Shooting 44-40 in a 410 shotgun!

[rangerider7]

A dealer at a gun show told me I could shoot 44-40 cartridges in a 410 shotgun just like slugs. Is this true? Has anybody done it?

[JReed]

Thats news to me. But you can shoot 45 colt.

[Lefty Dude]

Try it and let us know your results.

[Ysabel Kid]

You could probably shoot it - just not sure what the case would look like afterwards!

Jeremy's right - I've seen several .45 Colt/.410 combos. the Taurus "Judge" revolvers seem to be the hotest ones right now.

[Rusty]

T/C Contenders were made in .45/.410 barrels for a while as well. I doubt with a .44/40 you'd build up enough pressure to do much damage, but I doubt you'd reload that brass again either.

[adirondakjack]

Folks, a .44-40 or .45 colt will CHAMBER in a .410 shotgun, but remember, a .410 BORE (with a full choke yer talking .395, an IC would be .408, a true cylinder, .410) is a helluva HIGH PRESSURE squeeze for a bullet anywhere from .429-.452. Considering the fact that even a bit of cosomoline in a shotgun barrel can cause a normal shotshell to over-pressure, an over-bore slug on the order of .019 to .042 OR MORE is asking fer SERIOUS troubles with yer shotspitter, and maybe a trip to the hosptal. A ,410 slug is only a little 87 grain hollow, soft lead thimble that is actually UNDERSIZED until fired. It is not a 200+ grain solid that is too big for the gun.....

[Scott Young]

thanks aj. you can't shoot a 45, 44-40, 44 magnum or 41 magnum out of a 410. don't do it unless you are wanting to chance losing something. there are 45's that will shoot 410's that is an animal of a different color. if you want to shoot a slug out of a 410, buy a 410 shell with a slug.

[Old Ironsights]

thanks aj. you can't shoot a 45, 44-40, 44 magnum or 41 magnum out of a 410. don't do it unless you are wanting to chance losing something. there are 45's that will shoot 410's that is an animal of a different color. if you want to shoot a slug out of a 410, buy a 410 shell with a slug.

+ several thousand.

If you have a long throat you can choot .410 in a .444 (.410 brass case = 2.36", .444 case = 2.225")...

[rangerider7]

Thanks for the replies. I told him that I did not thank so, but he said he did it all the time. I was just curious if anyone did. Thanks!

[Nath]

You may get away with it in a hefty barrel but what for? The slug will only tumble all roads any way!
I did make some solid lead slugs once and painfully drilled and screwed a fiber wad to the base to act as a flite. The .4something had swaged down to .395 after passing the choke of a strong and thick barrel but in a light gun hmm I dunno. Anyway,,,,,

Nath.

[Cliff]

It can probably be done but all the replys up above are pretty good. My father (Born 1903) had done when he was young and reckless and was comfortable with it. Of course he used black powder loads with a stout barreled single shot. He did claim it would go through a telephone pole. I don't know the size of the pole however. He wasn't given to tall tales as well. ATB

[meanc]

Like others have said, Bore Size of a .410 is exactly that, .410"

44-40 is .427"
44mag is .429"
45c is .451+"

Those are considerable size differences, and I wouldn't even consider it.

I can say that a .410 shell will fire with no problems out of a Marlin 45-70 when single fed.

[marlinman93]

Just the thought of shooting .45 Colt or any other pistol caliber in any shotgun gives me the chills! Most shotgun barrels, receivers are just not designed to handle the same pressures that any pistol can handle easily. The chances of doing this many times and never getting hurt are possible, but it only takes one time to injure yourself!
I see no reason to play with fire, even if I can get away with it most of the time. Why shoot anything in a gun it wasn't designed for.