How is 45 Colt accuracy from the 45/410 barrel?

[offhand35]

I am looking for a few Contender pistol barrels in different revolver calibers that I already reload. I found a 38 Spl Contender bbl online today, and while on the phone with the fellow, I passed  on a 45/410 ported handgun barrel. I could only picture one of those bbl's with the rib, bead and fixed sight. At the time  I did not have the wherewhithal  to even ask about the sights, did it have the choke tube, etc.......but now I'm second guessing that move......
BUT I had not previously  looked into getting one and did not want to make that decision until  I could be convinced that it might be  serviceable. [Meaning:  a whole lot  more accurate than my Ruger NMBH in 45 Colt.]

Is this barrel as accurate as any other T/C barrel in 45 Colt, or should I keep waiting for one in 45 Colt only.

I know that there is a recent topic about this bbl, but I think this question is a little different......

Thanks in advance ......

[Keith L]

You will get mixed comments about the 45/410 barrel.  I have never heard any of them to be tack drivers, but some folks have better luck with them than others.  The chamber is quite long to accommodate the 410 shells, so the jump to rifling is quite long.

I had no interest in the 410 part, so I kept looking until I found a 45 Colt only barrel and it  is a good shooterl

[RonF]

I can only speak from my own experience, but my .45/410 is not nearly as accurate as my plain .45 Colt, especially with cast bullets. It is satisfactory with some jacketed loads, but I had to work hard to find one I was satisfied (satisfied, not happy) with.

RonF

[offhand35]

Thanks for your replies!  RonF,  I was looking to hear from someone with 1st hand experience!  What you have  said confirms my own gut feeling and 1st impression of how such a barrel might behave.

I'm going to wait for a straight 45 Colt barrel to show up... It is killing me now.....years ago I had a Bullberry 45 Colt barrel, but did not really understand what I had....I only remember that it had no sights and  I did not like shooting a 45 with a scope

[RonF]

Happy to be of assistance.  Check with Ed's Contenders; he may have a .45 Colt barrel.  That's where I got the one I have (12" SS stainless).  I'd have to check to be sure, but I think I may still have a .45 Colt 10" octagon that's in excellent condition.  PM me if you are interested and I'll check.  If you do, please include an email address and we can take the discussion off line.  Understand that the light weight octagons in large calibers kick pretty badly.

RonF

[offhand35]

Thanks, again, RonF!    I have obviously been out of the loop re: Contender handguns and bbls.   I have been devoting a lot of time to my Contender Carbine in 7-30 Waters and  a case-forming project. THAT has taken 2 yrs so far for 500 30-30 cases, but I don't have anywhere to hunt using a rifle here in CT anyway.......except for using my 22LR Match rifle bbl on my frequent squirrel hunts.
I looked up Ed's Contenders.......where have I been all this time.......?
Anyway, he also has an octagon 45Colt..Your point re: the recoil is well taken, and I will probably not follow up on that one as I  anticipate working up some very stout .loads for a Texas hog hunt.[In my dreams, but you never know, I do get to Dallas once in a while]....I had started looking for a couple of bbls for the revolver calibers that I load. So far I've got a 38Spl octagon on the way, which may shoot just fine  for me.....the 45Colt was more of a "if one shows up" kind of thing. At least, until I decided to post that original question.....well, that was because  one showed up......

What IS getting me excited is that Ed lists  10" and 14" 41 Rem Mag barrels NIB! That is the caliber that I'm really looking for, but he says call for price.....Hopefully they will be less than current Custom Shop cost.....

Thanks for the lead re: Ed's Contenders!

[poncaguy]

Not good, I just use mine for the 410, which is very good out to 25-30 yards.

[RonF]

Offhand35, note that Ed's site has not been updated in the last 16 months!  You need to call him or email him to see what his current inventory may be.  Calling is probably best.

RonF

[rickyp]

I have 2  45/410 barrels one 10" contender with normal sights and a 12" encore with the vent rib. I have not shot a lot of colts out of the encore but I have in the contender. My contender is not a tack driver but I can get good hunting accuracy out to 50 yards I can put every shot in a 6" paper plate. this will never be my go to hunting barrel for deer but I do love it for small game it works great out to 30 or so yards. If You pass up that barrel you could be out on a lot of small game fun 

[offhand35]

Thanks all! RickyP, you may be right, but I only have access to State land  in CT,  [1300 acres right nearby], and the largest handgun allowed is 22Lr. They only recently began allowing 17HMR and 17 mach II, but not 22mag, go figure....
So......I want the larger bores to be as accurate as I can hold......for whatever adventure may turn up....
I did put a bid out on a 45Colt only bbl on e-bay, we will see how well that goes. Thanks to looking around on this forum, and seeing how bbls are priced at various other sites, I bid  what I would pay, and if someone else wants to overpay......let 'em.

RonF, Ed Kirkpatrick did email me back that he has the exact 41mag bbl I want for a reasonable price , so I replied that I would take it!

Thanks again!

[RonF]

Have fun, offhand35.  I haven't owned a .41 Mag in a long time; it's a great caliber.   Enjoy it!

RonF

[rickyp]

offhand35,
If you can use a 410 shotgun on the state land contact them and inquire if you could use the 45/410 with 410 shells only. If they say no ask them to explain why can you use a 410 shotgun but not a 410 in a pistol after all it is the same round. they may see the light and give you permission.
In the state park I hunt they do not let the use handguns or rim fires rifles, one can only use muzzle loaders shotguns and archery I called them and asked why could I not use a handgun in 209x50 or in 45/410  and explained to them that I would be using the same round / load that is already legal to use in the park  in just a shorter hunting arm, I was given permission to use the two barrels. Most of the laws are made by people that really don't know anything about handguns, they maybe trying to keep people from caring something like a 92F in the woods saying they're hunting deer with it and the good hunting handguns got lost in the shuffle