410 barrel questions

[olywa]

I've had a number of 10"-14" Contender barrels over the years in various calibers. Currently I've got 14" barrels in 223 and 44 Mag, and a 12" 357 Max. But recently I've developed a hankerin' for a 45/410 barrel. I definitely want a newer model Bull barrel with Vent Rib and internal choke, but I have mixed feelings about barrel length. I'm most interested in  using this barrel to shoot 410s in.

I'd like to hear from anybody out there with experience and opinions on optimum barrel length for the 410. I'm comfortable carrying either length so I'd be most interested in differences around perceived recoil level, muzzle rise, muzzle flash, pointabiity and tracking. l really appreciate any insights you guys can offer.

[KN]

I was under the impression they didn't offer it for the contender any more. Too easy to drop a 454 casull in one. Some one please correct me if I'm wrong.   KN

[spinafish]

they are still availlable..I would recommend the 14"..especially if any type of wing shooting was to be done.  I think the 10" would be handier as a snake gun..

[olywa]

Thanks Spinafish, that's kinda my thinking too. The 10" is great for pest control and popping the occasional critter for the soup pot. But the 14" should handle wing shots better (within reason anyway). I would think that the 14" would also allow more complete powder burn as well.

[SD Handgunner]

My only experience with a .45/.410 Contender Barrel is one my buddy has. It is a custom job from Virgin Valley Custom Guns. It is Stainless-Steel and is 8" long. My buddy (Jerry) insisted on an 8" so it would be easier to pack in a belt holster.

We have tried several different combinations in .45 Colt and to be blunt the accuracy sucks. Best groups we got were like 4" at 50 yards (with a scope on the barrel for accuracy testing).

As a .410 I am not to impressed with it either. I bet we have pattern tested almost every brand and make of .410 shotshell available. It'll cleaning kill morning doves about 75% of the time at 20 yards or less. However there are HOLES in the pattern larger than a morning dove and it really doesn't seem consistant in where these holes in the pattern are located from shot to shot.

While I have never hunted with them, I do know a couple other guys that use Super 14 .45/.410 Barrels on their Contenders for shooting Pheasants. Granted this is a close range proposition, but it can be done.

I guess if it were me considering my experience with the shorter barrel I would opt for the Super 14 version if I was going to buy one.

Larry

[olywa]

SD Handgunner - I appreciate your input on this. It reinforces my gut feeling about the 14" being a little more versatile. But the guys with the 10" barrels sure seem to like them. I'm hoping someone will chime in to talk about recoil and muzzle blast diferences between the two. Maybe there isn't as much difference as I thought there would be.

[rickyp]

olywa,
I have a Contender with a 10" iron sighted 45-410 barrel and A Encore with a 12" vent rib 45-410 barrel and I was able to use a 15" barrel for a few weeks.
I find the 10" to do very well out to about 30 yards and the 12" and 15" barrels are about the same. none of them shoot as well as my H&R with full choke but good enough for squirrel and rabbits.
The 15" barrel is heaver so it does tame the already low recoil down but it is much harder to carry in the field.

Check with the hunting regs before you do any wing shooting with this barrel, In MD we can not use this for doves also check with the county town and local hunting regs about using this barrel.

For bigger critters such as coons and opossums I use a homemade buckshot load and works well enough out to 20-30 yards.
As for the 45 colt My 10" I could use it for deer out to about 50 yards I can get about 3" groups I am using cast 255 gr bullets

[olywa]

rickyp -

Thanks for your observations, much appreciated. There seem to be a lot more of the 10" barrels available, and maybe that's not a bad starting point. Regs out here in Washington are pretty loose for grouse but I would have to look at them a little closer before attempting a shot on anything else like pheasant.

[Robert]

I don't know why anyone would expect these to be accurate..using shot in a rifled barrel with a 1&1/2 inch long splined tube at the end for a choke.  It isnt even really a choke.  It is just a tube with ridges in it that the spinning shot smashes into with the hope that it will straighten it out some.  I am sure that the nice round pellets mostly smashed and deformed....which would cause the pellets go go wild after leaving the muzzle.  I have had fair accuracy with 200 gr jacketed bullets, but could barely hit a barn with cast bullets....which brings up the other fault in the 45/410....when shooting 45's you have more than an inch of freebore before the bullet engages the rifling.
  This being said.....it is still a very verastile and fun firearm for close range purposes.....and it works fine for what it was made for.  I woulkd not part with mine very easily.

[olywa]

I don't have any real desire to shoot 45 Colt, I just think that the shotshell config would be a hoot to shoot. Handy too, for general pest control. A little pellet deformation is tolerable at short ranges (say 25 yards). I can understand why you don't want to let yours go.