Taurus 4410 45LC/.410 revolver for home defense?

[spacejunkiehsv]

I am about to buy my first handgun. All my life I've owned a few guns, a BB gun when I was a kid, a .22LR rifle, a 20 guage shotgun, and a 12 guage shotgun.

I keep a 12 guage pump ready to go, near my bed. I would like to get a pistol though. I came across the Taurus 4410 series revolvers that are chambered for 45 Long Colts and .410 2.5" long shotgun shells. To me, it seems like the 4410, loaded with the .410 shotgun shells would be great for home defense. It may be better than my LONG 12 guage.

Am I wrong? Would a .410 shell from this pistol have enough stopping power, assuming that most of the shot from the shell hits the attacker? I would probably get the 4410 with the 4" barrel. So, the pattern would be nice and wide.

 

[MCgunner]

If I had one, I'd put .45 Colt ammo in it. I'm not real impressed with a .33 caliber round ball at the pitiful velocities that revolver is going to launch it. I'd rather have a .32 Auto, myself. There's what, three balls in a .410 2.5"???

I'll stick what what I've got, thanks.

 

[wdlsguy]

It would be interesting to see the muzzle velocity of those OOO buckshot. Lacking that information, I would stick with .45 Colt as well. It would make a dandy snake gun if loaded with small shot though.

 

[El Tejon]

I really want one of these guns, "just for fun" gun.

Anywho, in addressing your questions,

A) .410 birdshot would sting a bunch. Not feel good, but lethal? Depends on range. Don't care if it is lethal I just want threat to stop.

B) .410 slugs, work great out of a long tube of a shotgun. My second murder case was with a .410 slug. Broke into three piece as it entered the chest and sternum and wiped out victim's heart. Don't know about pistol, maybe if close.

C) Patterns inside your house are going to be nice and tight. Measure longest shot in your sleeping chamber. It will likely be close, and then shoot that distance at the range.

Taurus 4410 looks like a "blast" to shoot. Now if I could just find one.

However, I would be hesitant to rely on one for self-defense, just my $.02.

 

[spacejunkiehsv]

I found the below info on another forum. http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2122051&postcount=4

"I just purchased it a few days ago and have only shot it 10 times. I used some # 4 shot at 5 yards away and made a pattern the size of a paper plate. I don't know if you can shoot slugs through it. Maybe rifled slug,s will have to check into it. I was not on the market for this type of revolver but $350 was a good price for almost brand new revolver and I have never owned a 45 colt either."

 

[spacejunkiehsv]

Here's a full review by GunWeek.

http://www.gunweek.com/2006/feature0620.html

 

[Jim K]

Well, a rifled slug out of a .410 would not be any better (and would likely be worse power-wise) than a .45 bullet. Any advantage the .410 would have would be in a shot spread. While an 8" spread with that small amount of shot would be dangerous, I doubt it would stop a determined attacker.

A rough measurement of spread from a regular shotgun is 1" at 1 yard (1" added to the bore diameter), so across a 24' room, the spread is only 8", hardly the "cloud of shot" or "a blast that can't miss" as it has been described.

The spread from a pistol probably would be greater, but even spread of a foot or more doesn't mean "you can't miss", and both the number of pellets and the velocity would be reduced to the point that, IMHO, the .410 pistol would be about useless.

The only advantage is that the small charge would be less likely to overpenetrate and do harm you don't want to do.

Jim

 

[Selfdfenz]

Fascinating!

Odd concept....
Unusual aesthetics....
Utilitarian...
Nerdy...

Guess I'm about to finally take the plunge on a Taurus.

What barrel length would be the best compromise? Do you guys think the 6.5" barrel would cause the shot pattern to spread excessively?

Best,

S-

 

[spacejunkiehsv]

Selfdfenz... Did you go to that GunWeek article? The version they reviewed was with the 2" barrel instead of the 6" barrel, but he did give shot pattern measurements at various distances. I don't know HOW MUCH smaller the pattern would be with the 6", but it would have to be tighter.

 

[Selfdfenz]

Sure did. I guess I incorrectly assumed longer barrel = more spin of the shot cup = more open pattern.

I've about decided the short barrel is the one to get

THX
S-

 

[spacejunkiehsv]

Don't take my advice! Please don't! I'm too new to this to KNOW what I'm talking about. It makes sense to me that I'm right, but I HAVE been wrong before!

 

[spacejunkiehsv]

Taurus 4410 with 2" barrel .410 shotshell pattern info from the GunWeek review:

Shell.........Distance (yards).......Pattern (inches)
7 shot................1............................6
7 shot................4...........................10
7 shot................7...........................15
7 shot...............10..........................20

 

[Cousin Mike]

All of the TV commercials I've seen for the Taurus 4410 advertise it as some sort of anti-carjacker device. It leaves a very impressive shot pattern at point blank range, and I think that's where it would shine. Outside of the car, I'd probably just keep .45LC in it.

 

[Selfdfenz]

Since I reload 45 Colt for two units already that part of the 4410 package makes it very attractive.
Anti-carjacking tool oh yeah. I can sure believe it.

S-

 

[El Tejon]

TELEVISION COMMERCIALS FOR GUNS?!?! Oh, wow, very cool.

Where? Are they on YouTube???

 

[nelson133]

I'd like to have one, but I wouldn't trust a .410 for self defense.

 

[skwerl]

How about with buckshot?

Fella I talked to said that using buck shot, it strings the 3 pellets upward as recoil is taking effect. So you get 3 .30 cal hits per one shot if you hit center mass. Not too bad in my book.

 

[twigs]

Personal Defense TV (on the Outdoors Channel) had a segment on them. I think it was in the first episode. The show starts reruns pretty soon. You might want to watch for it.

 

[Cousin Mike]

Yep, TV commercials for GUNS! I couldn't believe it myself. On The Outdoor Network, and Versus channels they play the shows like PDTV, Shooting USA, World of Beretta, etc.

On the commercial breaks, they almost exclusively show gun commercials. Taurus' commercial for the 4410 (they call it "The Judge"... hehe) shows you exactly how the shot patterns... From your driver's seat to the passenger window, using the .410 shotshells, the 4410 completely FILLS a lifesized human-torso target with shot pellets... We're talking from neck to navel, here. It looks SUPER effective. I personally don't see how it wouldn't kill someone at that range. I've been trying to find that commercial all day so I could post it here! No luck so far - not even on Youtube.

You'll have to let me know how you like yours, El T! I'm definitely considering one for myself.

 

[MCgunner]

From your driver's seat to the passenger window, using the .410 shotshells, the 4410 completely FILLS a lifesized human-torso target with shot pellets.

I can reach over and roll up the window from the driver's seat in my wife's Toyota Echo. You must be talking huge gas guzzler here, 4 wheel tank, 10 mpg on a good day Suburban, maybe? I do have a full sized van, but I think I'll stick to my .38 and 9mm. I might get in a gun fight at 7 yards or something and need the range.

 

[Cousin Mike]

You got cable? Outdoor network? Versus channel?

Watch it for yourself, MCgunner. Why would I lie about a TV commercial?

 

[Vonderek]

As an ant-carjacking tool? I would think that at less than arm's length you should be able to put a .45 JHP into the BG's vitals no problem...I would rather have a high performance JHP do it's thing than non-expanding buckshot.

Either way, I think you'll get the job done.

 

[MCgunner]

Watch it for yourself, MCgunner. Why would I lie about a TV commercial?

Not accusing you of anything. I'm sorry if it sounded that was, wasn't the intent. I'm simply pointing out that it ain't that far from the driver's seat of even the biggest car to the window where the perp in the commercial is standing (I guess, haven't seen it, just going on the post). I think I want more effective range than that. That's only a few feet. I'm not griping about you, but the idea of a .410 shot load for self defense. And, heck, I could close my eyes and point and hit the BG at that range with my .38. I just don't see the .410 in this application as much more than a short range snake load for those who can't hit a snake with a bullet. LOL

 

[Cousin Mike]

LOL! Understood, sir. Sorry about the confusion. I think I'm just frustrated because I can't find this damned commercial ANYWHERE! It's pretty cool to be able to see for yourself how the shot patterns at such close range... Leaves a nice big hole too.

I can definitely agree with you about the 7 yards thing though - I could imagine keeping .410 shotshells in it, but only for the car or at the range, for fun - which is why I really can't decide if I want one right now. Snakes and such too, but I don't run into snakes much in the concrete jungle. I'm not sure if I'd want to carry something where I'm constantly changing ammunition everytime I get in/out of the car...

But for strictly a car gun, or just for fun? I'd like to have one, I can't lie. I just have a tighter budget than some, and at the moment I have other purchases to make before I get back into "just for fun" territory.

 

[RCouch]

Not sure where I read it, might have been on another forum, but the article noted that some shot sizes performed erratically due to the rifling in the barrel. They tended to stray off to on side or another. This was at longer ranges. At close range, it would be OK. I have a 4410 and my complaint is the grips. I replaced mine with some Hogue grips because the back of the trigger guard hit my middle finger and bruised it when firing. The Hogue grips push your middle finger down a little further and it's easier to control. I like the Taurus otherwise, but it's LOUD.