So here is the setup, I'm on my second 45LC/410 barrel, you would think I learned the first time around. I know the inherent limitations of the setup but I want it to work. Shotshells work fine, formed from 444 Marlin brass they are cheap, easy to make and do just what I need. The problem is the colt side of the equation. I first tried the 45 colt case because I had some already loaded, not too bad, I could hit a pie pan at 25 yards so I though there was room for improvement. I though I would first move to the 450 Mongo since I had plenty of 444 brass lying around and if my accuracy improved I would buy the 9.3x74R brass (at over a buck a piece, ouch). Well, the 444 brass didn't help any. I have tried blue dot, 2400, tight-group and a last ditch effort with a whole bunch of loads using Varget. I though I could get anything to shoot with Varget, its my go to miracle worker, nothing though. I tried both large rifle and large rifle magnum primers to make sure all the power was getting burned, loads w/ and w/o polyfill, hot & mild loads and still I'm lucky to hit an 8x11 sheet of paper. My only limiting factor is bullet selection. I only have 230g RN pb, 200g SWC pb, and 200 JHP's but I though I could get one of them to group a little. I'm not asking for the world, I would be happy with 4" at 25 yards; I could probably do that with a slingshot and a little practice. If anyone has any recommendations I would appreciate it, I'm about to give up on the caliber for a second time (but even if I do, like a crazy girlfriend I'm sure it will be back).

My first thought is go with a heavier bullet...

Why not get a 45LC barrel? Don't own this barrel, but I've not heard anything good about the 45LC/.410 where the 45LC is concerned.

thats the reason I've never bought that barrel because I've always read the 45 colt isn't very accurate out of it.

Don't bother. If you want to shoot boolits get a barrel to shoot boolits. The 45/410 is a shotgun, no more and no less, use it within its capabilities and it works fantastic. Try and make it something it was never meant to be, it will fail. Get another barrel to shoot boolits. I originally bought one thinking it would be great to go from deer gun to grouse gun and back in seconds but that idea dimmed quickly. You can't shoot boolits with the choke in and it won't shoot shotshells without it so even if it could shoot boolits half decent it wouldn't perform the task at hand. Mine is a shotgun, and I love it.

I really want the combination to work is the main reason. I have several 44 mag revolvers and a 45 LC revolver and I could do better than the 45LC in a Contender anyway. I guess I want to have my pie and eat it to, so to speak. I have taken quite a bit of game with the 410 and it is a blast to shoot; however, it would be even better to have the ability to switch over and shoot a 45cal bullet with modest accuracy, just haven't been able to make that happen yet tough and may never be able to. Its not a matter of barrels as I have plenty of others to shoot for medium game in the tender and encore, it just the point of getting the most out of this barrel. May its full potential is minute of pie-pan at 25 yds but I feel I can do better.

Can you shoot slugs out of that thing??

Throats are way too large for the .410 to be of use for the Colt.

You can shoot slugs, but the 410 slugs are rather anemic from the short tube. They are about equivalent to a .357 Mag ballistically.

If the choke is part of the problem, then why not shoot it with the choke out? I have never seen one of these barrels, just thinking out loud!

More like a 32-20 revolver actually. And a light loaded one, at that.

I know several people who have killed deer with a 410 slug out of a regular shotgun. Not something I would recomend personally, but they will work within their limitations.

Brian.

Because you will have a 10' diameter pattern at 10'. The rifling spins the shot cup and the choke is needed to stop the spin and shape the string. Otherwise the shot spins out of the muzzle and scatters like a claymore. I shot a TV box at about 6' away without the choke and the pattern covered the entire 3' square box with empty space everywhere, at 6 FEET. At 20 yards it would have covered the whole county. No choke for slugs, choke in for shot, no choice.