45 Colt/410 Shotgun Barrel

[Camp Cook]

I am looking at purchasing a used 21" vent rib brass bead sight 45 Colt/410 barrel for my Contender carbine.

I don't really know much about these barrels so have a couple of questions that hopefully folks here can help me on.

1)   Do you have to remove the choke to fire 45 Colt loads?

2)   what kind of accuracy are you getting with 45 Colt's?

3)   Any thought/experiences with this combo barrel would be great thanks.

[RonF]

Yes, you have to remove the choke to fire .45 Colt ammo.  I only have experience with this combination in a pistol length barrel, but accuracy was nothing to brag about; 3-4" at 25 yards.  It was somewhat better with jacketed bullets, but the long throat is a problem, and you won't get as good accuracy as if you had a straight .45 Colt barrel.

RonF

[tlyne]

The 2008 T/C catalog does not list a 45/410 (23 inches)in their catalog only 12 &14 inches length barrels. They never made a 45/410 in a 21 inch barrel only 410 smooth bore in a 21 inch barrel. Ed's contenders have that barrel in stock may be in a 24 inch barrel.I checked my last listing He gave out ,had a 24" inch 410 Vent rib blue barrel for $265 an a stainless for $275. Hope this helps you. I did see a couple gun shows back a slug 410 barrel from the custom shop.

[Keith L]

I was thinking that it may be a custom shop barrel, or a true custom.  I can't recall a factory carbine barrel like that.  But I could be wrong.

[JerryKo]

CC,

I have zero knowledge of TC's, although I am looking to get one soon,  but I do have experience with the H&R 20" 410/45LC.  It uses the same choke tube that are in the TC's. 

You should remove to fire 45Lc.  I forgot one day a fired five jacketed 452's thru it before realizing my mistake.  The barrel and me survived,but the choke tube split and had to be replaced.  $10 from H&R.  I was shooting 410's out of it and completely forgot to remove when I returned home.  The next trip to the range was for 452 shooting and...     I do not know if the 5th or 1st or one inbetween split the choke tube.  Lead  bullets probably would not be as bad.

As for accuracy and velocity:  I think this is why it has a front bead, sums it up.  There are some loading differences you can try to achieve 1" or better at 50 yds, but I will not get into that here.  It involves different brass, but I do not know how your chamber differs from my H&R, so I'll leave it at that.  Velocity, because of the long bullet travel to engage the rifling, LOST 200fps in my handloads for a Ruger Vaquero in the longer barrel.

I have had fun testing my barrel, but it was a lot of time and reloading invloved.  I think it is versital, but personally would like one of each.  They are easy to switch out anyway, and would get better performance as seperate barrels.  But that is just my opinion.

Goodluck, eitherway.

Jerry

[reelhook]

Jerry: is that an external or internal choke tube?

[JerryKo]

Internal.  And requires special TC "wrench" to remove.  Has 6, I think, deep straight groves, that basically stops the rotation of shot column before exiting the muzzle.

Jerry