Firing 45 Colt in a 410 Shotgun

[25 Pdr]

Seen mention of 45 Colt rounds being fired in a 410 Shotgun. My question is
"Assuming the shotgun has an exit diameter of .410" is it safe to fire a projectile with a diameter of .452" from the 45 colt through it"?

 

[RoadkingLarry]

Unless the firearm was designed to do it probably not a good idea.

 

[trueblue1776]

Assuming the shotgun has an exit diameter of .410" is it safe to fire a projectile with a diameter of .452" from the 45 colt through it

If you do it, post the video . Just kidding, don't do it, it will probably split your barrel, at the least.

 

[mp510]

Most .410 barrels are full choke, and thus even less diameter than .410". It would be immensly stupid to try and fire a .45 Colt shell out of any .410, except those expressely intended for .45 Colt.

 

[Avenger]

They just did this on Guns & Ammo TV, I didn't watch the episode though.

 

[230RN]

I'd sure like to hear what happened. You sure it wasn't a .45 round ball they fired? That might work, since there isn't as much metal/lead to squoosh down to .410 " diameter

But don't try it with my shotgun.

Interesting trivia: I just found out that .410 bore is 67 1/2 gauge.

 

[TnShooter83]

Good read on it here.

http://survival.com/IVB/index.php?showtopic=8546&pid=123362&st=0&#entry123362

 

[Okiecruffler]

Many times I've said this, "I wish no one had ever long bored a 45 colt chamber so a 410 shell could be fired in it!" Think of it in the terms of the 38sp/357mag, but in reverse. Some, and only those made to do so (TC Contenders for instance), 45 colts can chamber and fire .410 shells. While a 45 colt may chamber in a 410, it isn't a bright idea to go pulling the trigger on one that way.
Lately this question has taken even a more dangerous turn since most guns chambered for 45/410 can also chamber 454 rounds.

 

[scbair]

I would NOT fire a .45 Colt through a .410 shotgun; shotgun barrels are way too thin to give me any comfort, in that regard.

Actually, the first application of the .410 shell in a .45 Colt that I recall reading of was the late Co. Jeff Cooper (I think) discussing shotshells in handguns. At that time (1970s ) the only handgun caliber shotshells available were .22 rimfire, .38/.357 and (I think) .44 magnum. The writer was responding to someone who was going to be working in a snake-infested subtropical area, and wanted something at hand to dsipatch venomous reptiles, forthwith! He also wanted as portable a sidearm as possible.

The advice was to use a Colt .45 SAA, 4-5/8" barrel. Measure a .410 shotshell and trimit to just fit within the chamber; reload with as much #8 shot as it would hold, and go to! The SAA was significantly lighter than any .44 magnum then on the market, and the shortened .410 packed a measurably greater payload than the .44 capsule.

Made sense, at that time and in that context.

 

[seeker_two]

"Assuming the shotgun has an exit diameter of .410" is it safe to fire a projectile with a diameter of .452" from the 45 colt through it"?

Only if you like to hold things that explode close to your face....

scbair: Going the other route, I've also heard that you can use .444 Marlin brass (NOT LOADED AMMO) to make brass .410 shotshells. IIRC, it was in BACKWOODS HOME magazine. Pretty neat article...

 

[SoCalShooter]

taurus makes a pistol that fires both.

 

[25 Pdr]

The reason I asked the original question was because I wondered how guns like the Thompson Contender and the Taurus 4410 could fire both. It seems that they simply have a 45cal rifled barrel with the chamber(s) bored out to chamber the 410.

Bearing in mind though that a 12gauge full choke is 30 thou smaller than cylinder it means that when firing a slug through full choke it gets swaged down by 30 thou. which seems according to most people to be safe.

So my theory is that firing a light load 45 colt with hand cast pure lead hollow base 240gr heads through a 410 gun would probably be ok. But it is only a theory best left to the lab guys who do it under controlled conditions.

Don't try this at home kids, I certainly will not.

BTW my 410 mics out at .400" so the head would have to swage down by 50 thou. Not good.

 

[TexasRifleman]

taurus makes a pistol that fires both.

Yes but the chamber is designed to take the much higher pressure from the handgun cartridge, where a shotgun chamber is usually very thin because of the low pressures.

Same with the Thompson, the chamber is designed to be strong enough.

No way would I try it.....

 

[rcmodel]

Another thing to keep in mind is that guns like the .45/.410 T/C Contender and the Taurus revolver are made out of modern high-grade steel, with a .452" bore size.

Every Contender frame is probably proof tested to well over 75,000 PSI, and the Taurus revolver to over 40,000.

Many old .410 S/S's have cast or pot metal receivers, and thin barrels of what is basically cheap mild steel.
Those made many years ago probably have loosened up considerably by now.

Although firing a .45 LC in a .410 shotgun is certainly possible, I would not recommend doing it if you value the gun, or your health.


rcmodel

 

[Nameless_Hobo]

In the old days, people used to use .45 colts in a single shot shotgun to dispatch old animals.
It'd work, if you used a gun with no choke, I suppose. A slug would work better, though, I think.

 

[TimboKhan]

It's very simple: You can fire a .410 in a gun chambered for .45Colt, but you cannot fire a .45 Colt in a gun chambered for a .410. This is exactly the same as the .38 in a .357 but not .357 in a .38 argument.

 

[lesjones]

If you've got a .410 it seems easier and safer to just fire a .410 slug.

 

[raginrednek]

I Know Someone That Does Far Worse In Shooting Other Rounds From A 410, I Wont Mention Them Here, Lest Someone Get The Idea To Do So. This Is Despite The Fact That A 410 Killed A Family Member, Althoug Ruled A Suicide, I Photographed The Scene For The Family, And Appeared As An Unintended Discharge To Me, Possible Because The Gun Had Been Abused.

 

[seeker_two]

In the old days, people used to use .45 colts in a single shot shotgun to dispatch old animals.

In the old days, the .45 Colt was loaded with black powder with a much less severe pressure curve. Like the old Damascus barrel shotguns, smokeless powder would lead to a lot of grief....