A .410 would be better than a bullet, but I’d be concerned about its stopping power because it will have a wide pattern very soon and not much shot concentrated in that pattern.
It’s still a handgun and subject to the twitch effect that a long gun helps to minimize.
I wouldn’t trust a .38 with snake shot for the same reasons.
“A .410 would be better than a bullet, but I’d be concerned about its stopping power because it will have a wide pattern very soon and not much shot concentrated in that pattern.”
Tests of the Taurus Judge show (with Federal .410 handgun ammo) a 2.5 inch spread at 10 feet and penetration of 15 inches which is about the same as a 9 mm and is a very good number.The handgun ammo uses .36 ball, three or four of them depending on the length of the shell, 2.5 or 3 inch.
They are quite lethal in a defensive situation. As are the .410/.45 derringers, same patterns and penetration.