Would appreciate comments from members that ACTUALLY OWN this weapon.

I don't own one; it looks like it is new.
Here is a link to Taurus' new product page.

http://www.taurususa.com/whatsnew/index.cfm


I have always wanted a 2 shot .410/.45LC derringer by Bond Arms but they are not available in California. This looks like a versitile gun.

http://www.bondarms.com/ifirearms.htm

Got one, in the 6" version. Whaddya want to know?

DLR

Thanks DRL for your response. What kinds of .410 ammo have you fired and what has been you approximate max effective range with
each? Are you happy with the weapon?

unfortunately, NO hand guns capable of chambering shotgun ammo are legal in Ca., (18 inch minimum barrel length, 32 inch minimum total length)

Mostly, everything I shoot is whatever is cheapest. The 000 buck was interesting. 3, .33 cal projectiles in every shot was almost appealing. However, I did the math and the .45 Colt produces much more energy than the .410.

They can be good for "Snake medicine" but with the small shot diameters, the #9 up to even the #12 are very small, and very close ranges are needed and at the range I would feel comfortable dusting a snake, I would use a .45 or a slug anyway.

Taurus makes good guns. And, at a good price.

All in all, I'd buy one (I did). But, don't expect miracles. It's not an outstanding shotgun, and it's not an outstanding .45 Colt, but, you can have both in a small package when you need it. Don't even think about hunting birds unless they are very close.

DLR

Don't the shot sizes get smaller as the number goes up? Typical bird/small game shot is #6-8 & is much larger than the #12 used in .22 shells

#12 shot in a .22 is usable for starlings, etc. at 10-15 feet. Granddad used it all the time to keep them out of the cherry tree.

it does

Wiki has it all: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliber
More precisely: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_handgun_cartridges
And this is about caliber vs gauge (Bore diameter): .729 = #12 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauge_%28bore_diameter%29

Yes. #12 shot is very small. It almost looks like sand to me. in a .410 even, I wouldn't use it beyond the same range. In a .22, you have a long bbl that will help control the shot pattern. With a 4" rifled bbl, the shot pattern opens up FAST. It'd hard to get more that 10 or 15 pellets on a pop can at 15 feet with that short of bbl.

The small shot is most often chosen for the .410 pistols because, like I mentioned above, for snake shootin'. But, you have to be close. Too close for me. I stand off a bit further and use something heavier, like the #6 or #8. Better yet, use a .45 Colt.

#6-8 is what I would have thought everyone was using. The only place I'd heard of using #12 was in .22 & pistol calibers.

DLR:

Thanks

That's the truth. I use #9 in my .44 mag homemade shotshells. Beyond 15'-20' it spreads out too thin to be of any use. One of these days when I get some time I'm going to try varying the powder charge to see if that will tighten it up a bit.

How would this revolver work as bear defense? How about closer range home defense?

The bear defense survival weapon of choice for bush pilots in the far north is a 13" to 18' barrel 12 gauge shot gun with high powered slugs; unless, of course, you can afford a mucho dollar 45-70 or similar. In my limited experience with bears, a .410 would just tick it off.

I do believe this weapon would make an ideal home defence weapon.

any shotgun barrel shorter than 18 inches in length requires a FEDERAL permit to possess (besides any state license)

DougM:

You are correct of course. What you may not realize is these mostly 13" to 15" shot guns are for the sole purpose of keeping the bears at bay in the event of a plane crash. The likelyhood of finding an ATF agent lurking on the glacier is kind of remote.

Soooo just fill out a Form 4 and a few weeks later your set.

I would definately take the .45 LC over the .410 for bears. While it may be marginal it would certaintly be better than nothing. The .45 LC cartridge would also work well for home defense, provided you choose an appropriate load (low muzzle blast + good hollowpoint.) Not sure about the .45/.410 gun itself since I don't own one. Sounds like a pretty nifty combo though.

The Taurus Tracker is an extremely interesting little backpacking piece to me but not the current 45 Colt model.

I've been looking at these for some time. The very fact that it has a cylinder long enough for 2 1/2" 410 shells is what puts me off this model. Too long a jump to the forcing cone to expect much in the way of accuracy. Pity, as I specifically wanted this in 45 Colt. I would not have loaded it as hot as my Rugers, but relatively warm hard cast bullets from 45 Colt always get the job done in my experience.

The Tracker in 44 magnum may soon be a replacement for my wife's Target Bulldog in 44 Special (her backpacking choice) or... I hate to add another caliber, but the one that makes the most sense of all is the 41 Magnum Tracker. I've been leaning a little more that direction the last month. The size, weight, form, and caliber really come together in the 41 mag Tracker.

As for snakes - I don't carry shotshells; my wife very rarely carries her Bulldog with Speer shot capsules I loaded - usually they are in a speed loader. Just "comfort ammo" for her, as she does not practice as much as I do. The only snake we have EVER had to shoot was a poor black snake I accidentally ran over with my mountain bike, and I euthanized it with one shot from the Ruger MkII (22 lr) I had on me at the time. We ate the snake that night.

OTOH, I shot truckloads of small game (mostly ptarmigan) for the pot with my favorite Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt (very heavy bullets; very heavy handloads). It is pretty easy if you are using an accurate load and are practiced with it. I demonstrated this for my sons a couple of weeks ago while at the range - starling at 50 ft, one shot, decapitated (no idea why it landed on my close range target backer). It's more difficult as the caliber goes down - difficult shot for me with an iron sighted 22 pistol (the head, I mean).

IMHO, shotshells in a pistol are a waste of effort.

HTH,

Tom

Here is some ballistic data on several .410 loads. Keep in mind that this data was undoubtedly obtained using a shotgun length barrel, so muzzle velocity will probably be lower from the revolver. My opinion, far from my first choice against any bear (altho a slug or two in the right place might do it), plenty doable for home defense...

Does anybody have any idea about the accuracy of the Taurus with .45 LC or slugs? I owned a TC Contender chambered for .410/.45LC once, and it was terribly inaccurate with .45LC. The l-o-n-g chamber doesn't do anything good for the bullet. I never found a practical use for the gun, and I suspect the Taurus suffers from the same problems.

I suspect that the Taurus will be worse then your TC. Same long jump for the bullet to make, shorter barrel, sights closer together and not as sharp a sight picture, probably a creeper trigger, all bad things for accuracy. If I were really worried about snakes and wanted to carry it loaded with shot, or needed a house gun, I might think about it, but other than that, I'll pass...

Ah, but you asked about a firearm - the topic most likely to draw hot opinions (followed closely by knives). We've heard from one forum member who actually owns one. I chimed in because:

1. I've examined/handled this revolver and will probably buy one, tho not the current 45 Colt version. Plenty of articles out there on this version.

2. I own several 45 Colt revolvers and have fired them a LOT, including hunting.

3. I started hunting a million years ago with a 410 and can offer my real-world experiences with this FROM A SMOOTHBORE, CHOKED shoulder arm.

4. I lived in Alaska for many years. Most of my time was out in the bush. Time with natives, prospectors, plenty of bush pilots, homesteaders, etc. Been about everywhere there by darn near every means of transportation known to man. Know lots of folks there yet; just spoke with one of 'em last week. Same or slightly higher percentage of dummies in AK as anywhere else.

5. I have killed two grizzly bears (one of which "needed killing"; not fun).

6. ... never mind ... well, I'll toss this in: over the years, I have met two folks who were shot at point blank range with a 410 long arm (one was under-the-jaw into the head - he's pretty ugly). I don't need to tell any war stories beyond that, I hope.

etc...

The only justification needed for a particular sidearm is "...because I want that one..." If this is one you want, by all means, purchase one! Taurus makes some darned nice revolvers.

If you are not certain and want some facts, seasoned by real world experience, might be some folks here who could assist. <shrug>

Last post on this thread for me.

Regards,

Tom

If you want the facts on the accuracy of the .45 shell of this weapon. Google up "Review of Taurus 410/.45 Revolver". Two of the three independent reviews that I read said it was(unexpectly} extremely accurate.

The August 2007 issue of the American Rifleman has a review of the Taurus. It describes the accuracy with .45 Colt ammunition as: "Accuracy was enough to stay on a silhouette target at 25 yards.....There were several on-target hits with evidence of keyholing." In other words, very inaccurate!