Author Topic: .410 shells in a .454 Casull barrel? (Read 597 times)

Selmer · « **on:** January 28, 2004, 03:55:14 PM »

Not that I'm itching to use my .454 Casull barrels to shoot .410 shells, but if the .45 Colt barrels are also labeled as .410 shotgun barrels, wouldn't it stand to reason that the .454 Casull barrel could also be used as a .410 shotgun barrel? Or am I mistaken and the .45/.410 barrels are smoothbore barrels and the .45 Colt barrels are rifled barrels? In any event, would I be able to shoot .410 shotgun shells from my .454 Casull barrel? Or for that matter, would I be able to shoot .410 shotgun slugs from my .454 Casull barrel? These are 95% theoretical questions, I don't have any ambitions of pheasant hunting with my .454 Casull anytime soon!

Selmer

KN · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2004, 04:21:52 PM »

The 45/410 barrels are chambered extra deep to accomodate the 410 shell. Thats one reason that these barrels are not known for exceptional accuracy. They are indeed rifled, as a smooth bore shorter than 18" would be illegal. It is my understanding that TC stoped making 45/410 contender barrels because you can chamber a 454 in one. Way more preasure than the Contender is designed for. KN

Selmer · « **Reply #2 on:** January 29, 2004, 04:40:59 AM »

Well as for the chamber depth issue, I guarantee the .454 factory barrels are chambered plenty deep for a 2 1/2" .410 shell. I'm amazed at how long the throat is on my barrel, I can't put a 405 gr. cast bullet into the belled mouth of the case and touch the rifling, that's how long the throat is! Now that my curiosity is peaked, I'll have to put a depth micrometer to it and see exactly how long it is, maybe it's not long enough for a 2 1/2" shell, I may have been shooting my mouth off back there, hmm, that will occupy for a little while today...
Selmer

dakotashooter2 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 29, 2004, 09:21:17 AM »

Keep in mind that the length designation for a shotshell is fired length. A 2 1/2 may fit but you also need enough room for tha crimp to open which I doubt you will have. The 45./410 barrel has a long enough chamber to handle 3" shells, is rifled except fo the last inch or so to which a choke with straight rifling is installed to counteract the spiralled rifling. Even as such patterns with shot sizes larger than #7 1/2 get pretty pathetic beyond about 15 yards.[/u]

Selmer · « **Reply #4 on:** January 29, 2004, 12:37:03 PM »

I see, thanks for the thorough explanation dakotashooter2. My questions have all been answered.
Selmer

rickyp · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2004, 05:09:06 AM »

now if you want to send your 454 barrel out. you should be able to have the trough lengthened and a choke installed it should work fine.
If I where to do this I would opt for the 2-1/2 instead of the 3 inch this along with the longer 454 case would help the accuracy issues some.

as a side note I have a 10 inch 45/410 bull barrel with sights (not the vent rib). while it is not a "tack driver", I can keep all my shots inside a 4 inch circle at 50 yards when I do my part.
This is fine for close range deer hunting. The 454 with a 2-1/2 410 chamber should be even better

A fired 2-1/2" 410 is 2.52" and a loaded 454 is about 1.77 this leaves about 3/4 an inch of free travel. this can be taken up even more with heaver bullets, playing around the seating depth or both.

Selmer · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2004, 05:14:02 AM »

I measured my chamber last night, it's 2.050", not long enough for a .410 shell, and not nearly as much free-bore as I thought there was in my barrel, maybe that's why it's so darn accurate!
Selmer

dakotashooter2 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2004, 06:45:44 AM »

Something I plan on trying is to load some hollow base bullets for my 45/410 to see if accuracy can be improved any.