AusVarmint

I have had Grans 410 in the back of the safe for quite a few years. I believe she was given it when she was a young woman and newly married and it was her house gun. She was 5ft nothing and the type to have a go at anything. She grew up on the NSW far south coast, married and was in Atherton Qld when my mother was born. I think it was in Atherton that she may have aquired the gun(guessing). She moved back to Merimbula( her family property) during the 2nd WW when Gran pop was OS and the thought of a northern invasion was possible.
Mum remembers the gun being behind the door ready for snakes and crows or anything else that disturbed the chooks or whatever. It hasn't done much work and still very tight in the action. It is a Belgium made smokeless double in 2 1/2" x .410. As best I can research it was made in 1926. It is a basic gun with tool marks on the steel under the receiver and flat checkering. I think these had blued barrels but a "white" action(??), the bores are very good but it had a few rust marks externally that I polished off when I got it about 20 years ago. I fired a box of shells back then and couldn't get any more 2-1/2" shells(and forgot about it) and it has sat unused.
So I saw an article on old 410s and thought I should get it out and let it see some sun light, warm the barrels and maybe get a rabbit. Bought a box of shells ($) last week. Well I took it for a walk this afternoon at a friends place. The rabbits weren't to be seen so I shot a few shells at the wood heap and tested the pattern on an old drum. This is becoming a project as I try to reload some brass (Magtec) shells, make shot and may do some restoration of the wood work.
Keeps me in the shed, so all is good.

Bruce

Bruce,
What a beautiful old gun.
Is she an under lever or how do you break the action on her?

I have often thought of a double .410 or a 20ga for Erica as my 12ga kicked errm a tad hard for her (3" magnum shells chasing Magpie Geese in the Territory) and she wont go near it now unfortunately.

Mick

I agree, beautiful gun and great photos.

I have always thought a double barrel .410 would be a good fun gun.

Marcus

That's awesome, what a great old gun

I've got an old single barrel Harrington & Richardson 410 in the safe, my grandfather shot it, my father shot it, my older brother shot it, I shot it and my son shot it. The ole girl is very pitted in the barrel and seems to have some fair holes in the pattern but it will stay where it is and come out occasionally. My mother asked me when my grandfather passed away if there was anything I wanted of his, yep the 410. I almost missed out on it and managed to snaffle it by sheer luck but that's another story.

Thanks for posting it, great story.

Cheers,
Waldo

Wow, top looking old piece Bruce, nice to have the history behind it as well, its a bloody beauty.

Mick, maybe to open the action, the "bolt" sticking out on the left side of the action behind the pivot, releases the action unlocking it. I dunno, but it looks a bit out of place as it is.

Absolutely lovely, shame she ain't a 12g mate.

Camel wrote:Wow, top looking old piece Bruce, nice to have the history behind it as well, its a bloody beauty.

Mick, maybe to open the action, the "bolt" sticking out on the left side of the action behind the pivot, releases the action unlocking it. I dunno, but it looks a bit out of place as it is.

Yeah mate agreed, but it also appears to be difficult to get a grip on - especially as a Lady's Gun hence the thought of an under lever.

Either way, its still a beautiful gun.

Nice

So what are the chambers?
2.5" ammo is as easy to get hold off as 3", 2" ammo a little harder but still available.

Had to junk 25% of my magtek brass from new as it had oversize primer pockets.
I only use brass cases for my BP loads, plastic for everything else. Purchased a Mec but really for the volume I load I could do it with one of these
http://www.lanesreloading.com/410.html

If you run into problems loading the brass flick me a PM, chances are Ive already had to deal with it
If you are only after shot to load a few shells cutting open a few 12ga is a easy cheap source.

Wow

love it

That's just ace Bruce.

Bruce,
Many years ago, I used to use 303 cases swaged parallel cut wads out of card board to load .410's
I have some .410 shells I'm sure they are either 2 or 2 1/2'' will check.
I have plenty of shot of different size I'll do some checking some of the skeet shooters use
sub calibres I'm sure reloading components would be available.
Lovely gun by the way.
Cheers
Ol 55

Thanks for the comments.
Mick, under lever I suppose. The cross slide behind the hinge unlocks the barrels from the action. Yes it has gotten me interested because of the history. Plenty of info on the web and 410 cartridges are available at the LGS but I plan on trying the brass shells.

220, have seen your info elsewhere but may be in touch. My Magetec shells are tight for the primers but the rim is a bit thick and action wont close on most shells. So working out a way of thinning the rims.

BFS , if it was 12g it would be just another old shotty.

Ol55, should be Ok for components but will keep it in mind.

Who has made shot, I have about 8kg of no.7 made now and some No.4. But that is another story.

Bruce

So nice to see something a bit different again; earlier the air rifle, and now, the snake gun.

Thumbs up guys.

Tex.

Nice gun Bruce.

I learned to shoot with a 410 exactly like that!

Great little gun.

Glenn

Certainly looks like a nice old gun.