45 Colt/410 - what else can I shoot in it?/

[steveatsatx]

I have a 45/410 super 14 and I just read in Guns& Ammo that the S&W 460 will also shoot 45 Colt and 454 Casul. Now the question - can I shoot a 454 Casul or a 460 in my 45/410?
No problem on the fit, the throat is plenty long, but what about pressures?
Anybody know what the 45/410 is proofed for?

[Redhawk1]

I wound not even try it. It will destroy your barrel, frame and most important your personal being. The gun is not rated for either the 454 Casull or the S&W460. The 45L/C is not proofed for anything close to the pressures the 454 or the 460 work at. Do your self a favor and buy the proper barrel for the round.  

[Curtis]

What Redhawk said.  Not only the chambering, but the Contender frame is limited to relatively low pressure rounds.  The Encore gets the high pressure stuff.

Curtis

[rickyp]

I sent an email to Jd Jones of SSK asking almost this same question.
I was asking about the 460 and 454 out of an Encore 45-410.
he told me  no because he would not want to shoot a round at the pressure levels of them out of a "sloppy chamber" if you think about it the 45-410 chamber is a lot looser then a chamber for any of the 3 rounds.

[antlery]

This brings to mind something called the .450 Mongo which used .444 Marlin brass in 45/410 barrels, creating a sort of 45-70. Why couldn't the .460 brass be used but loaded to the 45-70 Trapdoor springfield level? Using longer brass than a .45 Colt may help in the accuracy department too.

[Redhawk1]

This brings to mind something called the .450 Mongo which used .444 Marlin brass in 45/410 barrels, creating a sort of 45-70. Why couldn't the .460 brass be used but loaded to the 45-70 Trapdoor springfield level? Using longer brass than a .45 Colt may help in the accuracy department too.

Why not just buy the proper barrel to fit the round?
I do not understand why people have to make a gun they want out of something else they have.  :?

[flyfisher]

Absolutely have to agree with Redhawk...if you want a barrel to shoot a certain round, by all means, go buy that barrel...that's what they're made for.  For goodness sake, another barrel shouldn't break the bank.  

I, personally, would not even think of trying to shoot a 460 or 454 out of a 45/410 barrel.  As was mentioned before, pressures are way, way too high for Contender frames.  You're asking for bigtime trouble if you do try it.  

If you want to shoot a 454 or 460, buy an Encore, and the barrel of your choice, but let the 45/410 Contender barrel to the 45 and 410 rounds.

[Robert]

However....what Antlery said is true.  The 'Mongo' is a round that a few folks (me included) have fooled around with.  As far as pressure...the CONTENDER can handle 45-70 factory loads.  I tried the Mongo a few times with starting data for 45-70.  Although it DID work...I don't see much need for it, and havent used them anymore.  I can load 45 Colt with 260 gr bullets at 1421 fps...just like the starting loads with 45-70, and the accuracy is just fine for what I would expect from a 45 pistol.  With some loads, yes the longer case could improve accuracy by reducing free-bore.  This could be a real plus in a Carbine with a scope, but certainly not much advantage in my little 10 inch with rifle sights, I would'nt expect to hit anything outside 50 yds either way.  If you want to try it, just load a 444 Marlin with a 44 cast bullet and cast load data for 45 Colt.  This will fireform the brass, then you can load it to 45 Colt loads, but then you also start running into concerns of 'powder position' and possible flash detonation because of using such a large case.  The 45 Colt doesssn't have this problem...is more efficient with the powder......  The Mongo idea is fun.....if you want to try it....but it is my guess that you will do like me...try it a few times and then stick to 45 Colt...or like the others said....buy another barrel or gun.  Myself....I am thinking of getting a NEF.  You can get an entire 45-70 rifle for the cost of a 45-70 Contender barrel only.  And get this....the barrel is fully rifled, unlike the Contender 45/410 that has maybe 4 inches of rifling..(if that)

[rickyp]

I too played around with  The Mongo round. I found the 444 case would slip under the extractor and be more trouble then it was worth.

I have a 10 inch contender 45-410 with open sights not the vent rib. I use 255 gr cast bullets and heavy loads listed for the contender. I get groups good enough for deer hunting out too about 50 yards I would not use this as my first choice for deer hunting but it will do in a pinch

[jschance]

I had one of those .45 Colt / .410 barrels, and I don't think I ever even considered shooting a bullet through it.

I bought it strictly to play around with the .410 out of a pistol, and it did that well.  About the only cartridge other than the .45 Colt I'd think of using it it would be a .45 Schofield.

Eventually the siren song got to me and I traded my .45 barrel to a fellow for his .357 Herrett barrel.  

Now that's a deer barrel.  :lol:

[Blunderbus]

I have an Encore with a 12-inch 45-410 vent rib barrel. I shot a few factory 45 LC through it just to say that I'd done it. Practical accuracy was abyssmal ... at least in part due to the crude sights.

I solved the problem by recently finding a 12 inch .44 mag barrel at a good price.

Now I have an awesome pistol barrel and an awesome shotgun barrel and  I don't need to risk blowing up either one to obtain great results.

That's the beauty of the Encore and Contender systems. You're not wedded to only one barrel.

Blunderbus

[steveatsatx]

Thanks for all the feedback, guys. I didn't think it would work.

[old4x4]

Why not just buy the proper barrel to fit the round?
I do not understand why people have to make a gun they want out of something else they have

Easy answer.  Because it's easier than waiting 3 or 4 months for a custom barrel and a hell of a lot cheaper, too