.410 Enfield Conversions

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Screwball
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.410 Enfield Conversions

Post by Screwball »

I got a Ishapore 2A1 a few months back, and really got interested in Enfield rifles. Now, I really don't want a .303 rifle, since I don't stock the caliber, and not a regular available round (don't reload yet, and not going to have space for another year or two). So, I found a few .410 conversions on GunBroker... and looking to get one.

Doing research, I see they most were based off a .303 cartridge so that standard ammo couldn't be used with the gun (2"). Not really interested in one, being a few I found were bored to 3" when imported. No plans on getting the Musket ammo for them, so would be used with common .410 shells.

Is there anything to look for with these conversions? Most I see are RFI guns, which works nice since it matches my 2A1. If I wanted to toss the bayonet on it, should work out great. Probably will get the butt stock accessories for this new rifle.

Are these commonly in a specific shape; good or bad?

Not a big Enfield collector, so figured I'd get as much info on them before picking one up.

Thanks for taking a look.
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Longcolt44
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Re: .410 Enfield Conversions

Post by Longcolt44 »

These will NOT I repeat NOT chamber or shoot normal .410 shotgun shells They will only shoot the 410 round ball musket ammunition made for them. SOG has it in stock.
.410 MUSKET AMMO.jpg
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millman
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Re: .410 Enfield Conversions

Post by millman »

spongemonkey wrote:Okay, my question is, will this musket ammo work in a modern .410 shotgun? Just wondering.
Probably, but WHY?
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Re: .410 Enfield Conversions

Post by Ironnewt »

millman wrote:
spongemonkey wrote:Okay, my question is, will this musket ammo work in a modern .410 shotgun? Just wondering.
Probably, but WHY?
Probably the same reason they made "The Judge" and "the Governor" both .410 revolvers
Damn, I'll bet that's going to leave a mark! Probably hurt too!
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Screwball
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Re: .410 Enfield Conversions

Post by Screwball »

Longcolt44 wrote:These will NOT I repeat NOT chamber or shoot normal .410 shotgun shells They will only shoot the 410 round ball musket ammunition made for them. SOG has it in stock.
Yes and no...

There were ones that were modified by Century when imported... bored out to commercial .410. The Musket loads should fire, but likely will split when they expand (from the research I've done thus far).

Should have been clearer, but there are two options available; original RFI guns and converted commercial .410s (Century). For less than a quarter a round, I'd like to get an original Musket... but most I've found are rechambered.

While rechambered is not optimal, it is still a .410 shell. I stock .410, and it isn't the hardest thing to get ahold of. I more prefer the single shot Enfield action, so really coming down to which chambering I find.
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Longcolt44
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Re: .410 Enfield Conversions

Post by Longcolt44 »

spongemonkey wrote:Okay, my question is, will this musket ammo work in a modern .410 shotgun? Just wondering.
No, the 410 musket ammo is different from our .410 shotgun shells.
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Re: .410 Enfield Conversions

Post by Longcolt44 »

I had several Enfield Muskets over the years but sold them as no ammo was available. SOG posted it for sale and we were the only shop around to have it for a while so I bought another Musket last year and shoot it regularly. I had never heard of Century builds until you posted it.
Enfield Ishapore Musket.jpg
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Re: .410 Enfield Conversions

Post by Screwball »

Roger that.

Here is one of the videos that originally turned me on to them.

https://youtu.be/ZzWrMhDYL3M
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Longcolt44
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Re: .410 Enfield Conversions

Post by Longcolt44 »

Here are some interesting pictures I took today. Seems not only are the musket rounds not really .410 but neither are the .410 shotgun shells. You can take what you want from this but I'm sticking to shooting what my shotgun or musket was originally designed to shoot at the arsenal it was produced at.
410 all three.JPG
410 001.JPG
410 .471.JPG
410 2 3-4 2.706.JPG
410 .472.JPG
410 2 3-8 2.336.JPG
410 .449.JPG
410 2 3-16 2.188.JPG
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Longcolt44
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Re: .410 Enfield Conversions

Post by Longcolt44 »

I almost forgot.
POF Pakistani Ordanance Factory 002.JPG
POF 005.JPG
POF 004.JPG
POF 003.JPG
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Re: .410 Enfield Conversions

Post by steelbuttplate »

Would a .45 long colt cowboy load work?
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Re: .410 Enfield Conversions

Post by Longcolt44 »

steelbuttplate wrote:Would a .45 long colt cowboy load work?
No problem, just make sure you have the number of a good plastic surgeon handy so he can remove the chamber from your face. As I said before, I shoot what the firearm was designed to shoot. If in doubt just read what is written on the the barrel usually of the firearm in question.
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Re: .410 Enfield Conversions

Post by Screwball »

I've heard people shooting .45 Colt out of .410 guns... not planning on it, unless I buy a gun designed to (and not buying a Judge/Governor). I have two guns chambered for it (Ruger New Vaquero and Uberti 1860 Henry reproduction), and the only two guns that I will load it into.

If I end up with a correct .410 conversion, I'll pick up some correct .410 ammo for it. If I end up with a rechambered .410, I'll just run regular loads. Got to see if I can find a 3" .410 snap cap before May... unless I find a good one that isn't priced out of the universe on GunBroker.

Longcolt44, thanks for those pictures.
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millman
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Re: .410 Enfield Conversions

Post by millman »

I just bought a pair of A-Zoom .410 snap caps for 8.99 on amazon.
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Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

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Re: .410 Enfield Conversions

Post by steelbuttplate »

I understand why the .410 cartridge was originally made. Wester soldiers made good use of them I guess. But a 9 lb. single shot that probably wouldn't hit a door at 100 yd? And only musket ball special ammo. And they made these why?
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Re: .410 Enfield Conversions

Post by Longcolt44 »

First of all the Brits didn't really trust the East Indians with a high power 10 shot rifle. They authorized them to make muskets from shot out #4 rifles. They were used for guards and rear troops. My Ishapore musket is actually pretty accurate on 25 yd targets. A 3/8s" lead ball needs no accuracy on crowd control.
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