gotta ask...... 44-40 shell in a 410......

[MudMagnet]

ok, i know ppl do it, and i know my 410 was used for it cause my grand father's ammo box has 44-40 ammo in it and i got his 410 now....... i got all his guns actually........
but what will it do, really, i know they tell ya not to do it and its dangerous, but exactly how is it dangerous??? what will or can happen??? and is a 44-40 a hand gun or a rifle??? do they still make the 44-40 ammo???
thanks, don't worry i'm not planning on doing it just woundering, i have a 12 and 20 guage i can through a slug in if i see a deer durring the deer season while i'm partage hunting

[jmabbott888]

I wouldn't try it, I used to make up light loads for my 410 using 45 long colt shells, but they had birdshot in em to use in the back yard. The 44-40 was a compeditor to the 45 colt way back when, if I remember correctly it stands for 44 caliber 40 grains of BLACK powder. The round is still made & in use as a cowboy action load in both the revolver & lever guns, as well as a few others. Hope this helps

[Speckmisser]

Worst case, there might be some damage to your gun.. potentially pretty exciting (and dangerous), but most likely you'll just end up ruining the gun.

As far as effectiveness, you'll probably scare the heck out of whatever you're shooting at, but odds are you won't hit it. Rifle and revolver bullets aren't designed to be launched out of shotgun barrels.

I've seen some stupid things shot out of 410s, including .44 mag hollowpoints and shotshells, and even arrows. The 44-40 is a lighter load than the .44 mag, but still nothing to screw around with in a chamber and barrel made for shotshells.

Use the ammo made for the gun, and avoid heartache later.

[MudMagnet]

ok, i didn't know if it would shread the bbl or blow the chamber apart or what, i figured it wouldn't shoot right at all but didn't know why they say never do it.......
l8r all, have a happy new year
-Mike