454 in 45/410 Contender?

[X-Rap]

Has anybody shot 454 through their 45/410 Contender?
I was thinking of getting ahold of Thompson and asking them but figured I try here 1st. I'm sure the frame is robust enough since I have a 45-70 barrel just don't know about the 45/410 barrel, pretty sure it was made prior to the 454 being released so that might have some bearing.

 

[Fred in Wisc]

I think that's a real bad idea, the 454 is loaded to a MUCH higher pressure than either the 45 Colt or the 410 shotgun.

Guessing the 45 Colt is 20000 psi, shotgun is under 15000. The 454 loadings can go about 40,000 to 50,000. Those numbers are off the top of my head, but they are in the right ballpark.

Wouldn't try it unless you think emergency rooms, facial scarring, and pirate hook hand replacements are cool.

 

[Gryffydd]

Don't do it. The 454 can be loaded to much higher pressure than even the hot 45-70 loads. Just because the hot 45-70 loads are more powerful than the 454 doesn't mean the pressure levels are anywhere near the same.

Edit:
A quick search shows a general consensus of around 32k CUP for the Contenderin 45 cal. The 454 can go over 60k. That's a big difference.

 

[suemarkp]

I don't think it will chamber. I don't have a Contender, but a 454 won't chamber in a judge -- the 410 shell is .454 OD, so the chamber necks down to .454 or so just past the mouth of a 45 Colt case. The 454 case should be too long to chamber, as would be the the 460 S&W.

I don't believe the 454 was ever offered in the contender, as it has too much pressure for the action. You'd need to move up to the Encore.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Guessing the 45 Colt is 20000 psi, shotgun is under 15000. The 454 loadings can go about 40,000 to 50,000. Those numbers are off the top of my head, but they are in the right ballpark.

14,000 for .45 Colt

13,500 for .410

65,000 for .454 Casull

Don't do it.

 

[303tom]

Has anybody shot 454 through their 45/410 Contender?
I was thinking of getting ahold of Thompson and asking them but figured I try here 1st. I'm sure the frame is robust enough since I have a 45-70 barrel just don't know about the 45/410 barrel, pretty sure it was made prior to the 454 being released so that might have some bearing.

NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[PO2Hammer]

Absolutely not.
You can look at the caliber availability chart over at Match Grade Machine and see that .454 and .460 are listed as 'too much' for the Contender/G-2.

 

[X-Rap]

Well thats why I asked, I know that the 454 was made in some 92 levers as well and my Alaskan doesn't seem any more robust than the 44 model although the steel might be different.
The 454 does indeed chamber but I figured to contact TC before proceeding further. I guess I'll just put that thought out of my head.

 

[steveno]

it may or may not take the pressure but you will bend the hinge pin and that means sending it back to TC. I have seen the hinge pin bent using HEAVY 44 mag loads. when TC switched from the one piece lock to the split lock that was a fix to heavy recoiling loads causing the barrel to unlock. the split lock pretty much fixed that problem with the heavy 44 loads. I doubt that the split locks would keep the barrel locked up with 454 recoil. Now if the barrel would contain the pressure ( for how long is unknown) and stay locked up the recoil would be unbelieveably HEAVY and the hinge pin will bend.

 

[mgkdrgn]

Has anybody shot 454 through their 45/410 Contender?
I was thinking of getting ahold of Thompson and asking them but figured I try here 1st. I'm sure the frame is robust enough since I have a 45-70 barrel just don't know about the 45/410 barrel, pretty sure it was made prior to the 454 being released so that might have some bearing.

You are likely to learn the "alternate definition" of the work "hand grenade" ... the hard way.

 

[Silent Sam]

...my Alaskan doesn't seem any more robust than the 44 model although the steel might be different.

The steel IS different in Ruger 454s. Cylinder and barrel. 454 is a whole lot more than 44.