Contender Super 16 45/410 Carbine Questions

[Anonym]

I'm not sure how many of these are out there, so this may be a better question for the handgun forums, but I'm extremely tempted to pick up a Super 16 45/410 barrel for my Contender to be used as a carbine and was wondering if any of you had any feedback on it.

Here's the situation... I picked up my Contender a few months ago and it came with a stainless 21" 30-30 barrel.  Here in southern Indiana, we can only use pistol-caliber rifles, so the 30-30 is not really anything I can use.  Anyway, if I needed a .30 cal round, I'd be reaching for my bolt action .308.  I've been thinking of trading this barrel for the one in question to use it as a small camp/pack rifle/shotgun or to grab it during firearm season to bag a whitetail.  Most shots are 50 yards and in around here with anything close to 100 yards as being rare to non-existent.  Would I be able to use the 45LC for this application effectively?

Next question... I know the "jump" to the lands with the 45LC is the biggest problem with these barrels as far as accuracy goes.  Has anyone had any luck shooting a .410 slug through these with any increase in accuracy?  I'm wondering if the slug diameter is too small for the bore.

And last question... given that both of these barrels are used, the 45/410 being a semi-rare barrel in Super 16 but blued, and the 30-30 being more common but stainless, what values would we expect for each barrel to give us an idea on a fair deal.  The owner is a member here, a heck-of-a-guy, and working with me on a trade he doesn't necessarily need, so I'd like to be as fair as I can on this.

Thanks in advance!

Justin

[hunt4570]

  Well I probably can't give you much info you are looking for, but I also own a 16 inch blued 45/410 barrel. It doesn't get a whole lot of use but it does seem to be an accurate barrel. I've never set mine up as a carbine, always in the pistol configureation.Also never even tried to load a 45 in it, as I would have used another caliber I have that would work better. I will say this though, not much more fun than shooting doves with it set up as a pistol...and it does that job very well..I didn't realise it was "rare" but have not done any research on it either.Good luck with your trade if you decide to do so...

[Anonym]

Thanks for the info.  I wish TC would have made a carbine-length pistol caliber and I would have been set! 

On a side note... I probably couldn't hunt with it due to the max case length of 1.625", but has anyone reloaded the .460 S&W Mag down to .45LC loads and improved their accuracy?  That's getting pretty close to the 3" chamber length.  I can't imagine the brass .410 casings offering anything better than a slug would, would it?

[hunt4570]

Oh, I'm sure there are carbine length pistol cartridge barrels out there...

[Anonym]

Here are my state's regulations on legal pistol-caliber rifles...

Rifles with pistol cartridges
Rifles must fire a cartridge with a bullet of .357-inch diameter or larger; have a minimum case length of 1.16 inches; and have a maximum case length of 1.625 inches.
 These rifle cartridges can be used only during the deer firearms season.
Some cartridges that are legal include the following:
.357 Magnum
.38-40 Winchester
.41 Magnum
.41 Special
.44 Magnum
.44 Special
.44-40 Winchester
.45 Colt
.454 Casull
.458 SOCOM
.480 Ruger
.475 Linebaugh
.50 Action Express
.500 S&W
Some illegal rifle cartridges for deer hunting are the .30-30 Winchester, .444 Marlin and .45-70 Govt.

[jjvw]

I took a 200# hog with a factory 410 slug in the head. It can be done but not recommended.
The 454 and 460 are too strong for the contender. You can fireform  9.3 x 74R brass to make a 3" 410 shotshell or a full length 45 in the encore.
For shot use, I feel the 10" contender handles better. Although the  extra weight and length of the encore is welcome when shooting the long 45.

The super mags in 357, 41, or 44 should fit those rules.

[Bullseye]

I have a 16" 45/410.  I have only used it to shoot skeet in pistol configuration.  It is fun.

Look at Eds Contenders, edstc.com  Under hot new items he has two 44 mag carbine length barrels listed.  That would be a better option in my opinion.  MGM could also make you one in other calibers.

I live in Indiana also and have been hunting with a 41mag Marlin.  I have a 41mag carbine barrel on order for both my Contender and Encore if they ever show up.

[Hopalong7]

    TC made 21" Contender Carbine barrels in 357Max for awhile.  They are not plentiful...but they are out there.  My current "project" is working on a subsonic load for mine using 205gr Lyman 358315 cast with a soft alloy nose.  My "suburban deer smacker" .

[Anonym]

Excellent information!  Thanks, fellas!

[Dogmann]

What makes these so rare?

[Keith L]

One of two things: People didn't buy them, or those who did don't want to sell them. 

[Ladobe]

TC factory 16" and 21" carbine barrels were made in 44MAG.   Either would be easily capable for deer at 100 plus yards, and far more capable than that 45/410 barrel would be IMO.
FWIW