Author Topic: 45 Long Colt in 45-410 barrel (Read 2153 times)

billjoe · « **on:** April 08, 2009, 07:21:48 AM »

Can you shoot the long colt in the contender 45/410 barrels? Does anyone have experience with it? Would it make a decent short range whitetail slayer (up to 60Yds)?
Thanks in advance.
bj

blhof · « **Reply #1 on:** April 08, 2009, 07:37:56 AM »

Yes you can, but not with any great degree of accuracy, due to the long chamber for the 410. 60yds would be pushing the ability of the barrel to place a kill shot accurately. Many have gotten decent; 4" groups out to 25yds, but that opens up at longer ranges. They're great rabbit guns in 410 out to 30+ yds.

DEACONLLB · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08, 2009, 08:22:55 AM »

We have looked at this question before and has been said not very accurate. I had a 10 inch vent rib and at 60 yards it was all over the place, I could not hit any thing with the one I had notice Had. The chamber is for 3 inch 410 and this means that the 45 has to jump around an inch before it contacts the rifleing and with choke out as you must remove to shoot 45 it leaves around 3/4 inch at end of barrel with no rifleing so you have around a 7 inch barrel. I talked to a contender dealer and he told me that Thompson made the barrel to take 410-45 in order to get past the law on shotgun barrel shorter than 18 inches, really dont know if true or not. I was also told by another dealer that Trappers liked them because they made a good snake gun. I think it would make a good small game barrel if you used only 410.
I bought a single shot Commanchie pistol 45-410 and it was the same way, that was before I got into contenders.
Deaconllb

Lone Star · « **Reply #3 on:** April 08, 2009, 07:24:38 PM »

As has been stated, that is a shotgun barrel not a handgun barrel. Why some of the remoading manuals use that barrel to develop .45LC pistol data is beyond me. The data so developed is almost useless in a standard .45LC chamber.

.

doc-and · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2009, 05:31:25 AM »

You could go with a 450Mongo (I believe that is what it was called, I'm suffering with CRS at the moment) which is a blown out case that fits the chamber and load it with 45caliber bullets. Don't remember what case they started with but it works. Puts the bullet closer to the rifling.

docand

doc-and · « **Reply #5 on:** April 10, 2009, 05:36:47 AM »

Found the link!! Try using 444 brass necked up to 45 Caliber.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php?topic=73740.0;wap2

docand

Blackhawker · « **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2009, 06:28:10 AM »

I had a beautiful armour alloy 10 inch barrel and thought I found my dream 45 Colt barrel....until I fired 45 Colt rounds from it. They key-holed and sparatically fired in every which way but dead center on the target. I have to say, I almost kept it for the fun of shooting 410's from it though. About all one of those barrels is good for is hunting rabbits or maybe squirrels (if you can get within 10 yards of them) or plinking at empty plastic bottles thrown in the air with the 410's, otherwise it was a waste of money, metal and the ammo fired through it in my mind. I don't know why they even make these things! They should either be dedicated 410 or 45 Colt, not both. (but that's just my opinion)

Keith L · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2009, 08:03:40 AM »

In much of the country a shotgun that short will land you in the klink. Having in a .45 barrel avoids that little problem. It seems to yield a shotgun that works, but not that well. But that's ok. It is also a .45 that is not so good either.

HHI-7420 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 11, 2009, 01:03:13 PM »

I've not checked this for fit or length, but why not use 410 shells(brass) if possible. Seems that they would have to be cut back in length maybe. Sounds like a good possibity though. Pat
Personally, I just use mine(14") with 410s and love it.

billjoe · « **Reply #9 on:** April 11, 2009, 02:32:51 PM »

Has anyone tried using it for a grouse gun? That's all short range shooting anyway. If it's not good for that, then I've got an unfired 12" for sale.
bj

DEACONLLB · « **Reply #10 on:** April 13, 2009, 04:31:40 AM »

When I picked up a 45/410 contender barrel at a gun show I went by the ammo counter to get some ammo for it and the vender had some brass plated steel case 410 buchshot loads 2 3/4 inch loads which he said were for snakes or home invasion. Brand is golden bear 5 to a pack and cost 2.50 per pack made in Russia. Seems like you could use that case and might have to trim length or might get by with seating the bullet a little deeper. Just a thought, They look like they have a over shot wad with a little wax and a very light crimp.
Deaconllb

Cossack2 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 14, 2009, 02:29:09 PM »

Has anyone tried using it for a grouse gun?
Yup. Better pack a lunch, will take - at least - all day to hit one. Sitting is one thing, on the wing it's a real chore.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #12 on:** April 14, 2009, 03:21:44 PM »

i like my matching super comanche

what about the 460 smith brass down loaded of couse

i like 4 shot and keep shots close

i use my revolver for accuracy omly fired a few 45colts in them

streak · « **Reply #13 on:** April 14, 2009, 05:23:11 PM »

Interesting suggestion about using the 460 Smith brass loaded down. Along that same train of thought
what would be the possibility of reloading .410 shot shell brass cases with .410 heavy slugs. Naturally removing the choke from the barrel to shoot the slugs.

greenmtnboy · « **Reply #14 on:** April 15, 2009, 02:47:46 PM »

Ive got a 10" Barrel and with 410 slugs its not bad . 45lc is just a waste of ammo most of the time in mine tho. Just dont forget to remove the choke with either tho...

45-70.gov · « **Reply #15 on:** April 16, 2009, 03:16:01 AM »

i don't use the choke

i just consider it a point blank 410 and nothing more.......

at that it EXCELLS....stick to that and you will be happy....
keep a few 45colts in my pocket just because
if you want to do something else......shoot something else.......revolver orfull sized 410

HHI-7420 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 25, 2009, 05:04:50 AM »

billjoe, I've shot grouse in Minn. with mine(sitting mostly, but one flying). Heck, in Fla. you can even shoot ducks(with the proper shot). I okay'd this with the regional office of FWC in Panama City first. As with the grouse, swimming is best(wood ducks swimming on the creeks and sloughs). My 14"er does real good. Pat

Keith L · « **Reply #17 on:** April 25, 2009, 01:12:12 PM »

Make sure you check state hunting regs before you go out wing shooting with one. Here the DNR tells me that it is illegal to hunt birds with a shotgun that is not shoulder fired.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #18 on:** April 25, 2009, 01:13:33 PM »

or steel shot

Keith L · « **Reply #19 on:** April 25, 2009, 01:14:33 PM »

Quote from: 45-70.gov on April 25, 2009, 01:13:33 PM

or steel shot

Good point

billjoe · « **Reply #20 on:** April 27, 2009, 07:27:13 AM »

In Wisconsin, the DNR says you can use it for bird hunting. As long as it's designed to shoot shot, your're good to go.
bj

Keith L · « **Reply #21 on:** April 27, 2009, 02:24:34 PM »

Quote from: billjoe on April 27, 2009, 07:27:13 AM

In Wisconsin, the DNR says you can use it for bird hunting. As long as it's designed to shoot shot, your're good to go.
bj

I live in Wisconsin, and that goes directly against the published rules for hunting. Migratory birds regs state a shoulder fired shotgun. Small game laws which includes grouse only allows handicaped hunters with special permits to use a .410 pistol. If a warden told you that it was legal make sure he shows you in the law prior to doing it. You may wind up with a big fine and loss of hunting priveledges.

fase3 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 06, 2009, 04:27:32 PM »

I bought the 45/410 about 3 months ago to use here at my farm here in south La. where there is no shortage of water mocs. I lost a family pet 2 yrs ago to one of these mocs and it will not happen again on my guard! The T/C is a whole lot easier to carry around than a shotgun and have found it effective out to 25 yds on snakes with 2 1/2 " 1/2 oz #9 shot. In the last 3 days I have terminated 5 mocs. As far as I am concerned that is a good thing! Others may not agree but they don't live here!

streak · « **Reply #23 on:** May 06, 2009, 05:06:29 PM »

fase3,
Being originally from N.W. Louisiana, I can concur with your feeling`s about water moc`s,nasty specimen`s. My brother and I each had TC 45/410. He was successful in using the .45 Colt rounds in it to shoot varmints such as armadillos an such. I have only used mine at times for dove hunting at water holes!
Man that .45 slug sure makes a big hole in those armadillos.
At one time I lived in Houma, but most of my time was spent in Shreveport and N.W. of Shreveport.
Also had pretty good luck with .410 barrel with choke in on squirrels.

spinafish · « **Reply #24 on:** May 11, 2009, 11:59:40 AM »

the .45/.410 was the first barrel I purchased for my Contender. I guess mine was just weird, but it did really well with 300 grain cast and 300 XTPs that were loaded rather heavy. I even went as far as purchasing a vent rib scope mount to attach a Tasco Red Dot to the thing. Worked well with shot and bullets. Killed several crows out of my pecan trees with it. Never took a head of large game with it though.Felt confident within 75 yards though.

1howie · « **Reply #25 on:** May 17, 2009, 05:52:39 AM »

I've had my .45/410 14" T/C contender for 20 years or so and have never had any accuracy problems with .45 LC. I have shot multiable groups, pie plate size, from a bench rest at 110 yards (iron sights) with no problem - although you can almost out run the bullet. I bought some corbon 300 grain bullets for deer but have yet to try them. Corbon says only to use them in T/C frames and a few others as they nearly match the .44 magnum ballistics out of a 8" revolver. One article called the corbon ammo a ".45 magnum".

I recently purchase some silver bear (russian) .410 slug ammo and it is dead on at 25 yards. Just remember to take out the shot plug before shooting any slug or .45 ammo.

The .410 shot is good out to 30 yards - shot coon, pheasant, squirrel, rabbits, and occassional stray cat. It is great for rabbits as you don't have to fight a bunch of tangles when raising the weapon.