[tanksoldier]

Many weapons can chamber both .410 and .45 Long Colt.

The Winchester 9410 will chamber shot loads and Foster-style slugs.

Winchester makes a Model 94 in .45 Long Colt.

What is the difference between a .410 slug and a .45 LC load? Range? Projectile weight?

I'm looking at the weapons for self-defense and light hunting (mule deer/ white tail at the most).

[Jim Watson]

Totally inadequate.
A .410 slug weighs 1/5 oz = 88 grains and claims 1830 fps for 651 ft lb. It is down to 1318 fps, 338 ft lb by 50 yards. This is substantially less powerful than a M1 carbine with worse trajectory, accuracy, and velocity loss per yard. About like the old .32-20 high velocity rifle only load.

A standard .45 Colt will probably get its 250 grain bullet to 1100 fps out of a carbine and that is without even going to the big Buffalo Bore loads. Fine for deer at moderate range. But I'd rather have a .30-30 in that gun.

[kudu]

Do not shoot a .45LC in a gun chambered for .410 shotgun.

A .410 slug measures about .387 give or take a few thousands. A .45LC has a slug diameter of .452. It will cause a big BOOM in a .410 shotgun.

A few select guns, most notably the T/C Contender pistol chambered in .45LC will shoot the .410 shells very well. It has a choke to install for their use though. It must be removed to shoot the .45LC.

The overall dimensions of the 2 shells are so close that they are interchangable, but that can be deadly.

A .45LC has the advantage in performance. Average bullet weight for it is about 225-250 grains. The .410 slug weighs in at about 110 grains. You may have a bit more velocity out of the .410, but more energy out of the .45LC.