A Handgunner in the making and some side fun.

My co-worker Shawn is just getting into Handgunning. If I understand right, he owns a Glock G30s that he was presented as a gift, as his only other handgun. His father has a Contender with a couple barrels and set up as a carbine as well. We got him set up with an old easy-open TC frame and for his “first” barrel we scored a 10” .45/.410 with internal choke and normal TC pistol/rifle sights.

The .45/.410 chamber is not conventional. It is basically a .45 Colt chamber at first then tapers more to .410 Shotgun which allows for the petals of the 3” hull to open. Then it is actually 3” long, opened. The .45 Colt projectile is a long way from the rifling engagement. Other applications like .357 Maximum shooting .38 specials work acceptably, provided the rifling throating is correct (original TC .357 Max. was NOT).

Experimenting with care, using longer cases and perhaps bullets seated way, out may hold promise for accuracy help. The tapering chamber will allow .454 cases but not .460 S&W. Just beyond .454 length it gets too tight. But a .454 with long seated bullet should be fine. Horrors of anyone shooting a .454 in a TC contender! This is just using the cases as custom applications. Maybe cut down .460’s, a bit longer than .454, would be more responsible. Certain to identify as a custom, and not an actual .454 high pressure round. My .45 Paradox rounds won't fit.

I need to experiment too. I’ve only fired a handful of .45 Colt rounds from my ancient ribbed 10” with the flip up rear sight. I think I got about 3’ groups at 25-30 yds. and called it good. The next thought of making full length brass .410 from .460 S&W is still pending. I’m not sure how different a normal .410 shotgun chamber is from a .45/.410. I could run the .460 cases part through a .444 Marlin sizer and probably get them to chamber.

Lots of fun to investigate and I would be delighted if Shawn becomes a full on Handgunner. He also remarked with interest in handloading. I loaded up some rounds to get him started this season at around 1200 fps. This included 250 gr. XTP poly tip and 230 gr. XTP. I figured those jackets would expand at our target velocity and intended game of 100-150 lb. Whitetails.