does anyone have experience with a 10" 45/410 barrel

[tom ga hunter]

looking for a snake gun.. How does it pattern?

[Ladobe]

Assuming you mean the 10" bull version with internal choke, it doesn't pattern well as a combo barrel (length and rifling), but it should get the job done on snakes close enough.   I had one a very long time ago - did OK on close jumped cottontails to about 15 yards, but game birds usually just laughed at me.   For snakes (and the camp pot) I have always just used a Ruger Bearcat that I've had for decades and carry when out hiking either in a back pocket or custom cross draw holster I had made for it.   Much smaller/lighter to carry than a Contender, 5 fast shots if needed and with so many rounds shot over the years it hits where I point it.

[tom ga hunter]

thank you for your reply, I have used a single 6 in 32 H&R as a carry gun for years but have started sharing so badly it would be an accident if i hit a snake at 5 yards. What is a combo barrel? the early model with an external choke device.

[Ladobe]

By combo barrel I meant one that is rifled to shoot a solid bullet yet supposedly to also shoot shotgun shells.   Naturally you loose a lot for either over just having a firearm dedicated to one or the other cartridge.   TC also used to make rifled barrels in 357 & 44 Mag with a choke added on the end to shoot shot capsules loaded in the brass cases.   These shot solid bullets better, and from what I've heard the shot capsules pretty well also.  But I don't think the capsules are readily available now.   Regardless, if you are only talking 5 yards and snake control, that 10" combo barrel will do just fine.

I had an Western Derringer (Alaskan Survival Model) for a while that also was called a combo rig in 45/70 & 410.   Worthless unless really close, and hard to hang on to.   

[Doc T]

The 10" bull barrels with the internal choke are rifled also.  A 10" smoothbore barrel is not legal.  I agree that they don't have much of a pattern at a distance but they are great for up close snakes.

Doc T

[casper_zip]

Hey there:

I have lots of experience with both the 10" and 14" T/C 410 barrels. Both mine have the internal chokes. I have killed squirrels in tall trees, no problem. I usually pack the 10" because I have a neat shoulder holster for it. I have a big pond out in my back yard, never failed me on snakes. I have killed squirrels running full blast on the ground. All in all, the 410 is well worth having in a T/C.

I did put a sling on my 14" barrel, in case I want to take it out for a stroll, makes it easy to carry and handle. I handload both the 2 1/2" and the 3" shotshells for my guns. I even have some brass ones, and before I got them, used 444 Marlin cases. I just don't understand, I know, lack of demand for big time production, but 410 shells are so much higher than 12 shells, like the 22 shorts are 3 times higher than regular long rifles.

Oh, well, done wrote a book. Get you a 410 and have fun. You will like it so much, you'll have to reload, unless you a rich ole boy.

All the best,

Casper_zip 

[tom ga hunter]

I found an early 10" octagon barrel with an external choke. It shoots about a 18" pattern at 10 feet & maybe 24" at 20 feet. Patterning was done in the back yard lake. It has a ported barrels & is very noisy but looks like a perfext snake gun.

[kennisondan]

love my 44 -410, not impressed with the shot capsules by comparison, but ok for really close up snakes.. the 410 is wicked .. light but effective.
dk