.410 Snake Charmer
My father has owned a S.S. .410 Snake Charmer for quite a few years and carries it in his bass boat. He heard a rumor that you could shoot a .41 Long Colt out of the smooth bore. Has anyone tried this or is it a rumor/myth. Thanks.
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You could "mic" the bore and compare to cartridge, and you could see if that cart would chamber (rim headspace) but even if all that worked I don't think you should go there.
The 41 will generate more pressure than a 410 and who knows what will happen at the higher pressure. I know I sure don't want to find out unless I have it strapped down with a long string on it. Then, saying it don't blow up then that's not to say it won't the next time a 41 is lit off. Just not a safe practice.
Secondly, even if pressure were not a factor accuracy is going to stink ... smooth bore, nothing to stabalize the 41 bullet.
If you want to shoot something other than shot, use a 410 slug. They usually run about 1/2 ounce so there is a nominal 218 grain bullet. Accuracy should still be pretty poor but it is safer as the slug cart. is loaded to be within pressures generated by 410 rounds.
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
Why does Contender offer a 45LC/.410 barrel? Won't there be chamber problems with the 41LC? 0 -
I'm thinking no. While the pressure created by a black powder 41 LC load may be near that of the 410, I would think the 41 LC would be a pretty sloppy fit and you would experience a case rupture not to mention the bullet bouncing around in the bore. The 41 LC has a heeled bullet and I suspect the case actually runs close to .41 in dimension. The .410 as actually much closer to .44 or.45.You often hear this question in regards to the 45 Colt which will fit in a 410 chamber but is still a bad idea. TC does this with their 45/410 barrels but they are built to handle pressures of the 45. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by dakotashooter2
I'm thinking no. While the pressure created by a black powder 41 LC load may be near that of the 410, I would think the 41 LC would be a pretty sloppy fit and you would experience a case rupture not to mention the bullet bouncing around in the bore. The 41 LC has a heeled bullet and I suspect the case actually runs close to .41 in dimension. The .410 as actually much closer to .44 or.45.You often hear this question in regards to the 45 Colt which will fit in a 410 chamber but is still a bad idea. TC does this with their 45/410 barrels but they are built to handle pressures of the 45.
They also do it w/ .44mag.0 -
If the barrel is not marked clearly as a .45/.410 don't attempt it. There are several guns that will shoot both, but never attempt to even chamber a cartridge that a weapon is not specifically designed for it. Anyway, the accuracy would be squat.
James
Whats next? A ban on automatic transmissions?0 -
let me get this straight.... a post has been made asking to put a bullet in a shotgun bbl. why???? have you ever seen what a bullet lodged cock eyed going down a bbl can do before? i vote to have this thread removed for common sense reasons. and for the record, 45/410 contender bbls are rifled. snake charmers are not. its an accident waiting to happen. 410 chambers are designed to accomodate 2 1/2" plastic casings. that means the bullet in a 1" brass case, that has a bullet slug about 1/2" long, with nothing expanding forward, and has nothing to engage the forcing cone when it starts moving, hits that forcing cone that is meant to make a gas tight seal and prevent blowback as gases pass it, deflects that slug the wrong way....BBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM! WAKE UP FOLKS.
former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.0 -
In reply to the Contender comments above ... there is a 45/410 chambering, but to shoot the 410 "shot" shell you screw in a choke and it will be a good awful mess if you forget to take it out and shoot a 45.
Also the 44 mag and 357 contenders were set up with "chokes" for use w/ shot shells. Again, life would be ugly if the choke were left in and cart. fired.
And all of the barrels are rifled barrels that are designed to safelyhandle the pressures of the pistol cartridges. Lastly, you should not use steel or heavishot (sp?) with these barrels as it will damage them.
As to the original post ... I still say ... Please, don't do that!
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
I think this whole idea started back when the 45 was still loaded with BP, the bullets were hollowbase and softer and you were 50 miles from the nearest ammunition supplier. Pressures were probably near pressure limits for .410 the and the HB bullet would expand to fill the bore likely giving a bit more accuracy than possible with a bullet that was sloppy in the bore. There still would have been some level of danger involved in this practice and likely even more so with modern smokeless ammunition. Lets not forget the issue of freebore either. A 45 even in a 2 1/2" 410 chamber has quite a jump before it hits the bore. Even the current 45/410 TC barrels are not know for their accuracy. It may handle it for 1 shot or even 100 but at some point the barrel may just give up. 0 -
Whoever suggested the .41 Long Colt round in a .410 must not have tried it, as the rim diameter of .41LC is only .430, and 410 chamber is something like .480! The .41 round would probably fall clear into the bore... 0 -
If you're really wanting to do this get the "Thunder Five" it's a 5 shot revolver that can shoot .45lc and .410 shot shells. It's not cheap but it'll safely do what you are asking. Either way it's a lot cheaper than blowing up your gun and possibly your hand and/or face...
The 10mm - either you've got it, or you don't get it...0 -
I think a lot of this started as I believe the Davis derringer was set up to shoot either .45 colt/.410. Again, this gun is set up presumably to be capable, tho my experience with derringers and the bird's head grips and god awfull trigger pulls left a lot to be desired. As above, if you really got the hankering to see what a slug is like, try a box of .410 slugs. i think you'll decide the shot shells are just fine. 0
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