Condenter History >

[BADDOG-0302]

Way back , maybe 35 years or so Did or didn't T/C make a smooth bore barrel to shoot 410 shot gun shells ?

[260 Striker]

I don't think they ever offered a short smooth bore barrel since that would be against ATF rules. They did offer the 45Colt/410 barrel but that was rifled. But I could be wrong!!!!!

[david bradshaw]

Way back , maybe 35 years or so Did or didn't T/C make a smooth bore barrel to shoot 410 shot gun shells ?

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T/C reps Jim Smith and Mike Wright brought Contenders with barrels chambered for .410/.45 Colt to an early----probably the first----International Championship held in Idaho Falls. Jim Smith and Mike Wright had worked at Hornady before moving to T/C. Jim Smith set up a little spot to the left of the firing line for silhouetters to take a break from hard corps steel shooting to take on clay pigeons with the Contender convertible. The 10" barrels were rifled to comply with federal shotgun regulations. Since rifling flings shot pellets in clusters, destroying a uniform pattern, a muzzle attachment with straight rifling is screwed to the barrel to rein in the centrifugal force on the spinning shot charge. The old brain pan recalls these barrels had a rib with front bead, and an express V rear. The bore may not have been rifled its entire length, somewhat in the vein of English Paradox.

While numerous competitors tried the handgun clay game, between shooting, spotting, and volunteering, leisure does not define the tournament menu. The "choke tube" with straight rifling was removed from the Contender .410 barrel for shooting .45 Colt. A shot charge spreads quickly when fired from the Contender, forcing the bird hunter to be close and fast.

Weston Horne, whom I have a feeling my be skulking this forum, and others present in Idaho, may have more specific info.
David Bradshaw

[westonz28]

Yes I do "Sulk" around this form from time to time. I remember that was going on at the end of the range where we set up the small bore range the next year, I think. I generally was very busy for all the Idaho Falls Internations. From running the firing line to safety officer to shooting and spotting all things blend together. Lots of good memories and some interesting ones. First year we shot at Idaho Falls the targets did not have berms or anything behind them only nice green alfalfa. You could not see your misses unless you had a great spotter. No one went to the line without a spotter. You remember that David Bradshaw.