Converting .410 shotgun to pistol

[LaVere]

I have a old HR 410 single shot shot gun I am thinking of legaly changing to a very short home defence gun with BATFE approvial. Maybe 12 to 15 inch barrel no change to stock. For in the house defence for me (gunuser) but mostly wife ( not so much gun user). I already have handguns loaded and few steps away.


Just some though and question.

 

[ScottsGT]

It would be a lot less hassle (ATF forms, taxes, keeping record with gun, etc...) to buy one of the .410/.45LC revolvers on the market already. Besides, do you want one chance at saving your life?

 

[kludge]

.410 for home defense?

Only if you're shooting slugs, IMHO.

Single shot for home defense?

Never.

Check your state laws... even in friendly Indiana a sawed-off is a felony even with BATFE approval.

 

[Onmilo]

It is my understanding that an any other weapon shotgun must be created from a receiver that has never been previously assembled into a long barrel sporting firearm.
Since your shotgun has been assembled into a long barrel sporting arm it would fall into the catagory of a sawed off shotgun.

I could be wrong on this, I am far and away no expert, but the short answer is there is no practical or legal way to convert your shotgun to an AOW firearm.
If you really want a short barrel single shot .410 handgun you would be better served by a 10" barrel Thompson Center Contender in .45/.410

 

[ReidWrench]

Thunder 5 http://www.theothersideofkim.com/images/uploads/Thunder5.jpg

.410 shotgun or .45 long colt

 

[Manedwolf]

According to gun magazines I've read, the Taurus 4410 is a lot better made than the older Thunder, which they called "crude" in fit and finish.

It's on Taurus' website, takes .410 shells or .45 LC. It's also only $300 and change.

http://www.taurususa.com/products/gunselector-results.cfm?series=41

 

[dragongoddess]

My Taurus is a .410\.45LC. Nice little pistol. It is loaded with shot,slug and .45LC. You just have to love a weapon that can dish out a little variety.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Have you considered cutting it back to the legal minimum (18" barrel, 26" overall, +.5 inches on each side for wiggle room), and seeing if you like it that way?

I've handled a couple min-length shotguns, and they were handy and fun. Tons cheaper than doing the BATFE paperwork to go shorter.

If you want shorter, you'd be better off getting a Taurus .410 revo as mentioned above, or one of those cheap ($150?) 45/410 derringers.

-MV

 

[RyanM]

People keep saying use slugs, but those are worthless. An 87.5 grain slug? That's only 0.074 sectional density. That's the equivalent of a 106 grain .45 ACP bullet. Also, go to http://www.brassfetcher.com and check .410 slug performance. Complete disintigration.

 

[Zundfolge]

.410 is good for 3 things (and thats out of a full length barrel).

1) teaching children to shoot clays
2) small birds
3) snakes

As a pistol, maybe you chould use it for snake defense.

 

[mio]

Its Doable

I think first you should check with your wife and see if she thinks she will be comfortable shooting it. Then check your local laws. Here you can chop the barrel down to 16" legally and below that it must be registered as a pistol. I have a 20ga that i have done that to and leave loaded wigh 00 buck for my girlfriend since i work nights.
Is it the best thing out there? Definatly not but she has shot it a couple times and likes it. Id rather have her with a gun she is comfortable with than anything else.

 

[Gewehr98]

Better look up that 16" minimum again...

16" is for rifle barrels. 18" is for shotguns. Don't create a felon by giving them bad info. I'd also hide your 16" 20 gauge before somebody knocks on your door.

 

[techmike]

Check your state laws... even in friendly Indiana a sawed-off is a felony even with BATFE approval.

DOh! Never mind....I was wrong.....again....

 

[zoom6zoom]

Here you can chop the barrel down to 16" legally and below that it must be registered as a pistol

Federal is 18" for shotguns, and trumps state. I'd get rid of that 16" 20 gauge, mio. Or at least have an extension soldered back on.

 

[LaVere]

Thank you for all of your replies. I bought this HR 40+ years ago for squirel hunting used it twice then put it away. I thought I might get some use out of it. A. I don't want the hassel with ATF or one else so I'll just leave it in my will to grandson. I'll keep the Sig 229 and 1911 at the ready.

Thanks again.

 

[btsyshsbnd]

if you want a .410 with a pistol grip, short barrel check out the mossberg 500 cruiser in .410 I have mine loaded with 3" 00 shot. now I know there are only 5 pellets in the shell but the recoil is so slight that I can get 3 rounds off almost as fast as I can fire off 3 rounds from my 9mm

 

[s&w 24]

If you want to do this it will be classified as a short barreled shotgun. Before anything is trimmed shorter than 18" and the over all length cut bellow 37" you would need to fill out the paper work with the BATFE. After aproval (about 6 months) you pay for a $200 tax stamp. Then if you do use your gun for HD and shoot a perp your local PD will nab you SBSG and depending on there feelings you may or may not ever get it back from them.

If I were looking for a shorty 410 single shot I wold by an H&R snake charmer or youth model and be done with it. It would be cheaper than the tax stamp and you don't give the feds the O.K. to stop by just to check on your NFA weapon.

 

[gezzer]

you don't give the feds the O.K. to stop by just to check on your NFA weapon.

MYTH don't keep it alive.

 

[pat86323]

ok for all you people who say that a 410 isnt a good defense round. If you are so confident with its uselessness why dont you just rig up some sort of linkage, stand about 10 yards in front of it and pull the trigger..........yeah thats what i thought. Just remember, just because it isnt the best doesnt mean that its worthless.

 

[ribbonstone]

Shot (or buckshot) travels just as fast from a .410 as from a 12ga....there just isn't as much of it. Less shot (or buckshot) would limit range, but there wouldn't be any ballistic difference in individual pellet impacts.

(Yes...various places do have buckshot 410loads for sale...4 and some 5 pellet loads.)

Afraid these guys are right, is way too much trouble to legally make a pistol from a shotgun. Can't recommend any single shot...people have been known to miss and BG's tend to travel in groups.

 

[wdlsguy]

According to the NFA FAQ, Michigan does allow the ownership of C&R short-barreled shotguns, so as long as your shotgun is 50+ years old, you should be able to file Form 1 in duplicate and shorten the barrel to the desired length when an approved Form 1 arrives in your mailbox.

If you are planning to share an NFA weapon with your spouse, you should form a shared / marital living trust, and register the weapon in the name of the trust. This way either of you can access the weapon without the other one being present.

 

[wdlsguy]

If you want to do this it will be classified as a short barreled shotgun.

Correct.

Before anything is trimmed shorter than 18" and the over all length cut bellow 37" you would need to fill out the paper work with the BATFE.

18" and 26" respectively.

After aproval (about 6 months) you pay for a $200 tax stamp.

Interestingly enough, an approved Form 1 showed up in my mailbox today. It took exactly one month mailbox to mailbox. You send the $200 payment along with your application.

Then if you do use your gun for HD and shoot a perp your local PD will nab you SBSG and depending on there feelings you may or may not ever get it back from them.

I'm fairly certain this wouldn't be a problem where I live.

 

[vynx]

I used to hunt rabbits with a mossberg bolt action .410 (30" barrel, full choke) when I was 11 - 16 killed then just as dead with less destruction than my friends 12 gauge - of course you had to hit them in the head but it worked.

For your toy just cut the barrel to 18.25 and then trim the stock down so that the overall length is at least 26" - they used to sell these as "closet guns" for wifes - the sales pitch went something like - if your wife is alone and hears a noise she can sit in the closet with the door closed and the but of the shotgun against the wall if the BG opens the door blast him.