bad guy, or otherwise – is in for a bad day. Moreover, it is fairly stout for .410 Gauge standards, so it’d give the KelTec KSG410 an ample workout in our arctic tundra.

When feeding rounds into the dual magazine tube the spring was a bit stiff the first 3 – 4 times we topped off this shotgun (bear in mind the -5°F temp with a -25°F wind chill). After we began to shoot a little bit though, it became easier and easier to load. I don’t know that I would even call this a break-in period for the shotgun. Rather, it was simply ridiculously cold outside.

If I could make one critical critique of the KelTec KSG410, I wish that the rear sight was fiber optic exactly like the front sight. On a cloudy, overcast day while also shooting underneath a roofed shelter at my local gun club, the front sight on the KSG410 glowed like a lightbulb. Conversely, the all black rear sight was a bit difficult to pick up and see by comparison. For whatever reason, I consistently shot a touch low with our self-defense .410 Gauge loads (maybe 6″ – 8″ low at ~20 yards) while Andrea was spot on (ventilating the bullseye with ease).

In regards to “fun factor” or “cool factor,” this shotgun scores an easy 10 out of 10. It is light, wieldy, high-capacity, a joy to shoot, and could be deployed for innumerable use-cases. This could be an under-the-seat varmint shotgun for ranching/farming (Andrea and I raise chickens and honeybees, and sometimes you need to protect your flock and/or hive from raccoons and other varmints). It could be a home defense shotgun that could be easily set by your bedside. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not plainly state that it is completely OK to own a firearm because it is a hoot to shoot, and this shotgun is tremendously fun to play with.

Final Thoughts: KelTec KSG410 – Dual Tube 410 Bore Bullpup Shotgun

So, what are my final thoughts on the KelTec KSG410 – Dual Tube 410 Bore Bullpup Shotgun?… Well, I came away pleasantly surprised. I always had a great deal of respect for the KSG family of shotguns for how innovative they are in a sea of “bullpup shotgun mediocrity,” but the .410 Gauge variant is especially fun and more practical than I thought it would be. If anyone is on the fence about getting one of these shotguns, they need to get off the fence and go grab themselves one. You will love it!

In closing, I want to say thank you to KelTec for allowing AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to try out their KelTec KSG410 – Dual Tube 410 Bore Bullpup Shotgun. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think? Do you believe that the KelTec KSG410 – Dual Tube 410 Bore Bullpup Shotgun is something worth spending your money on? Would you deploy one for hunting? Take it with you camping or hiking? Deploy it for home defense? As always, let us know all of your thoughts about KelTec in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.

Adam Scepaniak