Mossberg 500E .410 w/ handgun ammo?

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leftyz

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I'm a little new to guns in general, soaking up as much knowledge as possible.

As the title states, I've recently obtained a beautiful Mossberg 500 in .410, it has a full, fixed choke, and I can not find anything stating specifically what types of ammo I can or cannot shoot through this barrel.

So far I have shot 2 1/2" & 3" shells ranging from 4 to 7 1/2 bird shot without any issues.

I am assuming that slugs are out of the question, not only that but they are hard to come by. I've seen handgun loads in 410, some being 00 buckshot and some being "tactical" defensive rounds, with discs and shot.

Are these handgun loads safe to shoot with my shotgun? With my current situation, this shotgun is the best suited for home defense out of my guns, and I would like to obtain some ammo with home defense in mind.

Thanks!
 
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Rifled slugs have ridges on the perimeter that serve to "squash" as the slug goes through a full choke.

I think with a fixed full choke (not the screw-in jobbies), you can use lead rifled slugs meant for a smoothbore barrel (that is, a barrel that has no rifling). As the slug passes through the full choke, the raised portions 'squash' so as to not exert excessive lateral (outward) pressure against the inner walls of the barrel at the choke.

The barrel should be stamped with the length of shells you can use!

I think, if there are any type of shells that should not be used with a full choke, it would be marked somewhere on the box -- just read the entire box!
 
Rifled slugs have ridges on the perimeter that serve to "squash" as the slug goes through a full choke.

I think with a fixed full choke (not the screw-in jobbies), you can use lead rifled slugs meant for a smoothbore barrel (that is, a barrel that has no rifling). As the slug passes through the full choke, the raised portions 'squash' so as to not exert excessive lateral (outward) pressure against the inner walls of the barrel at the choke.

The barrel should be stamped with the length of shells you can use!

I think, if there are any type of shells that should not be used with a full choke, it would be marked somewhere on the box -- just read the entire box!
Thanks for the advice!

The barrel is stamped stating that it can accept 2.5 & 3 inch shells, however I did not get a box with this shotgun as it was basically inherited. Most of what I know about it has been from a lot of google searching. I wasn't able to find much about the handgun loads specifically but am now finding a bit more about slugs after your reply.

This page seems to have an abundance of information regarding .410 slugs:

http://mcb-homis.com/slug_410/

However it doesn't sound like they are the best to use with a full choke.
 
I am not sure, but I don't think you should shoot handgun loads in that, although I could be wrong.

Someone else needs to help you.
 
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It started out as a Mossberg model 50104 with the same type of barrel you have I bought a Mossberg 50455 and swapped the barrels out (the mag tubes are the same capacity)

DSCF0013.jpg

The factory barrel from the 50455 should work wonders with slugs and the buckshot does very well out of the setup (the federal '000' stuff for the judge is what I use the most)

What is the magazine capacity with 2-1/2 shells listed as?
 
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Rifled slugs have ridges on the perimeter that serve to "squash" as the slug goes through a full choke.

FYI, actual choke diameter of a .410 bore 'full choke' is .395" - My Winchester 'Super X' slugs mic out at .390" diameter.

I don't see the slugs 'squashing' any time soon.
 
With the thin walls at the base of the slug it should expand a bit and act kind of like a minie ball (spelling???) which in an open choke (like the one shown in the pic I posted above) should increase accuracy,the full choked .410 is good for birdshot but with larger and solid shot will most likely give less than ideal results.

From what I've seen with the larger pellets ('000') the shot pattern was disrrupted and was caused to spread at close ranges, the slug would most likely be no different in that it would be deformed.

and since the OP got the weapon for no out of pocket money,it couldn't hurt to pick up a .410 cruiser (and just add a stock or..) swap the barrels out if the mag tubes are the same capacity.
 
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This is the pictured buckshot loads at inside the room distance fired from the 18.5 inch barrel (first shot was to see where the load would print...it printed point of aim, all pellets hitting the target on the left side of the circle,the other two shots were ontop of each other the third hit was either the wad or a rock that was kicked up,my best guess is that it was caused by the wad,more testing is going to take place because the pistol grip only configuration was used).
 
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here are 2 shots at about 5-7 yards with the same 18.5 inch barrel using the same ammo,with the wood stocked setup.

the top pattern was to test P.O.A/P.O.I. the second shot printed three in the circle with one flyer (which is most likely my fault I'm sure I pulled a bit to the right)
 
Your best bet is to order it online or look through local shops (Local shops are where I get my supply) the 850 fps is when used in the taurus judge or other .410/45 handgun.

The pellets should do somewhere between 1100-1200 fps out of a shotgun.
 
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