Pardner Barrel to Topper Frame

[petemi]

For what it's worth, I bought an old used Topper 12 ga. almost 20 years ago for a beater, truck gun.  Last Fall I bought a 22" .410 3" magnum, full choke Pardner barrel on these classifieds, and for chuckles I tried it on the Topper frame.  It jumped right on perfectly.  It turned out to be one of the "Handiest" guns I own.  It was great for grouse a week ago in thick early Fall cover.  It's very light and swings fast in thick brush and is very nice for close in shooting.  I also use it in the barn and outbuildings with low brass 2 1/2 inch #8s to control pigeons, starlings and vermin.  It does very little if any damage to the buildings.  Just thought I'd pass it on

[aaron billings]

the 410 3" full is one of my favorite configurations.  very accurate for  birds at close range. i've also used it for rabbit and for rogue roosters.  remington rifled slugs also work well.  i don't remember what my groups were but i remember being happy for smoothbore shooting.  I've noticed that the smaller slugs penetrate better that 16, 20, or 12g.   In fact i just picked up a 410 pardner barrel today for $20.  I'm going to try 45 colts in it but don't have high hopes for them in a smooth barrel.  has anyone tried that?  ab

[mcwoodduck]

I tried to load 45 Lc into a Stevens 311 A model and they will not fit in the chamber.  I think the gun must be special cut to take both or at least be 45 LC to start with.
The little gun shoots all the 2.5" shells great and am happy with the slugs and have not needed 45LC.

[PHATINJUN]

Do not shoot the 45colts out of a 410. 45 bullets are mostly .452 unless you are casting them yourself smaller. Most 410 bbl bores are if I remember correctly some where between .390 to .410 others will know for sure but do the math .452 has a very hard time sqeezzing down that far and will probly create catastophic pressures it might work once it might work many times but it only ain't got to work once to cause trouble. Kurt


Added 10/12 Full Choke.390 Imp Mod .395  Mod .400  Imp Cyl .405  Cyl .410

[aaron billings]

oh, thanks    that'll save me a bit o' trouble.  why do they say the 410 and 45 are the same?  there must be special cuts.  nef makes a barrel that is marked 410/45 and the military uses a similar barrel on a collapsible survival gun, the m6 i think.  what's the real deal?

[mcwoodduck]

A 410 as a low pressure round will fit in a specally cut 45 long colt chamber. The brass and plastic will expand slightly to fit the 45LC chamber.  The 410 it needs to be chambered longer than the Colt from what I understand.  Also the 410 shotgun shell is .410 and the 45 colt is 452 -454 at the bore.  Picture squeezing a 45 Colt into a 41 mag and shooting it.  lots of pressure. 
The shotgun will open up and slide down the 45 colt hole much like the current batch of target 12ga guns do in the back bore process.   Currently target guns are back bored from .729 to .735 giving more consistant shot patterns. 
The  45 colt uses large pistol primers and if shot in a shotgun the large firing pin and hole could cause problems.
I know that shooting a 209 shotgun from a rifle is fine it's the other way that gets interesting.
Sorry in my earlier post I should have stated that I was glad it didn't fit and I could have been hurt with the old Stevens 311 A model not to mention ruining the little side by side.  Great quail gun.