.410 revolver questions

[dandean316]

Does anyone have one on this board?
I want one. I'd like double action.

This is the only one I've found:
http://www.thunder5.com/docs1.html

It looks a bit boxy, but at $495 it's not the worst price. I know I can get a BFR for around $800-900, but I'd like DA and a shorter barrel.

My only other option is a derringer style like:
http://bondarms.com/

Any suggestions or comments for those who have shot or own one?

I thought about the Bond Arms for a dog gun, then figured a DA revolver would be cool.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[BluesBear]

Just remember that a .410 from a short barrel is rather anemic.
You're throwing almost as much powder out of the muzzle as you are lead.

 

[Joe Demko]

A friend has one of those cheap derringers that will interchange .45 LC and .410 shotshells. Performance from the .410 is pretty dismal. He even purchased some .410 buckshot and slug loads trying to get it up off its face and onto its knees, to no avail. We didn't have access to a chronometer, but based on the effects on a variety of targets, he wasn't getting too much better than slingshot velocities from the slugs and buckshot. The finer shot loads he tried were defeated by a few layers of cardboard. Don't know if you'd get much better performance from a "snubby" like the Thunder 5.

 

[dandean316]

I wonder if the problem is the .410 revolvers and derringers don't have a choke tube? I tried my 870 once without a choke tube and the pattern was huge and weak. I know the BFR has a choke tube, so I'm wondering if that would help?

Unfortunately, I don't know anyone who has one I can try out and spending $800-900 on the BFR to find out it won't do what I want would hurt too much. Besides, I'd like to shorten the barrel on the BFR, so that'd be another $300 at least.

 

[JMLV]

410 pistol

The best 410 pistol I have come across id the 10" Thompson center contender with the 45/410 barrel. You can actually take small game with them at 20 yards or so. Neat guns.
Jim L

 

[PlayTheAces]

I've never personally shot one of these, but I work with a guy who has one of the Thunder5s, an older one.

He's shot it a few times over the years, and told me while it's fun to shoot, it's pretty cumbersome. Says it reminds him of some of the guns you see in cartoons.

He said he can't really figure out any purpose to it, other than being a novelty and a fun gun to take out with a group of people. Everyone wants to try it a few times.

I asked him why he bought it - the response was "I didn't have one - had to have it". This dude has a lot of guns.

 

[dandean316]

He's shot it a few times over the years, and told me while it's fun to shoot, it's pretty cumbersome.

It looks cumbersome in the photos. This is pretty much the info I was looking for.

Any idea of the kind of pattern it would throw at say, 10 yards. I know it's a short range tool.