410 in either taurus or the contender with #4 buck and

[kennisondan]

leadn shot 4 , 6 , 9s for filler betweeen the 25 cal bbs; safe or not..
thanks.
dan k

[Veral]

Any mix of lead shot is safe so far as pressures go, but it takes some tuning to get a pattern, if that's what you want from the fine shot.  For buck shot to print good patterns it must lay in stacks of three or four, which fill the case closely, maybe even two, with the next stack of two crosswise.  If you want to have large buck print a nice pattern, center each ball in shot buffer and stack the shell full.  The load will be light, but the balls will leave fairly well centered with the bore and print nice tight patterns.  Pressures are touchy with shotguns, so find data that suits the shot charge weight you are putting in.  I see no reason why the proper size shot which filled a snug row all the way around your buck ball wouldn't do the same as fillering with shot buffer or stacking as for proper buckshot loads.  However the shot wouldn't be worth much for large game if under #4.  Better to find the goose shot which stacks like buckshot.  It probably isn't well known, but from a 12 guage, #2 shot will kill deer instantly out to 40 yards using a full choke and taking side of the chest, neck or head shots.  BB or larger in your 410 will penetrate to deadly depths, but won't have 12 guage multiple hit quaantity.  But for close rande defense etc I would trust it.  I stated lead shot above.  Don't mess with steel shot if you value the barrel..

[kennisondan]

thanks : tried some # 2 and some #3 buck and #4 with a few 4 shot around it...just for kicks... killed some snakes at close range. Buddy afraid to try non factory loadings of mine,  the goose shot idea sounds terrific it is mainly just for pests and little things that need shooting on the move... will post more if I get some different than expected results or other q's.
dk

[Veral]

  For pests up to skunk size, I'd use #5 or #6 shot, 7 1/2 or 8 for snakes, rats, mice, birds etc, as little penetration is needed for these little critters, but good coverage is important so that vitals are punched.  22 bird shot loaded by major manufactures use 12 shot, and velocity is very low, compared to normal shotgun loads, but they kill small pests very well at close range.

[kennisondan]

do you think the long jump to the grooves from the chambers in the taurus 2 1/2 in. 410 with 45 LC will adversely affect accuracy ? thanks for any follow up

[Veral]

  You bet.  It absolutely plays havoc with accuracy!

  I've spent quite a bit of time trying to make something work for these and the best I've come up with a gas checked fat enough to swell the colt brass out to a close chamber fit.  This way tip is minimized to brass thickness, which is still an awful lot, and accuracy isn't great, but you'll be able to scrape something close off your sweet tender body!

  My advise is use it primarily as a shotgun with the long hulls.  Carry a few rounds of stout colt loads in your pocket for close range defense if concerned about needing  more penetration than the shot loads can deliver.