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Posted: 10/8/2008 9:11:35 AM EDT
| I am bidding on a .410 Enfield right now that's listed on Gunbroker. The seller isn't sure which .410 round it is chambered for- whether it is still in the original British 2" or in the American 2.5 or 3". I understand that the original British round was a effectively an unnecked .303 case with a round ball projectile. I have read that round can be duplicated by fire forming .303 brass, and using a properly sized lead round ball. Does anybody know of any load data available for this load? Now, I know (believe) that the original British load was shorter than the American .410 loads. If I win the auction, is checking the chambering something that could easily determine by seeing if an American 2.5 or 3" shell fits? |
I still have one of the ads from when they were imported and sold by Springfield Sporters in 1997 (IIRC). They were either 89 or 99 dollars. I've seen good specimens sell for unconscionable amounts more. Going rate for a bastardized one in my area seems to be about $150. The short shell (I refer to it as the Brit 2"). Springfield sporters (and other American gunsmiths reamed out the chambers for both 2.5 and 3 inch shells (and left some original. The rifle I'm bidding on was originally converted to .410 by RFI in 1948 on a 1942 reciever. Condition is beautiful. There is also some Enfield .410s that I read were converted in England to help people own them on shotgun certs rather than firearm certs- from what I understand, those are worth less. I was wondering if anyone had any other info on the guns or load data for the original British load. I've wanted one of these things since I was young (when I saw that Springfield Sporters ad) |
| I had one of the Springfield Sporters 3' guns. When I bought mine, they were $89 for 2" chamber, $99 for converted to 3", and $10 hand select. Great condition, and I wish I still had mine. If I could find one locally I'd consider trading both the Enfields I currently have for a good one. Deadly accurate with .410 slugs, and just plain fun with shot loads. |
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You can check the chamber but don't use a shell as that is a bad practice. Use a small steel rule to measure where the step is in the chamber. A typical shotgun shell is shorter than the chamber for which it is designed.
For example: a shotgun that is chambered for a 2.5 or 2.75 inch shell very well may have a 3 inch long chamber to allow room for the shell to open up. Therefore a 3 inch shell may drop in but if fired it could create an obstruction and/or overpressure condition as the shell cannot fully open an allow the wad to pass into the barrel freely. |
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