45 Colt in .410

[Uncle Grinch]

Seems everyone is getting into the 45 Colt/.410 combo pistols. This got me to thinking about something my father told me. When he was a little boy in the late '30's, he had a .410 bolt action shotgun that he shot 45 Colt ammo in at times.

Well, I have that shotgun (Sears Ranger I believe) and I also have a 45 Ruger BH, so... I tried to chamber a 45 in the shotgun and it is a very tight fit. I didn't shoot it as the shotgun has a full choke and I'm afraid it may cause some damage.

Are the chambers of the Judge and the S&W Governer true 45 Colt specs, or are they generous in their deminsions?

[felix]

Mike, I have no idea and don't do bets on general principles, but will do so with this dilemma because any 45 Colt gun will have wacky dimensions, sight unseen too. ... felix

[shotman]

Most 410 shotguns a 45 colt is snug. a full choke will do some damage the judge is set to allow a 45 colt but not a 454. But a 444 will work in the 410 and the judge and it just a matter of time before the law suits start. If you want a "bullet" in a 410 use the slugs they work in a full and have more power than a 45 colt

[felix]

Yeah, I will extend the above bet to include a statement which suggests a 454 factory round will fit easily into a 410 shotgun! ... felix

[leadman]

A fellow I worked with years ago and hunted with had an old single shot shotgun that was marked 410 or 44 Special. think it was a Stevens but it has been over 20 years since I last saw it.
He did fire factory 44 Specials out of it with no problems. don't think I would do that with another gun as no idea if the chamber was different or not.
I do know I had a 14" Contender barrel in 410/45Colt and it sucked big time!

[btroj]

Big difference between can and should.

[Uncle Grinch]

Now I do have some left over .410 slugs (paper shells, not the new fangled plastic kind) from my teenage days, of which I used to deer hunt with using my dad's old shotgun. Never killed one with it though.

I understand it's similar to a 357 Mag in performance.

[shotman]

I know Mr felix knows everything BUT a 454 WILL NOT go in a 410 a 45 colt is a push in 44mag will drop in