I was told I could but it doesn't sound like a super-good idea. You guys always reply with safe answers fast, so I was wondering, can I do that safely? I could always reload some 45-70 shells with some shot in them when I get my reloading stuff I lined out. If this was safe, I would mostly use it to show off shooting clays at close range. Like: (" Hey throw this clay, I bet I can hit it with a rifle" *slide in .410 shotshell and hit it*)

it can be done but not recomended. the 410 is slightly smaller and i heard it will be tough pulling it out. i have not done it. can anyone speak from experience???

Did an internet seach on your question. The answers run from "he!! no" to "no problem". Many talk about using it for a scout or emergency gun bullet and shot.
TC makes a contender barrel 45colt/410. The colt is a smaller case head.

FWIW even if you can, my experience with shooting shotshells thru a barrel with rifling has been tohave very short range.

Yeah I saw the crazy internet answers too. You get both spectrums. I found a derringer that is 45-70 and .410 though. That would be a "hand cannon" that would be hard to keep hold of.

Funny you should ask, My dad has a trapdoor springfield hanging on this wall that used to belong to my grand dad. As the story goes grand dad and his brother used to hunt small game back in the depression with this trapdoor and they always shot .410 shotgun shells in it. The two would work as a team, one guy fires the gun while the other is ready with the ram rod to punch the expanded shell out, however one time the ram rod opperator failed to get the ram rod out of the barrel and it was shot down range never to be seen again, the rifle is still missing the ram rod. Dad loves to tell the story to the grand kids and anyone else who inquires about the old trapdoor.
Timan

Been there done that. It can be done the 45-70 I used was basically shot out i e no rifling to harm.

Some years ago I bought a 410 single barrel shotgun with the intention of giving it to one of my grandsons. Really nice condition,small frame with removable hinge pin. while cleaning it up I noticed the caliber/ga was not 410 but was marked 45 shot cartridge. Tried in vain to find out what it was but never did. Finally sold it to someone who was as curious as I was. Only info I ever got was someone said it was a Foragers gun which was'nt much of an answer. Neat little smooth bore in perfect condition. It was obviously a factory gun so there must have been SOME interchange sometime for some reason.

So it's safe to do? If it expands, I could always punch it out, I was just worried about it blowing up on me.

I've done it in the Guide Gun, once. Case head cracked (hey! it IS SMALLER!) and I had to use a screwdriver blade on my knife to extract the casing.

.410 wads just measure around .39" so you're really undersized everywhere.

If I was being charged by a chipmunk and the only round I had was a .410 I'd use it. Otherwise, .410 single shots are very light and inexpensive...

hth

I used .444 Marlin cases to make .410 shotshells for a Lee-Enfield riot gun in .410. Don't think I would shoot them in a .45-70 myself, but probably won't wreck the gun. I wouldn't shoot .44 specials in a .45 Colt either.

I don't really need a .410, I just thought it would be cool to be able to use .410 shells in the 45-70 for very close range work, such as mice and stuff, and maybe a thrown clay really close. I guess it sounds like it would work, but it's hard to exract. I found info about reloading 45-70 shells with shot inside for close stuff, but nothing specific such as powder and stuff. Does anyone have info about this? A reloading book I have talks about reloading shot cartridges for pistols but not rifles.

I have a guide gun and yes I have done it. They shoot and extract fine. They only work at real close range (15 feet) on partrige I come across while deer hunting.

Many a .410 shell has been fired in a trapdoor Springfield .45/70! No one ever was killed doing it either. But it is still not recommended. And as noted, the spiraling effect of the rifling on the shot charge makes for a hollow-center pattern......

Ok, so it is safe, but not really effective. I found a person online who said if you wrap some shot up in a wad of plastic wrap, wrapped the opposite way of the rifling it can help the shot stay centered. Does anyone understand what I am saying? Would the plastic melt in the barrel leaving a mess?